Resume Writing Tips for Head of Sales

Introduction

A strong resume for a head of sales is more than a list of job duties; it’s a strategic tool that highlights your impact on business growth, leadership in steering sales teams, and your aptitude for data-driven decision-making. In a leadership sales role, recruiters look for quantifiable achievements, mastery of sales technologies, and the ability to adapt messaging to different industries and products. To pass ATS filters and captivate recruiters, your resume must be precise, metrics-focused, and tailored to the specific job opportunity. This blog lays out ten essential tips to elevate your resume, complete with examples and an ATS-optimized template to start building the perfect resume for your next career step.

1. Resume Summary

The resume summary is your elevator pitch in text form. It should be a concise, impactful statement that encapsulates your experience, key skills, leadership qualities, and career goals. This snapshot allows recruiters and ATS alike to immediately understand your unique selling points as a head of sales.

Example: “Dynamic Head of Sales with 10+ years leading high-performing teams in technology and SaaS markets. Proven track record of exceeding revenue targets by 25%+ YoY and expanding market share through strategic partnerships, data-driven insights, and innovative go-to-market strategies.”

2. Key Skills

Listing the right skills is crucial to passing ATS scans and resonating with hiring managers. For head of sales roles, focus on leadership, sales strategy, analytics, and tools knowledge. Include both hard and soft skills.

• Sales Leadership
• Strategic Account Management
• Forecasting & Pipeline Management
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
• Market Penetration & Expansion
• Negotiation & Closing
• Team Building & Coaching
• Data Analysis & Sales Metrics
• Sales Enablement
• Client Relationship Management

3. Achievements vs. Responsibilities

Focus on achievements rather than just responsibilities to differentiate yourself. Use action verbs and quantify your impact to demonstrate tangible results.

Instead of saying “Managed sales team,” say: “Led a sales team of 15 reps to exceed annual revenue targets by 30%, resulting in $10M incremental sales within one fiscal year.”

4. Tailor to Job

Customize your resume for each application by mirroring keywords and skills from the job description. Align your achievements and skills with the company’s sales goals and industry to improve keyword matching for ATS and relevance for recruiters.

5. Tools

• Salesforce CRM
• HubSpot Sales
• Tableau
• Microsoft Power BI
• Outreach.io
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• ZoomInfo
• Google Analytics
• Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
• Slack & Microsoft Teams

6. Metrics

• Year-over-year revenue growth percentage
• Size of sales team led
• Customer acquisition rate
• Market share increase
• Sales pipeline conversion ratio

7. Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field
• Professional Certifications such as Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP), or CRM-specific certifications

8. Format

• Use clean, professional fonts with clear headings and bullet points for readability
• Keep length to two pages maximum with balanced white space

9. Concise

Avoid jargon and fluff. Use clear, impactful language that communicates your leadership and sales prowess efficiently, respecting recruiters’ limited time.

10. Bonus

• Include endorsements or testimonials in LinkedIn profile linked in the contact section.
• Add a section for awards or special recognitions relevant to sales excellence.

Examples

• “Spearheaded product launch that generated $5M revenue within six months by building a strategic sales team and deploying targeted outreach campaigns.”
• “Reduced sales cycle length by 20% through implementation of advanced CRM analytics and sales enablement tools, increasing overall team productivity.”

Conclusion

A compelling head of sales resume must showcase measurable impact, strong leadership, and analytical prowess. By focusing on quantifiable achievements, tailoring to job descriptions, and highlighting relevant tools and metrics, you increase your chances of passing ATS filters and catching the eye of hiring managers. Remember to keep your resume concise, formatted cleanly, and directed to the specific demands of the role. A well-crafted sales leadership resume not only reflects your professional journey but also convinces employers that you have the strategic vision and people skills to drive their sales success.