Episode 3 - What does a great sales CV look like?

Welcome back to our blog series “Getting Hired”, this is episode 3! In episode 1 and 2 we focused on what personal branding is, why it’s important and how to implement it when starting your job search. In this episode, we want to pair this with another key step to take when getting hired, your CV.

Your CV is the best opportunity you have to show off who you are and what you can offer. If you think you’re the standout candidate for the job, your CV sure has to match.

In this blog we will take you through what to include, what not to include, some of the biggest mistakes we see and overall get you on your way to landing that role! 

 

Create a flawless image

On average a recruiter will read your CV for between 5-7 seconds! We know this might not fill you with much confidence as you head into those daunting applications but, a recruiter knows just what they’re looking for, so all you can do is give them that.

Treat the start of your CV like a sales pitch. If it’s weak what happens? They end the call or lose interest, right? The same thing happens with a recruiter, so start as you mean to go on. This should be with a clear, fluid, and professional looking CV; if your CV is full of spelling mistakes, has a cluttered layout and an unorganised list of previous roles, what does this tell them about you? Make sure it is professional or they won’t take you seriously moving forwards.

 

What can you do vs what have you done

Once you have built a flawless image and proven to your future employer that you mean business. It is vital to discuss why you are the fit for the job. Now this may be through ‘what you can do’ or maybe ‘what you have done’ but which do you think is the most important?

Both are key ingredients to a perfect CV but, showing an employer what you can do is a much better place to start. This should be at the very top of your CV, we call it a "professional profile". Start with a short, sharp summary of the skills you have to offer, why they’re valuable and demonstrate your knowledge of the role you’re applying for.

For example, a typical sales candidate’s skills may be cold calling, relationship building and hitting targets, with the overall goal being hitting higher sales volumes. So, when writing your profile, detail these skills and show them the impact they will have. If you show them this, the world is your oyster!

 

Show off your results

If you’ve ever worked in sales, you will know that results are crucial to the success of your role and they’re also crucial to have on your CV. Whether your results are jaw dropping or below par, make sure these are visible for your employer as this is key information they need and if not provided clearly, those 5-7 seconds will be spent very cheaply!!

We recommend using this layout:

Targets

2020: x% to target, total revenue = £x

2021: x% to target, total revenue = £x

 

Matched with a sophisticated appearance and that magic professional profile, your results section will be the icing on the cake.

 

  

 

We hope you’re enjoying our blog series so far and hope it is adding value towards your application process. If you haven’t seen episode 1 or 2, check them out!

Also, if you need anymore advice around your CVs and applications or are looking for roles within the SaaS space, get in touch via our social media or on the website.

Thanks for tuning in, see you next week for episode 4!