Grab the attention of employers with what you put at the top of your resume if you want to keep them reading and stay top-of-mind. If you’ve already done a little research about updating your sales or marketing resume, you may already know that putting an objective at the top of your resume is passé.

Why? Because objectives are about you and not the value-proposition you present to the employer. Here are some better ways to use that prime real estate instead.

Summary

Open with a paragraph that details your selling points as a candidate. Tell employers what you can do for them, rather than what you want. Craft a sort of elevator pitch or branding message. Spell out your strong points, emphasizing what sets you apart based on your career’s accomplishments.

Always remember that what the employer thinks you can do for them is based on what they believe you have previously done for others, past performance is predictive of future performance.

Example:

Proven sales professional with a documented history of overachieving sales goals, building strategic relationships and working effectively as an individual or as part of a team. Able to communicate complex concepts and create winning solutions for customers in a variety of technical disciplines.

Skills Section

Another option for the top of your resume is a bulleted list of accomplishments, skills and qualifications. This may be an even more attractive option for recruiters and hiring managers because they are easily skimmable ­– a welcome quality to someone who may be reviewing dozens of resumes a day.

Example:

Skills Summary

• Documented track record of year-over-year top sales results.
• Excellent presentation skills
• Solution sales expertise
• Proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experienced in hardware and software sales

The key with each of these options is to customize them to each position you apply to. Including keywords that are featured in each job posting will allow your resume to pass the screening software test and catch the eye of anyone who reviews your resume personally.

Remember that your resume is foremost a marketing piece for the product – you. Know who your target audience is and customize your marketing to attract their attention and win an interview.

If you are looking for a sales or marketing position, contact SMR Group Ltd, our experienced recruiters will help you to find opportunities that suit their skills, experience and professional goals.  Contact us today to learn more!