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Sales employers want to see that you understand the process: finding or receiving customers, understanding what they need, making an offer and following up. Numbers help when they are accurate, but a clear description of your routine is better than a made-up percentage. The example is fictional.
Describe the kind of sales you did
Say whether the work was retail, phone, field or online sales, and whether you served consumers or businesses. This context tells the reader how your experience compares with the role. Fictional example: “Handled inbound enquiries from small businesses and prepared quotes for a range of office equipment.”
Show the steps you own
Explain which part of the process was yours: prospecting, demonstrations, quotes, negotiation, after-sales contact. Lines that start with an action verb make this easy: “Contacted new leads by phone, booked product demonstrations and followed up on every quote within two days.”
Use results only if they are real
Targets, revenue or conversion figures can be persuasive, but only if you can explain how they were measured and whether they were yours or the team’s. If you do not have clear figures, describe consistency instead: “Kept the customer follow-up list up to date every week.”
Highlight customer skills
Listening, handling objections, patience and clear writing matter in sales. Show them through short examples rather than adjectives. Fictional example: “Answered technical questions from customers and passed unresolved cases to the product team with a written summary.”
Name your tools
Mention a CRM, spreadsheet or phone system only if you have used it. A short line such as “Recorded contacts and quotes in a CRM” is enough, and it is easy to confirm in an interview.
Adapt it to the advert
Read the advert and move the most relevant achievements to the top. A role focused on key accounts needs different examples from one focused on high-volume calls. Keep your claims consistent with your cover letter and your interview answers.
Related examples and guides
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to include sales figures?
No. Include only figures you can explain. Otherwise describe your process and responsibilities.
I only have retail experience. Is that relevant?
Yes. Retail shows customer contact, product knowledge and handling payments. Describe what you did and how it relates to the new role.