Sales Associate Resume Example & Writing Guide [2024]

The following sales associate resume sample and guide will provide you with valuable tips to help you write a resume that best highlights your experiences and qualifications. Further, we provide you with a few bonus tips in the end so be sure to check it all out!

Read on to learn more and get inspired.

How to write Sales Associate resume

• Start your Sales Associate resume with a concise resume summary
• Focus on quantifying your achievements, not just sales duties
• Only add relevant information to your bullets in your employment history
• Match your sales skills list with the skills required in the job description
• Always personalize every resume you send. Tailor the contents of your resume to the requirements of the job description

Let's start by looking at an example of a Sales Associate resume with 6 years of experience, and then dive into the guide.

Sales Associate Resume Example using our Traditional Resume Template

 

 

Sales associate resume sample you can copy and use

Laura Cain
Outgoing and Enthusiastic Sales Associate

2898 Poplar Avenue, 92101, San Diego, CA, lauracain@salesassociate.com

Profile Summary

Self motivated Sales Associate with 6 years of experience in retail environments. Recognized for capability to communicate with customers, providing exceptional service that ensure client retention and unbiased positive feedback. Demonstrated ability to ensure increased sales through up-selling techniques as well as implementing processes that drive profitability.

Employee of the month for consecutive months while consistently outperforming sales goals.

Employment History

Retail Sales Associate at IKEA, San Diego

Jul 2015 - currently employed

• Assist an average of 35 customers per day in finding or selecting items, and provided recommendations that generated $5K in additional revenue
• Achieve an average of 140% of sales goals for three consecutive months
• Stock, organize and replenish inventory with accuracy and efficiency
• Manage proper and attractive merchandise display, ensuring strategic placement of products that maximized purchases
• Provide outstanding customer service, receiving 98% in customer service feedback surveys

Retail Sales Associate at Ashley Furniture, San Diego

Jul 2013 - Jul 2015

• Helped an average of 40 customers per day selecting products based on individual requirements
• Recommended better furniture display to management, which was implemented and resulted in 25% improved sales
• Received calls daily, answering questions and educating customers on our products
• Aided Spanish-speaking customers, increasing repeat and loyal customers by 30%

Educations

B.A in Business Management

University of San Diego - San Diego
Sep 2009 - Jun 2013

• GPA of 3.7

Professional skills

B2C Sales
Customer Service
MicroSoft Office
Retail Software
Excellent Communication Skills
Problem Solving

Languages

English
Native

Spanish
Conversational

Facts about this Sales Associate resume:

• Candidate is applying for a Sales Associate position in retail
• Candidate uses the reverse-chronological format
• Candidate has over 6+ years of experience
• Candidate mentions having consistently outperforming sales goals

 

A great way to start is to be sure to reference keywords from the job description and highlight any skills, awards, and certifications in the resume summary, that match with the job listing requirements.

It is crucial that you provide a thorough and professional approach to your resume. We made an easily digestive guide for you to keep you on your toes while creating the simple, yet effective and professional resume.

A correctly formatted and professional resume is as important as ever.

 

4 writing tips and advice to help you compose a Sales Associate resume

#1 - A powerful and concise profile resume summary will make the recruiter want to look further

Starting a resume on the right foot is important. Think of it as an advertisement for yourself. This is where you tell the reader who you are to make the employer or recruiter want to look further. 

Do

• Be concise in your profile summary. Focus on a few key competences and skills you have that will fit the job and is part of the job description.

Don't

• Use interposed phrases. The reader doesn't care about fillers. The purpose is to tell the reader exactly how you fit the role and make the reader want to read on. Don't bore them!

Example from above:

"Self motivated Sales Associate with 6 years of experience in retail environments. Recognized for capability to communicate with customers, providing exceptional service that ensure client retention and unbiased positive feedback. Demonstrated ability to ensure increased sales through up-selling techniques as well as implementing processes that drive profitability."

Very concise way of embedding important skills like, communication,  excellent customer service and maintaining a high sales focus, provides you with a great way to start on the description, making you able to build it further.

A great way to get feedback about your overall profile is by asking people from your network about the value which you bring. You might be surprised how they respond. We made a guide about networking and how to stay on top of this game, don't miss these valuable tips.

#2 - Quantify some of your achievements or duties

It's a great idea to list a few measurable achievements under your Employment History, such as; 

• Assist an average of 35 customers per day in finding or selecting items, and provided recommendations that generated $5K in additional revenue
• Achieve an average of 140% of sales goals for three consecutive months

By highlighting measurable achievements, it goes to show that with your abilities you are able to deliver results as a sales associate, where your main goal is to sell products during your everyday work. It sends a clear message to the employer or recruiter about your abilities and work ethics.

#3 - List or highlight your awards and certifications on your sales associate resume

If you received any awards make sure you either list them or highlight them somehow, as they are great selling points, and are part of telling your story to the reader.

Example from above:

"Employee of the month for consecutive months while consistently outperforming sales goals."

Here we tell the reader right away about your abilities to sell. We highlighted it in the profile summary to tell the reader that you are more than capable of doing a great job.

Use personal awards like, employee of the month or something similar. They mean something to you, they make you proud of yourself. Use it in your resume, as they are achievements related directly to your hard work as a sales associate.

Lastly, do not forget any certificates you may have. Specific product sales certifications might be able to help persuade a future employer selecting you.

#4 - Focus your skills around sales, customer service and problem solving

The ability to sell and provide great customer service is a core function of a sales associate. This is what every employer would demand from you. Emphasizing those abilities will make the employer or recruiter aware that you understand this.

The ability to provide the customers with great care and support is one thing, solving their problems is another. Understanding their problem or needs, and solving it with the customer in mind, will show your attitude towards the work you do, and what you represent as a sales associate.

TIP: Learn more about how to build your skills into your resume. In our article we cover soft and hard skills from A to Z.

#Bonus - Key action adverbs and skills to use in your sales associate resume

By using action verbs you can add clarity, depth, and distinction to your resume. Action verbs make great openers for experience bullet points and can also be utilized on cover letters to target them to specific positions.

• Ability to work under pressure
• Accuracy
• Achieved
• Aided
• Arranged
• Assisted
• Attention to detail
• Built
• Calculated
• Collaborated
• Communication
• Computer skills
• Coordinate
• Customer service
• Demonstrate
• Dependability
• Dispute resolution
• Educate
• Efficiency
• Empathic
• Flexibility
• Helpful
• Labeled
• Loss prevention techniques
• Mathematical skills
• Memorization
• Multitasking
• Organized
• Point of Sale Systems (POS)
• Positive attitude
• Product knowledge
• Profitability
• Punctuality
• Recognized
• Replenish
• Responsibility
• Sales skills
• Sold
• Stocked
• Telephone etiquette
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Up-sell
• Work ethic

TIP: If you want to know more about using power words and action verbs like these in your resume, check out How To Use Power Words In Your Resume.

 

It was a pleasure to provide you with some tips and advice about writing a Sales Associate resume.

Are you ready to create your resume? Use our simple resume builder and put to use what you just learned.