Sample Resume for a Sales Career Change - Critique
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About this Sample Resume Critique
In this sample resume critique, the certified professional resume writer at
ResumeEdge explains
the process of creating the client's "after" resume from the client's "before" resume.
So that you may easily compare them to judge the quality of
ResumeEdge's work,
both the "before" and "after"
sample resumes are linked below. They are also linked from the Sample
Resumes page.
Sample Resume Critique
Dear Richard ~
Keeping in mind your stated goal to use this resume to move into
pharmaceutical sales, I chose an “Accomplishments” format
to best display your skills. This style emphasizes career achievements
in a format that's elegant and stylish.
I began your resume by increasing the size of your name so that
it would stand out from the rest of the text. I then separated
your most important contact information - phone number and email
- placing one flush left and the other flush right, so that a hiring
manager could easily access this data.
In the body of the resume, I began with the tag “Sales Professional”
followed by your skill set - “Client Relations, Negotiations,
Inside &
Outside Sales.” At a glance, a hiring manager knows where
you've been and where your career is headed.
In the brief paragraph that follows, I summarized and emphasized
your qualifications. Unlike an Objective that merely states what
you want, a Qualifications Summary tells a hiring manager what
you can do for his company. As a sales professional, you well
know that you're sending a powerful message by putting a hiring
manager's needs above your own.
I wrote of your successful track record in industrial sales and
your desire to move into pharmaceutical sales. I described you
as dynamic (a stronger descriptor than “high energy”)
and results-oriented. I said that you were articulate and persuasive
(solid communication skills) and that you had special abilities
in your attention to detail, decision-making, organization, and
marketing plans. Because most sales people are only concerned with
making the sale, I believe these last skills will put you far ahead
of the other applicants.
I did add that you were willing to travel. If you want that excluded,
please let me know.
In the next section, I emphasized your career accomplishments
with Trent Corporation, detailing your achievements under the appropriate
subheadings. Here, I revised text for clarity, conciseness, and
maximum impact.
For example, you wrote in two bullets:
- After being given a territory, which lost the business from
it's largest customer (Mohawk-Karastan, 59% of sales) showed
a 3.3% increase in total sales and 3.1% increase in gross profit
percentage through September 2001.
- Achieved an 80% sales increase overall in accounts excluding
Mohawk-Karastan.
I revised that to one bullet that reads:
- Increased six month total sales by 3.3% and gross profits by
3.1%, while achieving an 80% increase overall in a territory
that lost Mohawk-Karastan, its largest customer representing
59% of revenue.
I feel it's particularly important to state that you accomplished
these increases in a mere six-month period.
I also revised the data in the Professional Experience section.
Here, you wrote:
"Trained to understand industrial sales in all facets of
the business. Participated in delivery, shipping and receiving,
accounts receivable/payable, warehouse management, operations,
outside sales, and inside sales."
- Have successfully completed technical classes on all company
product lines and counselor sales training.
I revised this to one bullet that reads:
- Completed training in all phases of business, including operations,
product lines, sales, and distribution.
You'll notice I added only those activities that directly relate
to or are transferable to sales in another industry. In healthcare,
the mention of product lines is especially important.
Because of space considerations (a one-page resume is the industry
standard) and due to relevancy, I condensed your work with the
Industrial Acceptance Corporation to one line. It adds little to
your proven, stellar performance with Trent Corporation.
I excluded the line that reads: “Maintain existing customer
base and grow new business through excellent customer service,
timely accurate processing of orders, daily technical support,
and building relationships through integrity.”
All of these are “soft” skills that aren't backed up
by hard data, such as your increase in sales despite losing Mohawk-Karastan's
business.
Also, much of the above line deals with tasks that are assumed.
Rather than include everything you did, I chose to emphasize your
most important accomplishments as you have less than seven seconds
to impress a hiring manager.
I ended your resume with an education section.
All decisions to modify or exclude data were in keeping with the
guidelines and standards set forth by the Professional Association
of Resume Writers (PARW). With this resume, you now have a powerful
tool that's well-organized and filled with pertinent data, while
also being aesthetically pleasing.
It was a pleasure serving you, Richard. Best of luck in all your
future endeavors.
ResumeEdge Editor
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
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