Resume Help - Sales Manager

Today we are going to look at the bottom half of a résumé for a mid-level sales candidate. We will call her Eve. Eve has made several mistakes that could cost her dearly when she submits her résumé to hiring managers and recruiters.

The first mistake Eve has made is to create a section called technical skills and then list general management capabilities within. Her wording is not at all powerful; and twice she repeats the phrase ‘Proficient in the use of’. Why not just make one bullet listing all of the software and technology she is familiar with? Bottom line, there is no need for a third bullet.

She also uses periods at the end of some bullets, but not others. Consistency is important when creating a professional looking document. Otherwise, it appears as though you are making errors.

Eve mentions her awards which are impressive, but the wording here could also be tightened up.  These awards appear at the bottom of her résumé. It would have been great if Eve put some of this information in the summary, or at least in the top third of her résumé (prime real estate), to highlight her strengths. Instead, this valuable content has been buried on the second page, toward the bottom.

Below her awards, Eve lists several references. References do not belong on a résumé. Eve can provide a separate addendum that lists references.  It is also important that Eve let her references know if someone will be calling them as a matter of professionalism.

To view additional comments about this résumé, click on the image below.

If you would like to have your résumé critiqued, please send your résumé via email to Debra@careersdonewrite.com