sales assistant personal statement examples

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Sales Assistant Personal Statement

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Are you searching for the perfect sales assistant role? Fish4jobs can help you to create a winning sales assistant personal statement to place at the top of your CV, to ensure that you land your dream role!

Your personal statement is your chance to shine, so use this 100-150 words to show off your skills, strengths and achievements in the sales sector. We recommend that you provide examples of how you match the job specifications, and show your desire for this particular sales assistant position.

For further advice and guidance, check out our  how to write a personal statement guide .

What to include in your Sales Assistant personal statement

Why you are applying for the role.

• Highlight what appealed to you about the sales assistant job role.
• Mention any experience you have of working as a sales assistant such as dealing with customers, handling transactions and sales.
• Provide information on other skills you have that relate to the role.

Your Education

• Provide any relevant subjects you have studied that can apply to the role.
• Mention your School/College/University that you attended.
• Provide information on your relevant qualifications.

Your sales assistance experience

• Mention previous sales assistant roles, and provide information on key responsibilities within the role.
• Highlight your daily tasks, objectives and how you managed your work.
• List any training you may have received in previous roles as a sales assistant.

Your visions of the future in the company

• Where do you see yourself working within the company.
• Mention where you want to take your skills.

Sales Assistant Personal Statement example

I am a very friendly and enthusiastic individual, who ensures that clients and customers receive the best customer service and satisfaction. In my past role as a sales assistant, I strived to achieve the best results daily, ensuring that my day-to-day tasks of greeting and serving customers, assisting with queries, replenishing stock and keeping the store tidy were completed to the highest standards. I am a fantastic people person, with great communication and listening skills, therefore, I am able to successfully assist customers with any requirements or requests they may have. I work extremely well in a team as well as alone as I am able to confidently deal with problems and use my initiative to overcome challenging situations. My previous experience in sales, coupled with my interest in X makes me the ideal candidate for this role.

See our Sales Assistant cover letter template for extra help with your application.

Related links

• Sales Assistant CV Template
• How to Write a CV
• How to Write a Personal Statement

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Sales Assistant Resume & Writing Guide

The Sales industry is an exciting environment with many opportunities, roles, and career options one can follow. As a Junior Sales Assistant, you have many opportunities in Sales that can be explored. Because there is a vast range of career fields, you also need to make sure you apply for the dream job. Information, guidance, and help are what we offer with this guide.

We have created this resume sample packed with exciting tips, stellar ideas, and guidelines for structuring a resume. It will also serve as a guide for layout tips and ideas on how to send off a Junior Sales Assistant resume that will attract attention.

See also: Inside Sales Assistant Resumes , Retail Merchandiser , or all our retail resumes

What you can read in this article

Sales Assistant Resume Examples

Sales Assistant Resume Writing Guide

Resume sections.

• Contact information
• Profile Summary
• Work History 
• Achievements
• Education 
• Skill Section
• Certification & Licensing
• Extras: Languages/Awards/Publications/Volunteering/hobbies

1. Contact Information : Name, Address, Phone Number, Email .

2. Profile Summary : This introduction to your resume must make an impact on the reader. Include a broad overview of your background, years of industry experience and the industry sectors of interest. You should be specific and state which job you are applying to (1-3 sentences max).

3. Qualifications Summary : Provide accurate details about the certifications and qualifications you have completed with the institution, qualification name, and dates. Don’t forget to include qualifications you are currently completing too. For some Sales Assistant roles, a degree at Bachelors or Associates level is required. For others, no formal qualification apart from a high school diploma is needed, but the short courses, workshops, and in-house training you have received should then be listed to provide more credibility to your resume.

4. Relevant Sales Experience : Clearly state your employment history from giving details regarding the last ten years of experience up until your current position. Use punchy sentences with bullet points to list your most important sales activities. Sales Assistant and Shop Assistant jobs usually exist in industries where you interact with customers and consumers face to face, such as retail products, car sales, electronics, food products, garments, gear, medicine and another type of consumer products bought over the counter or from a retail outlet or shop. You have to be specific. State the nature of the product you are selling to customers. Also include the industry sector for example garden equipment, electronics or boutique clothing to name but a few.

5. Other Employment Experience : This will consist of permanent work history outside of direct customer sales but still in the customer service environment or temporary and vocational jobs where you were actively dealing with clients or customers. Only elaborate on these with job descriptions if you have less than five years of sales experience. Otherwise, just list job title company and duration as to make sure there are no gaps in your employment history.

6. Skills Summary/Key Skills : Incorporates keywords from the job posting and your specific skill set. This adds much-needed credibility to your resume.

7. Education/Licenses/Certifications/Relevant Coursework/Training : Start with your formal degrees if applicable and post-school diplomas or accreditations. List any professional development courses, workshops or programs you completed that better prepared you to work as a sales assistant such as customer service strategies, negotiation tactics, conflict resolution techniques, industry, and product training.

What to Highlight in a Sales Assistant Resume

Regardless of your experience as a Sales Assistant, there are a few vital things that recruiters and managers need to know about you to ensure that you are the right fit for their team.

The first aspect to highlight is the scope of your sales tenure in product type or industry area. There are millions of businesses out there with every imaginable product on offer to customers. It would be best if you were specific about the product types you have sold to customers before.

Secondly, a Sales Assistant is the ‘’face of the business’’ in the store, display room or shop they are working in. You need to show them that you are capable of providing excellent customer service, handle multiple client requests at the same time, provide information on products being sold and deal with complaints in an appropriate manner.

Next, a sales assistant is also involved in back office support duties as an aid to the store manager. These duties may involve tasks like stocktaking, ordering of stock, tracking product returns and general administrative duties like generating sales reports or doing financial administration. In this section mention the systems and applications you are familiar with like Sharesight, VendHQ, MS Excel, Accpac, Sage or Zoho CRM (these are mere examples).

Finally comes the targets, goals and KPI metrics that you need to hit . Be number specific here for example how many incoming customers in a day, split between regulars and new customers, average daily sales generated, average sales per customer and so on.

*Cool Tip for a stellar resume

You can really create an excellent first impression by breaking your job description down into the main responsibility areas of a Sales Assistant.

Customer Service : Create a welcoming environment and provide excellent customer service including learning about. Stock : Order and manage inventory. Stock shelves. Product Knowledge : Suggest products and add-ons to customers, and give advice based on customers' needs and interests. Queries : Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and payment terms if they have an account with the business. Pricing : Create quotations, price estimations, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates. Point of Sale : Ring up products and print sales slips. Provide refunds. Facilitate cash and credit card payments. Do end of day cash ups. After Sales Service : Consult with clients after sales to resolve problems and to provide continuous support. General : Clean, check and arrange shelves. Tidy up aisles and display areas. Ensure that shopping baskets or trolleys are cleaned and sanitized.

Make sure to include the following details:

• The locations or regions you are willing to work in
• Many Sales Assistant positions require employees to work during weekends, holidays and for extended hours in the early evening. You need to state your willingness to the outside of regular office hours or workweeks.
• Also mention the sales administration platforms and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms you are familiar with like Sage, SalesForce, SAP, Oracle, and Vanguard.
• As a final point list examples of the main products, or product ranges which falls under your KPI’s.

Sales Assistant Career Summary

to get personal; this is where you give potential employers a glimpse of who you are and the person they will consider recruiting. Stay focused on the advertisement for the job and always anchor your summary examples to it. 

Your RESUME personal statement or personal profile should do the same thing. It’s a quick way to get your RESUME to grab hiring managers and keep them engaged. Stick to 3–4 sentences and answer these three questions

• Who are you? 
• What can you offer to the prospective company? 
• What are your career goals? 

Answer the questions depending on how much sales experience you’ve got. 

Write a master list of all strengths associated with a junior sales assistant; this is your product features list and a sure way of promoting your professional experience, skills, and abilities.

Keep in mind that you have to refer to the job advert, check the job description, and make sure you list the skills and experience it requires and match the results with 3–4 points from your list. 

Sales Assistant Responsibilities, Job Descriptions, and Duty Examples

An employer would expect to see the following proven foundational duties and skill sets within an applicant’s resume. Herewith a few examples of primary Sales Assistant duties in various industry environments.

A Junior Sales Assistant may:

• Research/generate new client leads.
• Setup up meetings with potential clients
• Increase client base through active sales
• Have in-depth knowledge of the market
• Work together with Executive Directors in developing and accomplishing goals and strategic plans for our industry.
• Stay on top of the market and industry trends, competitors, and all aspects of the – company’s market.
• Responsible for marketing, promotions, and launches of new products.
• Manage trade shows and showrooms, as well as staff helping out at these.
• Focus on the pre-orders and reorders and try to get customers to pre-/re-order.
• Responsible for customer segmentation surveys and their classification annually
• Contact prospects from identified target groups for leads generation
• Manged generated leads and also responsible for checking if accurate.
• Render production reports, and be present at all sales meetings as required
• Contribute innovative solutions and ideas to improve efficiencies and infrastructure
• Support sales team with necessary client-facing tasks, including new business or renewal communication follow-up.

A Sales Assistant in Retail duties:

• Meet and greet customers upon entering the shop
• Operate the point-of-sale system and handle sales transactions
• Answer queries from customers
• Receive deliveries from suppliers
• Perform inventory checks and catalog new stock
• Replenish stock on displays
• Perform cleaning and housekeeping duties
• Clean and tidy up of aisles and display areas
• Ensure sure baskets are available for customers to use
• Help customers navigate the store
• Handle customer complaints regarding products and provide refunds where needed

A Sales Assistant in Automotive Parts duties may be:

• Receive and complete phone orders for parts
• Fill customer orders from available stock and place supplier orders for out of stock items
• Receive payments or request credit authorization
• Prepare sales invoices and sales contracts
• Respond to customer complaints and update them about back-ordered parts
• Label parts and replenish stock levels
• Mark parts in stockrooms according to inventory systems
• Pick up and deliver parts to customers within a 10-mile radius and organize courier service for clients further away
• Examine returned parts for defects and malfunctions
• Exchange defective parts or refund money where applicable
• Maintain and clean work stations and inventory areas and stock rooms

A Sales Assistant's duties in an Outlet Store maybe :

• Assist customers in locating merchandise within the store
• Offer advice to customers regarding merchandise options as well as gift suggestions
• Answer questions concerning merchandise availability, special deals, product features
• Demonstrate the use of merchandise
• Arrange for special bulk orders and deliveries
• Process transactions at the till
• Replenish aisle stock and label merchandise
• Do inventory checks bi-monthly
• Clean and organize aisles and display areas

If you do not have formal sales experience , you can focus on relatable expertise, for example:

A marketing background can help you with sales and pitches to clients. If you had a stunt in public relations, your communication and negotiation skills would surely come in handy. 

Think outside the box and see where duties you performed in other industries and jobs are also beneficial and required for your shooting position. 

Highlight Your Accomplishments

You may be tempted to copy and paste the list of duties you performed under your accomplishment section. The drawback to doing this though is that you won’t stand out from the other applicants with similar experience (remember that the average number of applications per sales assistant role often exceeds 200). Your goal is to think about what sets you apart, what you are most proud of, or what you achieved in your previous roles. Now communicate these through action-packed statements that grab the reader’s attention.

Examples: Flat, Simple Duty: ‘Sell garments to clients and upsell with accessories or special offer merchandise'

Accomplishment Statement: ‘Won top employee prize for two consecutive months, achieving 120% and 200% of monthly targets by upselling accessories and special offer merchandise'

Quantifying Your Resume

When writing your resume, you should be answering questions like “ How much ?” or “ How many ?” It would be best if you include numbers which provide a ‘’proof of work’’ element to your resume. For instance:

• How many customers do you service daily?
• How many regular customers do you have?
• How many sales do you make in a month?

Examples of statements that WONT'T spark the interest of the reader:

• Researched and resolved account information issues for customers improving customer satisfaction and client retention 
• Verified and processed account application information resulting in many new accounts monthly.
• Accurately allocated daily sales to sales staff.
• Calculated and implemented possible price hikes.
• Managed workflow approvals processed to increase productivity.

A few examples that are QUANITIFIED:

• I researched and resolved account information issues to improve customer satisfaction and client retention by approximately 30%.
• Verified and processed new client application information resulting in approximately 13 plus new accounts monthly.
• Accurately allocated 10 – 15 daily sales valued over $5,000.
• Implemented and managed quarterly account payments for top clients.
• Managed training of assistants to increase productivity by 20%.

Sales Assistant Education Section Example

The education section forms an integral part of your resume. In short, indicate What, Where and When regarding your qualifications, certifications or industry licenses obtained. The name of your qualification, institution, and date of completion is more than sufficient. Unless you are a graduate with limited working experience, there is no need to include major subjects or course curriculum topics.

Remember to include current qualifications you are in the process of completing. Regarding courses and certifications, discretion and relevance must be considered. An art course in India does not carry weight if you are applying for a sales assistant role at an IT company in the Mid-West.

Completed Secondary and Tertiary Education must be listed as follows:

Start with commencement date and completion date for diplomas, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees. For courses, you can just list the date of completion. Next comes the full name of the qualification, then the full name of the institution and then the City or abbreviated State name. List your high school diploma details similarly, but only include this when you have less than five years of working experience.

Here are some examples of a Sales Assistant Resume with more than five years’ experience:

2012-2013 Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Mref Institute Denver, CO

2016-2018 Bachelor Degree in Sales and Marketing, University of Ohio, OH

If you have less than five years’ experience, you may also add your majors, minors, GPA scores and accolades, and honors awards:

2016-2018 Bachelor Degree in Sales and Marketing, University of Ohio, OH GPA: 3.8 Majors: Sales Management, Marketing Management Minors: Communications, Accounting, Economics Accolades: Deans Honors List

Skills for the Sales Assistant

Employers will be on the lookout for specific soft skills to indicate whether you are fit for the role they need to fill. There are also technical skills needed, but soft skills are sought after in this industry.

These are the personality traits or skills that indicate to your fit as a Sales Assistant who will add value by meeting set out targets, has adequate knowledge, and sufficient experience to engage and attract customers. Incorporate these into your summary, or profile, and into your accomplishment statements.

Here are some tips to follow: 

• Always keep the job advert in mind and make sure you understand and know which skills are required. 
• Draw your own skills’ list
• Consider your work experience and education and let these guides decide which skills to list, again keep the job advert in mind. 
• Now you can compare the two lists, see what matches, and put 5–10 of those in your resume.
• Include a balanced mix of soft skills and technical skills. 

Educational Attainment : A university degree is not generally required to become a Sales Assistant unless you are in a very specialized industry such as Electronics or Information Technology.

Technical Aptitude : Sales Assistants usually work with Customer Information Management (CRM software) often unique to the industry that they are in. Examples are SalesForce, Hubspot, Copper, Freshsales, and Pipedrive. You also need to be familiar with email platforms like Gmail or Outlook (most companies have their in-house email software which should be easy to learn). For cash-ups, sales slips and inventory management applications such as SAP, Accpac, Zoho, TradeGecko, iVend or Sage are most used.

Soft Skill Examples

• People Orientated
• Negotiation
• Customer Service
• Perseverance
• Approachable
• Persistence
• Team Player
• Detail Orientation
• Physical Stamina
• Well Groomed

Qualifications/Certifications associated with Sales Assistants

Action Verbs for your Sales Assistant Resume

Professional Information for Sales Assistants

Sectors : Various Career Type : Sales, Customer Service, Client Relations Person type : Negotiator, Engager, Influencer, Education levels : High School Diploma to Bachelors Degree Salary indication : $12/hour – $17/hour. From $23k to $41k per year Labor market : Estimated 9% growth between 2016 – 2026 Organizations : Unlimited

Junior Sales Assistant Word Resume Download

• Junior Sales Assistant Word Resume 1.docx

• Junior Sales Assistant Word Resume 2.docx

Download Sales Assistant Resume Examples

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• CV Examples
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• Cover Letter
• Job Interview

Sales Assistant CV Example [A Step-by-Step 2024 Guide + Tips]

Are you looking to write your perfect Sales Assistant CV?

Sales assistants play a pivotal role in the world of retail, where excellent customer service and product knowledge are essential.

Crafting a standout CV is crucial in showcasing your qualifications, experience and achievements, as it’s your first opportunity to make a positive impression on potential employers.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a complete step-by-step guide, valuable tips and real-world examples to help you create an interview-winning CV that sets you on the path to success. Let’s get started!

• Sales assistant CV example
• Download CV template (Word format)

How to format your CV

• How to write a perfect CV (a step-by-step guide)
• Personal profile statement example
• Duties to add to your CV
• Useful skills to add to your CV
• Tips on making your CV more effective

Amelia James

I am seeking a sales-oriented position that enables me to utilise and fortify the attributes, skills and personal qualities I currently have and to make a real, tangible difference in the company that I work for. I have always been an extremely hands-on, practical and energetic worker and am very experienced with providing excellent customer service at all times and in all circumstances. I have a “can-do” attitude, and I enjoy overcoming challenges.

• Junior Sales Person of the Month (2011, Maplin Electronics)
• Raised £485 for Cancer Research UK
• Achieved 7 GCSEs at grades A*–C

Relevant Modules:

• The Business Environment (Distinction)
• Introduction to Marketing (Distinction)
• Product Marketing Research (Merit)
• Supporting Business Activities (Distinction)

• English Language (A)
• Mathematics (C)
• Business Studies (B)
• Economics (C)
• History (A)
• Information Technology (B)
• Psychology (A)

Main duties performed:

• Opening up and closing the shop for two days a week
• Assisting with the day-to-day running of the shop
• Meeting and greeting customers and tailoring services and selected products to meet their needs and expectations
• Handling customer payments, refunds, complaints, compliments, etc.
• Meeting sales targets and marketing the company’s special offers
• Providing training to work experience Sales Assistants from the local schools
• Liaising with head office and suppliers regarding stock replenishment

• Acting as the first point of contact for the shop’s existing and new customers
• Till operation, serving customers and directing them around the shop
• Handling customer queries and complaints on a day-to-day basis.
• Recording and maintaining customer records and sales inquiries
• Keeping calm and professional when dealing with aggressive customers
• Giving expert advice on product selection to customers
• Arranging window displays (and special promotions)
• General cleaning and maintenance of the shop.
• Greeting customers and visitors and acting as the “face of the company”
• General Admin duties: phoning, filing, printing, photocopying, etc.
• Dealing with customer complaints & compliments in a professional manner
• Five-day Sales Bootcamp – Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• Level 2 Award in Effective Team Member Skills – ILM
• Excellent Interpersonal and Communication skills
• Outstanding Persuasion and Negotiation skills
• Being able to relate to and provide service for customers’ needs & requirements
• Deep knowledge of the selling process and the ability to put it into practice

I have previously been involved in organised charity events as well as completing short runs to help raise money for events. In my spare time, I surf the web and enjoy spending time with my family and friends and also meeting new people from all backgrounds.

What makes this CV good and effective?

• Professional and neutral tone: The CV maintains a professional and neutral tone throughout, avoiding overly casual language that might be inappropriate in a formal context. Remember, even if you’re applying for entry-level positions such as this one, your CV needs to convey professionalism. During the interview, you have a chance to make your personality shine.
• Professional font choice: The choice of a professional and legible font, Verdana, ensures that the CV is easy to read and looks polished.
• Clear job entry information: Each job entry is detailed and provides all the key details like the company’s name, location, the candidate’s job title, employment dates, and main duties and achievements. The information is also presented in reverse chronological order (most recent first), making it easier for the most relevant, significant and recent information to be seen first by the employer.
• Focus on skills: The CV, across various sections, highlights both hard skills (e.g., proficiency in point-of-sale systems) and soft skills (e.g., communication and teamwork), reinforcing the candidate’s suitability for the job.
• Understanding of the retail industry: The CV demonstrates a clear understanding of the retail industry, its dynamics, and the specific skills and qualities required for success. They have used the correct sales terminology in their CV, making their CV more targeted for the role.

Download CV template

• Save time and effort
• Guaranteed correct CV structure
• Word document (.docx) format
• Fully customizable

How to save your CV as a PDF document:

• Click on File > Save As > Select “PDF” from the drop-down menu.
• Include up-to-date contact details: Provide up-to-date contact information, including a professional email address, to make it easy for employers to reach you. This information should be presented at the top of your CV, making it easier for employers to identify that the CV belongs to you and how to contact you.
• Avoid irrelevant personal information: Keep personal information such as age, date of birth, marital status, nationality, gender and photos out of your CV. These details are generally not relevant to the job and can open the doors of discrimination against you.
• Use consistent formatting: Maintain consistency in formatting throughout your CV. Ensure that headings, bullet points, margins, line spacing and fonts are uniform.
• Emphasise customer service skills: In the skills section, emphasise customer service skills like active listening, problem-solving and conflict resolution, which are essential requirements for a sales assistant. Refer to the job’s personal specification for more skills that are required for the role and make sure you include them on your CV (if applicable).
• Prioritise your strong selling points: Place the most relevant and important information, such as your recent work experience and key skills, at the top of your CV to grab the recruiter’s attention.
• Proofread and edit: Before sending your CV to prospective employers, thoroughly proofread and edit it to eliminate any typos, grammatical errors or formatting issues.

How to Write a Sales Assistant CV (A Complete Guide)

Personal information.

As its name suggests, this section should contain your personal information that employers will use to identify and contact you.

• Full Name (First and last name only, no middle names)
• Phone Number (Preferably a mobile phone number)
• Professional Email Address
• Address (City and Postcode)
• Grace Andrews
• 789 Birch Road, Birmingham, B5 6EF
• Mob: 07890 123 456       Email: [email protected]

Personal profile

Your personal profile should include a brief summary of your skills, experiences and career goals, giving the employer a snapshot of what makes you a valuable candidate for the job.

Read more: How to write a personal profile for a CV and impress employers .

Sales assistant personal profile example:

As an experienced Sales Assistant with a track record of exceeding sales targets by 20% in my previous role, I am dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and driving revenue growth. With a deep understanding of product features and a knack for identifying customer needs, I consistently fostered positive client relationships. My strong communication and problem-solving skills make me a valuable asset to any sales team.

Achievements

The achievements section of your CV is where you highlight the most important accomplishments in your career, education or life in general.

You should include things like awards you’ve won, promotions you’ve earned, high grades you’ve achieved, or any other notable successes that show you excel in what you do.

Note: This section is especially important if you don’t have any relevant work experience as a sales assistant. It will show the employer that despite lacking work experience, you are still an achiever aiming for excellence in everything you do.

• Received positive feedback from customers and maintained a high satisfaction rate.
• Played a key role in launching a successful new product line.
• Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets for three consecutive quarters.
• Volunteered for a charity event and helped raise £5,000.
• Received a certificate for completing a customer service excellence course.

Work experience

When writing the work experience section of your CV, start with your most recent job and work backwards.

For each position, highlight your key responsibilities, accomplishments and the impact you had on the company. Use action verbs (e.g. “negotiated”, “implemented”, etc.) and quantify your achievements (e.g. “Improved sales by 15%”) where possible, so you clearly show the value you brought to your previous roles.

Remember, the goal is to demonstrate how your past experiences make you the right fit for the job you’re applying for so always look at the job advertisement and try to tailor your CV to that.

Main duties and responsibilities performed:

• Assisted customers in selecting and purchasing products, resulting in a 15% increase in sales.
• Provided excellent customer service by addressing inquiries and resolving issues promptly.
• Maintained organised product displays and ensured the store’s visual appeal.
• Collaborated with the team to achieve and exceed monthly sales targets.
• Operated the cash register and handled financial transactions accurately.
• Achievements: Consistently ranked as one of the top-performing sales assistants, contributing to a 20% boost in in-store revenue.

Sales assistant duties to add to your CV

• Assisting customers in product selection and providing detailed information about features and benefits.
• Processing sales transactions accurately through the point-of-sale system.
• Maintaining a tidy and organised sales floor, ensuring products are well-displayed.
• Resolving customer inquiries and complaints in a professional and helpful manner.
• Monitoring and replenishing inventory to ensure products are in stock.
• Collaborating with the sales team to achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Keeping up-to-date with product knowledge and staying informed about promotions and sales.
• Supporting store promotions and marketing initiatives.
• Handling cash, credit and debit card payments while maintaining cash register accuracy.

The education section of your CV is where you tell potential employers about your academic background. It includes details about where and what you’ve studied, your qualifications and the dates you completed your studies.

Subjects studied:

• Sales and Customer Service
• Retail Operations
• Merchandising and Display
• Business Communication

Professional qualifications

In addition to your formal education, you may also have completed professional training courses in sales or customer service. List them here.

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Customer Service – The Open University
• Level 2 Certificate in Retail Knowledge – City & Guilds
• IT Proficiency Certification – Microsoft Office
• Sales and Marketing Course – Sales Institute UK
• Effective Communication Training – 1-to-1 Training Centre
• Conflict Resolution Seminar – Professional Development Institute

Skills and abilities

The skills section of your CV is where you highlight the specific abilities and qualities that make you a great fit for a Sales Assistant role.

This section provides a quick overview of what you bring to the table and helps employers see how well you match the job requirements.

You should include skills like excellent communication, customer service, product knowledge, sales techniques and proficiency in software relevant to the position.

• Customer service: Delivered top-notch customer service, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate and resolving customer complaints effectively.
• Sales techniques: Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets by 20% through effective upselling and cross-selling strategies.
• Product knowledge: Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of our product range, resulting in a 15% increase in product-related sales.
• Team collaboration: Worked collaboratively with the sales team, leading and training junior staff to meet and surpass sales goals.

Useful sales assistant skills to add to your CV

• Sales techniques: Using strategies to boost sales, such as upselling and cross-selling.
• Communication: Effective interaction with customers and colleagues.
• Inventory management: Handling and organising stock efficiently.
• Problem-solving: Addressing customer issues and finding solutions.
• Cash handling: Accurate management of cash transactions.
• Adaptability: Quickly adjusting to changes in products or procedures.
• Organisation: Keeping work areas and displays neat and orderly.
• Upselling: Encouraging customers to purchase additional products or services.
• Cross-selling: Promoting related products to increase average transaction value.
• Customer service: Providing excellent service to meet customer needs and ensure satisfaction.
• Client relationship building: Cultivating positive and lasting customer connections.
• Technology proficiency: Skilful use of sales and CRM software tools.
• Negotiation: Effectively bargaining and closing deals with customers.

Hobbies & interests

The hobbies and interests section of your CV is a chance for you to show your personality and share what you’re passionate about outside of work.

You should include hobbies that demonstrate qualities like teamwork, leadership, creativity or any interests that reveal your character and make you a more interesting and relatable candidate.

You could also mention being part of a local football team, volunteering for a charity or pursuing a creative hobby like painting or photography. Remember, only include hobbies that are relevant to the role and/or add value to your application.

The referees section on your CV is where you provide contact information for individuals who can vouch for your skills and character. Employers will contact them to get an unbiased opinion about you.

You should choose referees who know you professionally and can speak to your qualifications. They can be former teachers, tutors, colleagues, supervisors, managers, etc.

Remember to obtain their permission before listing them as references and ensure that they are willing to speak on your behalf.

Note: If you do not wish to disclose your references on your CV, you should write, “References are available upon request.”

Tips to make your CV more effective

• Highlight achievements: Showcase specific accomplishments, such as exceeding sales targets by 20% or receiving recognition for outstanding customer service. This will have a major impact on your chances of getting a job because research has shown that achievement-focused CVs are three times more likely to be shortlisted for interviews!
• Tailor for each job: Customise your CV for each application by emphasising skills and experiences that match the specific sales assistant role. This means that you should not use the CV same for multiple jobs as the needs of the employers and roles will differ, even if the job vacancies are for a role with the same job title.
• Show adaptability: Highlight your ability to adapt to different situations, like handling peak sales periods and addressing customer complaints effectively.
• Problem-solving: Share examples of how you’ve resolved issues, like handling difficult customers or finding solutions to stock shortages.
• Volunteer work: If applicable, mention volunteer experiences that demonstrate teamwork, leadership or community involvement.

This is the end of our comprehensive guide on how to write a Sales Assistant CV.

We’ve provided you with valuable insights, real-world examples and a wealth of tips to craft the perfect CV that stands out to potential employers.

You should now feel equipped to create a tailored CV that highlights your sales skills, customer service expertise and professionalism. Remember to customise it for each job application, using the strategies we’ve shared to make a lasting impression.

With your well-crafted Sales Assistant CV, you’re one step closer to securing your desired job in the competitive world of retail and sales. Best of luck in your job search!

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Sales Assistant

Sales Assistant resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for a sales assistant

Include your contact information, make use of a summary, outline your sales assistant work experience, include the relevant key skills that make you a great sales assistant, detail your education & relevant sales assistant certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a sales assistant resume, what type of salary you can expect in sales assistant.

As a sales assistant, you are the friendly face and helping hand that humanizes any customer’s experience. In many ways, you’re the face of the company during their time in the store! So it’s no surprise that any discerning hiring manager will want to see a strong resume that shows which applicants are up to the task.

Sales assistants typically work in retail settings, serving as professional sources of support for customers and striving to offer superior customer experience that promotes and increases sales. A sales assistant should be knowledgeable about their industry and the company’s offerings and products. They should be excellent communicators with outgoing and friendly personalities, conducive to achieving positive sales experiences for customers. 

Sales assistants are typically expected to perform a variety of store related duties as well. An ideal candidate holds a high school diploma and has relevant experience in sales.

Resume guide for a sales assistant resume

If you’re applying for your next sales assistant role, Resume.io is here to serve you! Our library of resume examples for an array of professions (over 500!) will give you a leg up on writing the perfect sales assistant resume. Or, use our resume builder to make it even easier.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding sales assistant resume example, covers the following topics:

How to write a sales assistant resume

• Choosing the right sales assistant resume format
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your sales assistant experience
• Listing your education and relevant knowledge
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the sales assistant market looks like, and the salary you can expect

The very first step in writing your sales assistant resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

These are the building blocks of a strong sales assistant resume example. In each of these sections, your resume should respond to the skills and experience the employer is looking for. That means adapting and tweaking the examples and language you include to convince the hiring manager you’re the top pick for this particular position.

In fact, a job application is much like a sales pitch. Just like you share the benefits of a product with your customers, your application gives you the opportunity to show off your unique value proposition to a prospective employer.  This pitch starts with your resume. To close the deal, stick to this winning formula:

• Highlight specific accomplishments , not just past responsibilities. Anybody can provide a list of tasks they were given, but it’s much more impactful to specify how you brought value to the role and what you achieved.
• Tailor your resume to each job you apply to; this means adjusting the style and tone to the company’s, just like you adapt your communication and sales pitch to each unique customer you serve.
• You know that first impressions matter in sales, so be sure to put your best foot forward with a resume template that’s attractive, professional, and easy to read.
• Sprinkle relevant keywords throughout your resume. This will be beneficial regardless of whether a recruiter, hiring manager, or online system is reading through it.

Optimize for the ATS

An applicant tracking system is a tool most large companies use to collect and track job applications. Candidates can view the job posting and submit their resume, and recruiters and hiring managers can then view it in the system, add notes, and schedule interviews. 

Some advanced systems offer algorithms that scan and rank resumes based on which are the best fit for the role at hand; to make your resume most attractive to such an algorithm (and to the human reader!), you want to use the right keywords. 

For example, a sales assistant job posting might list the following requirements: 

• “Sales assistant experience”
• “2+ years of experience”
• “Knowledge of technical and electronic products”
• “Achieving sales targets”
• “Strong communication skills”

To integrate these keywords into your sales assistant resume summary, you might write: 

“Highly driven sales assistant with 2+ years of experience selling technical and electronic products in a high-traffic environment. Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets, providing excellent customer service, and leveraging strong communication skills.” 

The best resume format for your sales assistant resume is reverse chronological . This format lists your previous work experience in—you guessed it—reverse chronological order. It’s the format that hiring managers expect, because the most important aspect of your sales assistant resume is proving your customer service abilities through recent relevant experience.

However, if you’re new to the industry or have no work experience at all, you have a few options. You could stick with the reverse chronological format and list jobs from other sectors. Or, you could use a functional format , which displays and focuses on your skills instead of employment history.

Our resume builder includes numerous resume templates , so take a look and choose whichever best meets your needs. There are plenty of resume examples displaying each format in action. 

Design matters, too; you want your resume to show off your skills, not confuse the reader. A great sales assistant resume template may use a straightforward, attractive modern layout . 

When making a sale or meeting a customer, chances are you’ll share your business card or contact information so they can get in touch later. You can think of your resume header as a business card for your job application. 

Although it seems simple, this section is important. After all, if you don’t make it easy to contact you, you risk being overlooked for the job. Make sure your contact information is easily accessible and professionally displayed. 

What should you include?  

• Full name & title . Include your first and last name and the title of the role you’re pursuing.
• Professional email address . Use a clean, simple email format like [email protected] . Avoid anything silly, quirky, or unprofessional.
• Phone number . List your phone number, and be sure it’s one you answer regularly and that your voicemail box is set up (and has room for new messages).
• Location . Only list your city and state . There’s no need to add your street address, as that’s both an outdated convention and unsafe. If you’re willing to relocate, list that here.
• LinkedIn . If you have an active, relevant LinkedIn profile that shows off your sales network, include it.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth : This isn’t necessary and could put you at risk of age discrimination .
• Personal details : Marital status, social security number, passport number , etc. don’t belong on your resume.

Joseph Bear

Los Angeles, CA

[email protected]

434-123-5967

Master of Sales

456 Maple Street, Los Angeles, CA, 34958

DOB: 11/4/1989

Your resume summary is a powerful tool to prove your excellent communication skills, whether you’re a sales assistant pro or a newcomer. The summary, or profile, is the three to five sentences at the top of your resume that tell the hiring manager about your top achievements and strongest attributes.

That’s not that much space, so prioritize keywords you see emphasized in the job listing. You can also make your writing more convincing and cut down on the word count by using strong  action verbs . 

Don’t just repeat information from further down in your resume. Instead, use this summary space to showcase the overarching traits and experience that make you a stellar sales assistant. In other words, the summary should demonstrate your unique value proposition. For instance, a line in your summary may read, “Consistently exceeded sales targets by 50% or higher, while earning top customer service score in the store.” 

Sales assistants must be able to establish and nurture positive relationships with prospects and customers, so this is your first chance to prove how well you can do that. 

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes:

• Sales assistant resume sample
• Car sales resume sample
• Sales Associate resume sample
• Sales resume sample
• Account executive resume sample
• Account manager resume sample
• Sales representative resume sample

You can find adaptable sales assistant resume example summaries below:

Motivated sales assistant dedicated to providing top-of-the-line customer service in retail settings. Organized, detail oriented, and a self starter. Committed to increasing sales by providing customers with thoughtful consideration and support. Adept at multitasking, and experienced in administrative and clerical work. 

Motivated sales assistant with 2 years of experience providing top-of-the-line customer service in retail settings. Organized, detail oriented, and a self starter. Committed to increasing sales by providing customers with thoughtful consideration and support, with a proven track record of exceeding quotas by 25%+. Adept at multitasking, and experienced in administrative and clerical work. 

Seasoned sales assistant with 5+ years of experience providing top-of-the-line customer service in high-volume retail settings. Track record of exceeding sales quotas by 25% and providing mentorship and training to new team members. Consistent Net Promoter Score of 100 due to exceptional customer service.

In this section, you’ll list your previous employment, with your current or most recent position at the top. This should be the longest part of your resume, even if you’re switching industries or positions. The important thing is to use your previous work experience to highlight the transferable skills and accomplishments that make you a great sales assistant candidate.

Make a subheading for each role. This subheading should mention the job title, employer, dates worked, and location. Add several bullet points under each subheading that show off your most relevant responsibilities and most impressive accomplishments in that role.

Don’t just list tasks. Instead, your employment history section should use specific examples that prove you can address the most important aspects of the role. Most sales assistant jobs call for top customer service skills and experience in sales, so consider examples of times you’ve solved a problem to improve a store's sales or a customer’s experience.

For instance, a lot of resumes may look like this:

• "Made sales in a retail environment.”
• "Provided excellent customer service.”
• "Gained product knowledge.”

While those are great traits of a sales assistant, nothing about those bullet points is specific to you and your unique value. A great way to add weight to the bullet points is to add specific details and numbers that quantify your wins . For example, statistics and numbers better describe exactly how much time you saved your colleagues with your idea, or how much you increased sales through your expert assistance. 

Check out these reworked bullets with that in mind:

• "Executed sales in a high-volume retail environment, exceeding monthly quotas by 10-25% and earning recognition for highest sales on the team of 10.”
• "Served upwards of 100 customers per day, earning a 99% customer satisfaction score.”
• "Researched and tested products to build product knowledge, becoming a go-to trainer for new hires.”

Don’t those seem much more exciting?

Take a look at the sales assistant employment history resume sample below:

Sales Assistant at Target, New York  December 2017 - September 2019 

• Greeted customers with a friendly and helpful attitude.  
• Answered any questions regarding inventory, sales, and promotions. 
• Carefully and accurately rang up items and neatly packed customer bags. 
• Worked well with other employees to ensure smooth processes.  
• Focused on being punctual, hardworking, and reliable.  
• Assisted with displays and offered ideas to increase product appeal. 

Sales Assistant at Lila's Corner Shop, Seattle  March 2013 - June 2017 

• Recorded and processed all gift orders in an organized and careful manner.  
• Handled window displays and changed them for each season.  
• Sent out monthly newsletters detailing store events and promotions.  
• Provided customers with relevant information and suggestions. 
• Answered phone calls and relayed messages to store personnel. 

How to write a sales assistant resume with no experience 

If you’re hoping to make a career pivot into a sales assistant role, you’re in luck: many such roles are available to those without direct experience . 

Of course, you still need to show how you’re a fit for the role, and that means relying on your transferable skills . These could be skills you gained through education, in unrelated past jobs, or from volunteer work. 

Focus on the skills that are most important to a sales assistant position. If you’ve worked as a server in a restaurant , for example, you likely have plenty of examples of customer service and communication skills. If you’ve worked as an administrative assistant , chances are you’re detail-oriented, accurate, and would be able to quickly pick up cash register management. 

Or, maybe you have volunteer experience —fundraising or volunteer management experience would be beneficial in a sales assistant role. 

The skills section might seem easy at a glance, but it’s worth taking a moment to consider the most important attributes to list. Can you sell water to the ocean? Do you have a knack for turning upset customers’ frowns upside down? This is the spot to tell the hiring manager!

The job listing is your top resource for identifying the most important skills. It may lean more toward soft skills or hard skills , but both are important. Soft skills are the personality traits that determine how you carry out a job: things like being a good listener or a leader. Hard skills are technical skills, like knowing how to use certain software or being a certified first aider. In most cases, it’s good to include a mix of both hard and soft skills.

Our resume builder includes several pre-populated skills to choose from, as well as the option to add your own. 

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our sales assistant resume template. 

• Organizational Skills 
• Excellent Communication Skills 
• Customer Service Skills 
• Advanced Math

This list, however, is not the only place your skills should appear. Include them throughout your resume in the form of examples of accomplishments and achievements. 

For example, when writing your work experience and summary sections, you can highlight your:

• Sales skills by showing how you’ve exceeded goals or quotas or how you’ve increased revenue through large sales
• Customer service skills by sharing the volume of customers you serve in an average day/week/month, or including any recognition or high scores for customer service
• Teamwork skills by detailing your experience collaborating with others, training new team members, or taking on a leadership role

Your resume’s education section can be just as important as your employment history; it shouldn’t be quite as long, though. 

Here, you’ll list your most recent diplomas or degrees in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the institution and the name of your qualification. If you recently completed or are still attending the program, you can include the dates. While most sales assistant roles don’t require a college degree , if you’ve earned one, show it off!

Beyond your formal education, it’s a great idea to include any certifications, training programs, or courses that are relevant to sales assistant work. For example,

• Training and certifications . Have you taken any courses, trainings, or workshops that have enhanced your sales skills?
• Internships . Although sales assistant internships may not be common, perhaps you’ve held one, or you’ve held other internship positions that bolstered your sales skills.
• Professional development . If you’re a member in a sales-related association or networking group, like the National Association of Sales Professionals , add it to your resume to show your commitment to networking and developing your knowledge.

Associate in Business Administration, Westchester Community College, Valhalla  August 2015 - May 2017 

High School Diploma, Harrison High School, Harrison  September 2011 - June 2015

The layout and design of your resume is another way to show the hiring manager that you’re a sales assistant with excellent communication skills. Would you trust someone with a job that requires good organization if they have a messy resume? Probably not.

Step into the shoes of the hiring manager and choose a design for your resume that channels your top communication skills and attention to detail. Keep it simple and make sure that all of the sections are easy to read. If you’re having trouble, then you can save yourself time and hassle by opting for one of our resume templates , which do the heavy lifting for you.

Avoid graphics, multiple fonts , or flashy colors. No one responds well to a salesperson who goes over the top with flashy antics and pushy behavior, so don’t let your resume appear that way, either. We recommend clean lines, ample white space, and limited color (a pop of one color can make a nice impression, but don’t go overboard). 

Sales assistant text-only resume example

Motivated Sales Assistant dedicated to providing top of the line customer service. Organized, detail oriented, and a self starter. Dedicated to increasing sales by providing customers with careful consideration and support. Bringing forth several years of experience achieving success in retail settings. 

Employment history

• Greeted customers with a friendly and helpful attitude.
• Answered any questions regarding inventory, sales, and promotions.
• Carefully and accurately rang up items and neatly packed customer bags.
• Worked well with other employees to ensure smooth processes.
• Focused on being punctual, hardworking, and reliable.
• Assisted with displays and offered ideas to increase product appeal.
• Recorded and processed all gift orders in an organized and careful manner.
• Handled window displays and changed them for each season.
• Sent out monthly newsletters detailing store events and promotions.
• Provided customers with relevant information and suggestions.
• Answered phone calls and relayed messages to store personnel.
• Organizational Skills
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Customer Service Skills

Sales assistant job market and outlook

Unfortunately, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates a decline in sales assistant jobs over the next decade. This is largely due to the continued growth of e-commerce and online shopping, which leads to a need for fewer physical retail stores. 

However, even with this decline, the BLS anticipates around 563,000 openings each year for the next decade. Most of these will be due to employees leaving the occupation or exiting the labor force altogether. 

• At last count, the BLS identified approximately 4,031,700 sales assistant jobs in the US.
• However, they also note an expected -2% change between now and 2032.
• That’s a decrease of 76,600 roles.

The BLS uses the title “retail sales worker” to refer to sales assistants, and they note that the median wage is approximately $16.19 per hour . The lowest 10 percent of workers earn under $11.42, while the highest 10 percent of earners bring in over $23.13 per hour.

In general, the highest-paid sales assistants work in furniture and home furnishings, with the lowest-paid working in clothing and accessories.

Sales Assistant Salary

Key takeaways for building a sales assistant resume.

Working as a sales assistant is a great choice for anyone who is motivated, enjoys working with the public, and provides exceptional customer service. You get to be at the forefront of a customer’s day, offering them a positive experience and meeting their needs.

Your resume should do the same for the hiring manager. It’s a powerful tool to tell a story about the skills you will bring to the role. And the design of your resume is like the friendly face that accompanies your customer service skills, so don’t get caught with a messy layout.

Even top sales assistants should be able to ask for help, so consider using our online resume builder to make your life easier!

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Home / Blog / sales-assistant-cv

Sales Assistant CV Tips And Examples | Guide For 2024

Discover how to craft a compelling Sales Assistant CV with our tips and examples. Make 2023 your year of career advancement with a standout resume.

Table of Contents

In the bustling world of retail, a well-crafted sales assistant cv is your golden ticket to securing rewarding opportunities. 

A powerful CV serves as your professional passport, enabling potential employers to journey through your career history, skills, and achievements. It’s more than a mere listing of qualifications; it’s a strategic narrative that positions you as an ideal candidate for the role. 

The importance of a finely tuned CV cannot be overstated. As the initial point of contact between you and recruiters, it needs to not only capture attention but also hold it, compelling the reader to delve deeper into your professional story. 

It’s about showcasing your prowess, customer service understanding, and commitment to the industry in a concise yet comprehensive manner in a sales CV. 

Wondering what should a sales assistant put on a CV? You’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to find out.

Writing An Impactful Objective Statement

The objective statement is a vital component of your CV. It’s a concise and compelling introduction that outlines your career goals and how they align with the job you’re applying for. 

The key to crafting a captivating objective statement is to make it specific, clear, and tailored to the role. It should not only highlight your qualifications and skills but also communicate your enthusiasm for the job and the value you can bring to the company.

Wondering what is an example personal statement for Sales Assistant? We have the answer for you. 

• “Motivated Sales Assistant with three years of experience in fast-paced retail environments. Consistently achieve sales goals while delivering outstanding customer service. Seeking to leverage my skills and passion for sales in a challenging role at XYZ Retail Company to drive revenue and customer satisfaction.”
• “Dynamic and dedicated graduate with a major in Business Management. Eager to apply my knowledge and commitment to a Sales Assistant position at ABC Store, contributing to team success and business growth.”

Learn: The 5 Best Resume Formats to Use in 2024 ( top Templates ) 

Showcasing Your sales assistant cv Experience 

Presenting your sales assistant experience effectively is crucial in demonstrating your suitability for the role. It’s not just about listing previous roles; it’s about showcasing your achievements, skills learned, and the impact you made. For each position, include

• Your job title,
• The name of the company,
• The dates you were employed
• A brief overview of your responsibilities.

To make your CV stand out, highlight specific accomplishments and skills gained. Make sure to search the answers for common questions about sales assistant cv to give an impactful interview.

• “Achieved consistently high customer satisfaction ratings, receiving positive feedback on my ability to understand and cater to customer needs.”
• “Exceeded sales targets by 20% in the last quarter by implementing effective upselling techniques learned from a professional sales training course.”

Check: Get now! The top & professional resume formats

Highlighting Relevant Skills And Achievements 

Sales assistants require a unique blend of skills for sales assistant cv to succeed. Employers often seek candidates with strong customer service abilities, excellent communication skills, a knack for persuasion, and a deep understanding of product knowledge. 

Other desirable traits include teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience in the face of challenging situations. In fact, use the perfect number of resume action words for maximum impact!  

Besides, a common question asked by the interviewers is “What are the duties of a Sales Assistant?” You must provide the answer with duties you excel in.

• “Leveraged excellent communication and customer service skills to build rapport with customers, resulting in a 30% increase in loyalty card sign-ups.”
• “Utilized product knowledge and persuasive selling techniques to meet and exceed sales targets by 15% consistently.”

Learn more: Unveiling The 10 Best Skills To Put On A Resume .

Education And Training

Your education and training section can further solidify your qualifications as a sales assistant. This includes formal schooling, relevant coursework, or industry-specific training.

When presenting this information, list the institution’s name, the dates you attended, and the qualification obtained. If you’ve completed any sales-related courses or certifications, highlight these too.

• “Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, XYZ University, 2017-2021. Completed courses in Sales Management and Customer Relationship Management.”
• “Certified Sales Professional (CSP), National Association of Sales Professionals. Gained expertise in advanced selling strategies and customer retention techniques.”

Learn more: Sales executive resume examples & tips .

Sales Assistant CV Samples

Creating a winning sales assistant cv example involves showcasing your skills, experience, and achievements in an organized, engaging way. Here are three different formats you could consider:

Entry-Level Sales Assistant CV

This format is beneficial for recent graduates or individuals seeking their first job in sales. sales assistant cv emphasizes educational background and relevant skills over work experience , which the applicant might need to gain at this stage.

Mid-Level Sales Assistant CV

This format is ideal for professionals with a few years of experience. Sales Assistant CV focuses on showcasing the work experience and key achievements in previous roles. It also allows the individual to demonstrate growth and progression in their career.

Senior-Level Sales Assistant CV

This format is designed for highly experienced professionals. Sales Assistant CV provides space to detail significant career accomplishments and leadership roles. It also allows the inclusion of relevant certifications, demonstrating a commitment to professional development.

Learn How To Write A Real Estate Resume No Experience?

Include A Cover Letter

A cover letter is a crucial component when submitting your CV. It provides an opportunity to highlight your skills and qualifications that make you the best fit for the job. Moreover, it allows you to explain how your experiences align with the company’s needs in a way that a CV can’t.

Here are some tips for writing a captivating cover letter:

• Personalize

Go beyond the generic; address the hiring manager by name. This small detail signals your proactive research and genuine interest.

• Engage From The Start

Begin with a compelling opening line that captures attention. For example, “Having consistently exceeded sales targets at my current job, I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my high-level sales skills to your team.”

• Showcase Relevant Skills

Navigate the cover letter towards critical skills aligning with the sales assistant job description. This ensures a direct correlation between your capabilities and the employer’s requirements.

Maintain brevity; limit your cover letter to three or four succinct paragraphs. A concise presentation ensures that your key points are impactful and easy to grasp.

Conclude your cover letter with a robust expression of enthusiasm for the role, coupled with an invitation for further discussion. This leaves a lasting impression and encourages the employer to delve deeper into your application.

Tips To Make Your CV Stand Out

To make your sales assistant cv stand out, here are additional shop sales assistant cv tips and tricks:

• Don’t just list sales assistant duties CV; showcase achievements. Did you exceed sales targets or maintain high customer satisfaction rates? Include these facts.
• Align your skills and experiences with the job description. If the role requires strong customer service skills, provide examples of your success in this area.
• Use numbers to demonstrate your impact, such as the percentage of sales targets achieved or number of customers served.
• Show you understand the industry and company offerings. Learn how long should a CV be to avoid dragging it out too much.
• Make sure your CV is free from spelling and grammar errors, demonstrating professionalism. Ensure to check your CV from the ATS resume checker to remove any doubts.

Role Of Resume Builders

Resume builders play a crucial role in job hunting, offering efficient ways to create professionally designed resumes. They provide pre-formatted templates, saving job seekers significant time and effort. They also offer you information and templates to guide you on how to create CV online free .

Resume builders also allow for customization, enabling applicants to develop multiple targeted documents for different roles. They guide users through the process, ensuring CVs are tailored to job specifications. 

Wondering what is the best Resume checker online free for 2024 ? Among the top performers is Resume Forrest, the best resume builder known for its user-friendly interface, diverse template options, and comprehensive guidance, making it a preferred choice for many job seekers.

Wrapping Up

Crafting a standout Sales Assistant CV requires careful attention to detail, customization, and showcasing your achievements. 

Highlighting relevant skills, using quantifiable metrics, demonstrating industry knowledge, listing any certifications, and showcasing soft skills can significantly enhance your CV. 

To ensure a great professional sales assistant cv , it’s crucial to proofread your CV for sales assistant for any errors thoroughly. Additionally, it’s essential to understand the expectations of potential employers and customize your CV accordingly for the best chance of success. 

With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a compelling and successful Sales Assistant CV.

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Sales Assistant Resume Examples

As a sales assistant, the ability to construct an effective and attractive resume is a key skill. Your resume is your first impression with a potential employer and it is important to make sure it conveys the right message. In this guide, you will learn how to write a professional sales assistant resume, what information to include, how to format it and provide examples of successful sales assistant resumes. Whether you are a seasoned sales professional or are just starting out in the sales industry, this guide will provide you with the essential tips and tricks to create a great resume.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, be sure to check out our complete library of resume examples .

Start building your dream career today! 

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Sales Assistant

123 Main Street | Anytown, USA 99999 | Phone: (123) 456-7890 | Email: [email protected]

Hard working and motivated sales assistant with 4 years of experience providing excellent customer service. Experienced in resolving customer issues, making sales presentations and managing cash transactions. Possesses exceptional organizational, communication and problem- solving skills.

Core Skills :

• Strong customer service and sales experience
• Ability to handle customer inquiries and issues
• Proficient in cash handling and POS systems
• Excellent communication and problem- solving skills
• Highly organized and detail- oriented
• Positive and friendly attitude

Professional Experience : Fashion Boutique, San Jose CA Sales Assistant, 2016- 2020

• Interacted with customers, answered questions, and provided product information
• Performed cashier duties and handled returns and exchanges
• Assisted in merchandising and restocking shelves
• Recommending product solutions to customers
• Reconciled accounts and managed cash drawer

Education : San Jose State University, San Jose CA Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 2016

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Sales Assistant Resume with No Experience

Recent college graduate with strong organizational and communication skills and a passion for sales and customer service. Highly motivated and eager to gain experience in the sales field.

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to multi- task effectively
• Ability to think outside the box
• Excellent problem- solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast- paced environment

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers with their sales enquiries
• Provide product information to customers
• Provide assistance with product selection
• Process sales transactions accurately and efficiently
• Follow- up with customers to ensure satisfaction
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of sales floor
• Assist with restocking of shelves and backroom organization

Experience 0 Years

Level Junior

Education Bachelor’s

Sales Assistant Resume with 2 Years of Experience

A highly motivated and customer- oriented Sales Assistant with two years of experience in the retail sector. As a focused and adaptable professional, I am able to bring a wealth of expertise to any sales environment. I have an in- depth knowledge of products and the ability to effectively communicate information and ideas. I am also highly organized, efficient, and capable of multitasking. I am a driven individual, eager to continually pursue opportunities for growth and development.

• Customer service
• Product knowledge
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Problem- solving
• Communication

Responsibilities :

• Provide excellent customer service and engage customers in conversation to understand their requirements
• Inform customers of product features, benefits and prices
• Create friendly and helpful customer relations
• Identify up- selling and cross- selling opportunities to increase sales
• Consistently maintain accurate records of sales and stock
• Maintain a clean and orderly store environment
• Organize and restock shelves and displays on a regular basis
• Greet customers and answer any inquiries
• Assist the sales team in achieving targets

Experience 2+ Years

Sales Assistant Resume with 5 Years of Experience

Dynamic and motivated Sales Assistant with 5 years of experience in customer relations, retail sales and inventory management. Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales goals and providing excellent customer service. Strong background in merchandising, marketing and inventory control. Possesses excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills.

• Customer Service
• Sales and Promotion
• Merchandising
• Inventory Management
• Retail Management
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills
• Greeted customers and provided outstanding customer service.
• Assisted customers with their purchases and product selection.
• Assisted in the day- to- day operations of the store, including stocking shelves and setting up displays.
• Performed inventory control and monitored stock levels.
• Developed and implemented successful marketing and promotional campaigns.
• Ensured the store was clean, organized, and attractive to customers.
• Assisted in training and onboarding of new employees.
• Handled cash and credit card transactions accurately.
• Resolved customer service and product complaints in a timely manner.

Experience 5+ Years

Level Senior

Sales Assistant Resume with 7 Years of Experience

Highly motivated, results- oriented professional with 7 years of experience in the sales industry. Proven track record of successfully meeting and exceeding sales goals and objectives. Adept at building relationships with customers and business partners. Exceptional communication, negotiation and problem- solving skills.

• Excellent customer service
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Research and analysis
• Advanced product knowledge
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Provide customers service by responding to their inquiries in a timely and professional manner
• Responsible for the preparation of sales quotations and tracking customer orders
• Maintain sales records and prepare reports for the sales team
• Participate in sales meetings and training to keep up to date with new products and promotions
• Develop and maintain relationships with customers, internal departments, and vendors
• Identify and develop new sales opportunities to increase overall sales volume

Experience 7+ Years

Sales Assistant Resume with 10 Years of Experience

Highly motivated sales assistant with 10 years of experience in providing superior customer service, merchandising, and administrative support in a fast- paced retail setting. Proven track record of exceeding sales targets, efficiently managing multiple tasks, and providing top- notch customer service. A natural born problem solver with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, eager to make a positive impact on any team.

• Sales performance
• Administrative tasks
• Strong problem solving skills
• Interpersonal communication
• Team collaboration
• Inventory management
• Point of sale system
• Merchandise display
• Prepare sales reports and analyze sales data
• Respond to customer inquiries and complaints
• Monitor inventory levels while ordering necessary supplies
• Maintain product displays in accordance with store standards
• Monitor customer feedback and survey to improve service
• Maintain and update POS system with accurate pricing and product information
• Utilize POS system to process transactions
• Assist customers with product selection and provide expert advice
• Track sales and recommend discount and promotional strategies

Experience 10+ Years

Level Senior Manager

Education Master’s

Sales Assistant Resume with 15 Years of Experience

Highly motivated, detail- oriented sales assistant with 15 years of experience in customer service. Skilled in maintaining client relationships, creating marketing materials, and managing inventory. Proven ability to work effectively in a fast- paced environment and build lasting relationships with customers and partners. Passion for helping customers find solutions and exceed their expectations.

• Marketing & sales
• Project management
• Problem solving
• Provided outstanding customer service and support to customers.
• Assisted in developing sales and marketing materials, such as flyers and brochures.
• Maintained accurate and up- to- date records of customer purchases and transactions.
• Managed inventory and stock levels, ensuring that products were stocked and readily available.
• Created and implemented strategies to increase sales and customer satisfaction.
• Handled customer inquiries, complaints and feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Developed and maintained strong working relationships with customers and clients.
• Collaborated with other departments to ensure smooth operations and delivery of services.
• Analyzed customer needs and developed solutions that met their requirements.
• Assisted in solving customer problems and provided technical support when necessary.

Experience 15+ Years

Level Director

In addition to this, be sure to check out our resume templates , resume formats ,  cover letter examples ,  job description , and  career advice  pages for more helpful tips and advice.

What should be included in a Sales Assistant resume?

A Sales Assistant’s resume should include the following:

• Contact information: This includes your name, address, phone number and email address.
• Objective: Summarize your qualifications and provide a brief explanation of why you are a good fit for the role.
• Work experience: Include previous jobs you have held that are related to the sales position.
• Education: List your educational background, including any degrees or certifications you possess.
• Skills: Outline any relevant skills you have that are related to the sales industry.
• References: List at least three professional references who can speak to your qualifications and work experience
• Additional information: If you have any additional information that you feel would be beneficial to include in your resume, such as volunteer experience or awards, include them here.

What is a good summary for a Sales Assistant resume?

A good summary for a Sales Assistant resume should highlight your ability to provide exceptional customer service, handle paperwork, and ensure that merchandise is displayed properly. Your summary should also emphasize your ability to develop and maintain relationships with customers, serve as a resource for customers, and work well as part of a team. Additionally, include any relevant experience or certifications you may have that would be beneficial to the position. Finally, highlight any awards or recognition you may have received for your performance in sales. A strong summary will showcase your strengths and make you an attractive candidate to potential employers.

What is a good objective for a Sales Assistant resume?

A Sales Assistant is an important role in any retail environment as it involves providing customers with advice and guidance on products, processing payments and other duties. If you are applying for a Sales Assistant role, it is important to have an effective resume objective that outlines your skills and experience. Here are some good objectives for a Sales Assistant resume:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the products and services offered by the company to provide excellent customer service
• Utilize customer service and sales skills to ensure customer satisfaction and increased sales
• Leverage communication and organizational skills to provide efficient customer service
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the sales floor to maximize customer experience
• Utilize knowledge of the company’s policies and procedures to answer customer inquiries
• Build strong relationships with customers to encourage repeat business
• Provide excellent customer service by effectively managing customers’ needs with accuracy and efficiency
• Utilize problem-solving skills to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.

How do you list Sales Assistant skills on a resume?

If you are applying for a job as a Sales Assistant, you will want to make sure your resume is up to date with all the latest skills, qualifications, and experience needed for the role. Your resume should highlight your key skills and demonstrate how you can be an asset to the sales team.

Here are some essential skills to list on your resume when applying for a Sales Assistant role:

• Communication: Your ability to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and team members is key to success in a sales role. Demonstrate your communication skills with examples of how you have used them in past roles.
• Product Knowledge: As a Sales Assistant, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the products and services you are selling. Showcase your product knowledge on your resume, and mention any certifications or training you received.
• Organization: Keeping track of sales and inventory is essential for a successful sales position. Show off your organizational and time management skills by listing the systems you used in past roles.
• Negotiation: Sales Assistant roles often require strong negotiation skills. List any instances when you effectively negotiated terms and increased sales.
• Customer Service: Exceptional customer service is a must for any Sales Assistant. Highlight your customer service skills and any awards or recognition you have received in past roles.

By including these key skills on your resume, you can show potential employers that you have the skills and experience needed to succeed as a Sales Assistant.

What skills should I put on my resume for Sales Assistant?

A Sales Assistant is responsible for providing support to the sales team and ensuring that the sales process runs smoothly. As such, there are certain skills that are essential to succeed in this role.

When putting together your resume, it is important to emphasize the skills that will help you excel as a Sales Assistant. Here are some of the most important skills to include on your resume:

• Excellent Communication: A Sales Assistant needs to be able to effectively communicate with customers, coworkers, and management. Make sure to emphasize your ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of Sales Strategies: You should highlight any knowledge you have of sales strategies and techniques, such as upselling and cross-selling.
• Customer Service: A Sales Assistant needs to be able to provide excellent customer service. Make sure to include any relevant experience you might have in customer service.
• Time Management: Being able to effectively manage your time is an essential skill in any sales position. Make sure to highlight your ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks.
• Attention to Detail: A Sales Assistant needs to be able to pay close attention to detail. This includes being able to review contracts and paperwork for accuracy and completeness.
• Computer Skills: Being able to work with computers is essential in any sales role. You should highlight any computer skills you have, such as your proficiency in Microsoft Office and other software programs.

By emphasizing these skills on your resume, you can make yourself stand out as a strong candidate for any Sales Assistant job.

Key takeaways for an Sales Assistant resume

Creating a great resume as a Sales Assistant is essential in today’s job market. With so many potential employers to choose from, it’s important to stand out from the competition. Here are a few key takeaways to remember when creating a resume for a Sales Assistant position.

First, highlight your customer service skills. Sales Assistants must be able to communicate effectively with customers and answer questions with poise and professionalism. Include any customer service experience you have, such as customer service certifications or working in a customer service role.

Second, emphasize your sales experience. Potential employers want to know that you understand the basics of sales and customer relations. Include any sales-related positions you have held and demonstrate how you increased sales volume for previous employers.

Third, focus on your time management skills. Sales Assistants must be able to juggle multiple tasks at once, so make sure to highlight your ability to manage time efficiently. Include any awards or certifications related to time management or organizational skills.

Finally, showcase your communication skills. Sales Assistants need to be able to effectively communicate with customers and potential employers. Include any awards or certifications related to communication and demonstrate how you’ve effectively communicated with customers in the past.

By following these key takeaways, you can create an effective resume that shows potential employers why you are an ideal candidate for the position. Utilizing your customer service, sales, time management, and communication skills will make you stand out from the competition and help you land the job.

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• • Implemented innovative store layouts enhancing the customer shopping experience and raising store ratings by 30%
• • Managed inventory control processes which reduced stock discrepancies by 25% and maximized product availability
• • Led a team of 50 employees ensuring staff were well-informed and product knowledge was accurate enabling high customer satisfaction rates
• • Strategically planned and executed promotional campaigns resulting in a 15% increase in shop footfall within 6 months
• • Developed customer loyalty strategies that boosted repeat customer visits by 20%
• • Oversaw health & safety compliance, cutting down incident rates by 40% through rigorous training and awareness programs
• • Facilitated daily operations, helping the store achieve 10% year-on-year growth for 2 consecutive years
• • Supervised employee performance, providing training that increased sales team effectiveness by 15%
• • Enhanced loss prevention measures, resulting in a 23% decrease in shrinkage rates annually
• • Coordinated stockroom organization, reducing time for stock retrieval by 30% and improving staff efficiency
• • Engaged with customers and gathered feedback, offering actionable insights to the product development teams
• • Developed customer service protocols that enhanced customer satisfaction by 25%
• • Managed after-sales service inquiries, increasing successful resolution rates by 35%
• • Pioneered a staff training program that enriched team's communication skills and product knowledge
• • Monitored and analyzed customer feedback to inform continuous improvement, achieving a 40% positive feedback increase

Sales Assistant CV Examples & Guide for 2024

Your sales assistant CV must highlight strong communication skills. Demonstrate your ability to engage effectively with customers. Showcase your proven track record of meeting sales targets. Let your CV reflect your knack for closing deals and maintaining customer relationships.

All CV examples in this guide.

Traditional

Resume Guide

CV Format Tips

Summary or Objective?

Experience on Your CV

No Experience?

Top CV Skills

Education & Certifications

Key Takeaways

Crafting a CV that effectively highlights your customer service skills and sales record can be a daunting challenge for a sales assistant. Our guide provides tailored advice and practical examples to help you showcase your successes and attract potential employers with a polished and professional CV.

• Answer job requirements with your sales assistant CV and experience;
• Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
• Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
• Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.

Do you need more specific insights into writing your sales assistant CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:

• Key Account Manager CV Example
• Head of Sales CV Example
• Customer Service Manager CV Example
• Fashion Retail CV Example
• Car Salesman CV Example
• Sales Director CV Example
• Sales Development Representative CV Example
• Account Manager CV Example
• Consultant CV Example
• Salesman CV Example

How complex should the format of your sales assistant CV be?

• Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
• Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice ;
• Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
• Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.

One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts . We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.

Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.

The top sections on a sales assistant CV

• Personal statement highlighting sales skills to immediately show value.
• Employment history with sales achievements to demonstrate experience.
• Key sales skills section to quickly showcase relevant abilities.
• Educational background reflecting any sales-related qualifications.
• References available upon request to validate sales competence.

What recruiters value on your CV:

• Highlight your customer service skills by providing examples of past experiences where you successfully assisted customers, resolved issues, and maintained a positive store environment.
• Demonstrate your sales proficiency by detailing your knowledge of sales techniques, any sales targets you've met or exceeded, and how you've contributed to revenue growth in previous roles.
• Show your team player attitude by mentioning any teamwork or collaborative efforts you've been part of, such as working on in-store promotions or supporting team members during peak sales periods.
• Emphasise your familiarity with point-of-sale systems, inventory management, and any other relevant retail technologies you've used, to show you can hit the ground running with minimal training.
• Mention your flexibility and availability by specifying your willingness to work unsocial hours, such as weekends and holidays, which is often a requirement in retail sales positions.

Recommended reads:

• CV Icons: How & Where to Use Them
• How to Choose The Best Font For Your CV (Tips & Examples)

How to present your contact details and job keywords in your sales assistant CV header

Located at the top of your sales assistant CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:

• Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. [email protected] is definitely a big no);
• Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for , integrating keywords and action verbs;
• Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light . It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.

What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:

Examples of good CV headlines for sales assistant:

• Retail Sales Expert | Customer Experience Enthusiast | Level 2 NVQ Certificate | 5+ Years Experience
• Senior Sales Assistant | Luxury Goods Specialist | Team Leadership | 10 Years Industry Insight
• Junior Sales Associate | Tech-Savvy | Product Demos | Recent Graduate with Distinction
• Experienced Sales Consultant | B2B Sales | CRM Pro | 7 Years Driving Revenue Growth
• Lead Retail Advisor | Fashion Retail Management | Visual Merchandising Expert | 8+ Years Experience
• Assistant Sales Manager | Dynamic Sales Strategies | Excellent Communicator | Business Diploma | 6 Years Experience

Choosing your opening statement: a sales assistant CV summary or objective

At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:

• Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements . Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
• Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for

CV summaries for a sales assistant job:

• Dynamic Sales Assistant with over seven years' experience in high-volume retail environments, adept at using POS systems and upselling techniques. Proven track record in customer relationship management and surpassing sales targets by 30% in the past year.
• Resourceful professional with a decade of expertise as a Customer Service Manager, now eager to apply a strong foundation in client engagement and problem-solving to excel in a sales-driven environment. Skilled in CRM software and fluent in Spanish and English.
• Passionate career-changer with an exceptional background in IT project coordination, seeking to leverage strong analytical and interpersonal skills to thrive in a customer-oriented sales position. Excels in team collaboration and has a consistent history of project delivery under budget.
• With a strong history in hospitality management, this driven individual is transitioning into sales to utilize outstanding communication abilities, a keen eye for customer needs, and a dedicated approach to achieving and exceeding business objectives through strategic sales initiatives.
• Keen to develop a career in sales, this recent graduate offers a fresh and comprehensive understanding of contemporary marketing theories, coupled with an infectious enthusiasm for engaging with a diverse client base and contributing to business growth through targeted sales strategies.
• As a newly certified marketing professional, I am eager to apply my comprehensive knowledge of digital marketing strategies and consumer behaviour analysis to the challenge of identifying and pursuing new sales opportunities, and efficiently contributing to team targets from day one.

More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your sales assistant CV experience section

The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:

• Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
• Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
• Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise ;
• align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.

For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:

Best practices for your CV's work experience section

• Demonstrated ability to manage stock levels and maintain accurate inventory records, ensuring product availability and minimising overstock situations.
• Experienced in meeting and surpassing sales targets through effective customer engagement and product knowledge sharing, contributing to store profitability.
• Skilled in operating POS systems with accuracy and efficiency, processing transactions and handling various forms of payment with confidence.
• Assisted with visual merchandising, creating attractive displays that adhere to store guidelines and promote seasonal or featured products.
• Delivered exceptional customer service by listening to customer needs, providing informed recommendations, and resolving issues promptly to ensure satisfaction.
• Collaborated with team members to organise in-store promotions and events, maximising footfall and fostering an engaging shopping experience.
• Contributed to the implementation of loss prevention policies, vigilantly monitoring the sales floor to deter theft and protect store assets.
• Engaged in ongoing product training to stay current with new lines and trends, effectively communicating benefits and features to customers.
• Provided support to the management team with administrative duties such as scheduling, reporting, and handling correspondence to ensure smooth store operations.
• Consistently achieved monthly sales targets by 120%, contributing to a 15% year on year growth for the high street fashion retail department.
• Developed and maintained relationships with over 100 regular customers, increasing customer retention rates by 40% over a 2-year period.
• Implemented a new upselling strategy which saw accessory sales rise by 25% through the bundling of products and personalised recommendations.
• Managed a team of 4 sales assistants, resulting in a boost in departmental productivity and a 30% decrease in staff turnover rates.
• Oversaw the introduction of an innovative digital catalogue which led to a 20% increase in in-store sales through effective customer engagement.
• Negotiated with suppliers to secure cost-effective purchasing agreements, enabling the store to offer competitive pricing structures.
• Orchestrated the store's first online sales platform, attracting on average 500 new users per month and contributing to a 10% uplift in overall sales.
• Engaged in weekly stock management, maintaining inventory accuracy at 98%, thereby reducing backorders and improving customer satisfaction.
• Pioneered a bespoke customer service training program which enhanced the team's ability to cross-sell effectively, growing average transaction values by £5.
• Leveraged expert knowledge of electronics to guide customers through complex purchases, boosting the store's technology department revenue by 35%.
• Played a pivotal role in coordinating the 'Tech Tuesdays' workshop series, leading to a 50% increase in repeat customer visits each month.
• Piloted a competitive intelligence initiative, gathering insights that enabled a more aggressive pricing and promotions strategy.
• Exceeded key performance indicators by consistently delivering exceptional customer experiences reflected in a 5-star rating across major review platforms.
• Initiated a local community engagement project which partnered with businesses, driving foot traffic by 30% and strengthening brand presence.
• Collaborated with the visual merchandising team to redesign the store layout, resulting in a smoother customer flow and a 15% increase in impulse purchases.
• Facilitated the implementation of an inventory management system that reduced stock discrepancies by 90%, saving the company approximately £20,000 annually.
• Elevated the in-store promotion strategy which saw an immediate uptake in seasonal sales by 18%, surpassing previous records.
• Conducted a comprehensive review of the customer loyalty program, integrating feedback analysis to optimise the reward scheme and improve customer lifetime value.
• Drove a digital sales initiative that elevated online revenue streams to represent 40% of total store sales within 5 years of inception.
• Crafted a sophisticated data-driven sales strategy that harnessed CRM tools to personalise customer interactions and increase repeat business by 35%.
• Successfully coordinated with the marketing team to implement seasonal campaigns that resulted in a 50% boost in sales for new product lines.
• Acted as the primary sales consultant for a range of luxury skincare products, driving an incremental monthly revenue increase by £7,000.
• Established a clienteling system that personalised follow-ups and handpicked promotions, resulting in a customer base growth of 25% year-over-year.
• Led the organisation of in-store demonstration events which directly contributed to a 60% uplift in product trials and a 20% conversion rate to regular customers.

Mix and match hard and soft skills across your sales assistant CV

Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:

• hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
• soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills , e.g. leadership, time management, etc.

Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your sales assistant CV? Use the:

• skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
• strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
• summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.

One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.

Top skills for your sales assistant CV:

Product Knowledge

Point-of-Sale Systems

Inventory Management

Visual Merchandising

Sales Reporting

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Cash Handling

Merchandise Restocking

Order Processing

Basic Accounting

Communication

Customer Service

Problem-Solving

Adaptability

Time Management

Attention to Detail

Active Listening

Salesmanship

If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.

Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your sales assistant CV

Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your sales assistant CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education , select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:

• List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
• Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
• Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.

Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.

• How to Include CV Coursework on Your CV
• How to Showcase Your Educational Achievements on CV: Examples, Templates, & Guide for 2024

Key takeaways

Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your sales assistant CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:

• Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
• Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
• Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
• In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
• Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.

Looking to build your own Sales Assistant CV?

• CV Examples

20+ Essential Interpersonal Skills for Your CV in 2024

How to Write a CV Heading: Templates, Examples & Guide

CV (Curriculum Vitae) Format [Examples & Templates for 2023]

CV Icons: How & Where to Use Them

How to Write an Effective Two Page CV

CV vs Resume: Differences, Similarities & Which One to Use

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Career Advice » CVs and Applications » How to Write a Successful Sales Assistant CV

How to Write a Successful Sales Assistant CV

SELL YOURSELF TO GET AN INTERVIEW

If you’re aiming to land yourself a sales assistant job you first have sell yourself, via a CV, to show potential employers your sales skills. Your first step is to create a memorable cover letter and standout sales assistant CV to ensure you get an interview.

The structure of a CV is a fairly straightforward but it is vital that you don’t make any errors or try too hard to make your CV too weird and wacky!

If you want to get  Sales Assistant Jobs  emailed to you as soon as they become available simply click the button below and start applying for  Sales Assistant Jobs .

Let’s get started:

• Top tips on how to write a Sales Assistant CV 
• Retail CV Skills
• Sales Assistant CV examples

HOW TO WRITE A SALES ASSISTANT CV

It should be the content of your CV that is unique NOT the structure.

This is how your CV format should be structured.

The Structure

• Contact details at the top – your name, address, email address & telephone number.
• A sales assistant  Personal Statement  should be your first paragraph. This should be a concise ‘sales pitch’ including your skills, experience, and the industries you worked in.
• Follow this with a set of  Core Skills which relate to the job description.
• Next is your Work Experience , include the name of the company, title of the role, and the dates of employment. Under this list your responsibilities and what positive contributions and key achievements you made to the business. Start with your most recent job.
• Education and Qualifications should be the next section.  This can be a brief list of name of school or college, dates of attendance, & qualifications earned. If you have a University degree, there is no need to include details of your primary school.  Again, start with your most recent qualifications.
• Interests  section is optional, but it is a good idea to include information that adds to your personality. This is especially the case in retail where companies are looking for vibrant and energetic staff.

Sales Assistant Personal Statement

This is a very important part of your CV, even more relevant if you are creating a  sales assistant CV with no experience .  If you don’t have a work history, a personal statement enables you to highlight your skills, education, and suitability for the role.

It should be no more than 4-5 lines of your CV, but it tells the reader  who you are, what you can offer to their business, and outlines your career goals .  For example if you have recently left school, you can highlight the fact you have 8 GCSEs & 2 A levels , and are looking to use your existing skills and knowledge, develop them further, and pick up new skills mentioned in the job advert.

HOW TO WIRTE A SALES ASSISTANT WORK EXPERIENCE IN A CV

If you already have lots of retail experience the work experience section is probably the most important section of your CV.

Here are 4 top tips on how to highlight your previous experience:

• Add your most recent work experience first, including company name, your job title, dates of employment.
• List about 6 bullet points beginning with an action verb to highlight your responsibilities and/or achievements
• Quantify your achievements actual data – eg Achieved a 10% increase in sales
• Tailor this information to the job you are applying for as much as you can.

HOW TO WRITE WORK EXPERIENCE AS A SALES ASSISTANT WHEN YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE

Even if you have no experience, you should not ignore this section. Think about any volunteering or internships you’ve done via school or helping out friends or family that are in any way linked to retail or sales e.g. have you raised money for charity or are you a top depop seller?   Consider your educational achievements, interests or hobbies and see if you can find any relevant information to add to your work experience section.

HOW TO WRITE A SALES ASSISTANT EDUCATION SECTION IN A CV

If you have little work experience your education section is important.  You need to fall back on any qualifications you’ve attained to make a case for your suitability. Include bullet points focusing on relevant coursework and extracurricular activities relevant to the position of sales assistant.

As an experienced sales assistant, the names of the schools you attended, dates of entry, and qualifications are all you will need.

WRITING SALES ASSISTANT KEY SKILLS

Look at the job advert or job spec and list the skills outlined in it.  Then compare what hard and soft skills you have.   Cross-reference your skills with those included in the job description. It is good to include 6-10 relevant skills. If you have little or no work experience, you should expand on the skills you have including when and how you have used these skills.

WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR CV FOR RETAIL?

Stick to this tried and trusted CV structure below.  However, if you have little experience in retail you should emphasise your skills and education and place them before your work experience.

Personal Statement

• Work Experience
• Additional Sections

PERSONAL SUMMARY FOR CV RETAIL

It is best to leave this until you have finished the rest of your CV. Then you can summarise what you have written.  As the section heading suggests, it summarises your experience, achievements, skills, and education that are relevant to retail.

A personal summary is better when you have some experience. You can provide an overview of everything you’ve achieved quickly and easily. Here are some CV personal statement examples.

Example of a personal Statement for CV in Retail

“Enthusiastic & friendly sales assistant with 4 years experience. Aiming to increase the sales figures of Passion for Fashion by using proven skills in customer loyalty and sales. Improved overall customer review level by 3% and possess vast experience in handling complicated EPOS systems. Eager to implement sales techniques learned in my career to date to add to the high-quality service provided at Passion For Fashion.”

PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR RETAIL JOB WITH NO EXPERIENCE

A personal statement for applicants with minimal experience should include your transferrable skills and competencies. The aim is to convince the reader that the education and personal attributes you have will make you useful to their business.

Example of a personal Statement for CV in Retail with no experience

“Dedicated, energetic sales assistant with a keen work ethic. Skilled in inventory management and merchandising. Looking to increase customer loyalty scores and overall revenue at Passion for Fashion. Built experience in retail by volunteering at Hospice Charity Shop accepting donations and merchandising stock, received praise for innovative window displays.”

RETAIL SKILLS FOR CV

In retail, you will be customer facing so will require a mix of hard and soft skills.  For example:

• Communication and customer service skills  to deal with client queries and make sure they receive good service.
• Attention to detail – ensure the products are displayed correctly and shop is always clean and tidy
• Technical skills  for operating point of sales systems and stock checking systems
• Numeracy skills  for customer transactions
• Business knowledge  – in-depth product knowledge.

The top skills tip is:  Read the job description very carefully and match your skills against it .

There are 3 main categories of key skills:

• Transferable : Skills gained in one situation that can be used in other jobs or situations
• Job-Related : Skills that are specific to a particular job or industry that require training.
• Adaptive : Skills such as creativity, team working, positivity, speed of learning and flexibility.

When you are writing your CV for a retail sales assistant, there are many relevant skills in each category:

• Transferable : Commercial, numeracy, computer, management, and reading or writing skills.
• Job-Related : Customer service, technical, and product knowledge skills.
• Adaptive : Communication, tenacity, team working, flexibility.

RETAIL SALES ASSISTANT CV TEMPLATE

You will be able to find many CV templates or CV examples online but here is a example CV layout you can use as a guide when writing your résumé.

Amy Anderson

Address: 4 Brookside Close, Coronation Road, Lisburn, BT24 9XT

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 075322111

With seven years’ experience in the retail sector, I have provided high-quality personal service to all customers. I quickly learned all aspects of the roles and made sure I gained in-depth stock knowledge to ensure I could handle all customer queries sucessfully. I am happy to work as part of a team, but also use my initiative when necessary. I work well under pressure and won Sales Assistant of the month 4 times in 2021.

• Motivated and driven to achieve goals and targets.
• Show initiative with an emphasis on customer satisfaction.
• Pay attention to detail, especially with visual merchandising & promotions.
• Complete transactions at the checkout with confidence due to good numeracy skills.
• Organised with good time management skills.
• Skilled in resolving conflict.
• Ability to work under extreme pressure.

Employment History

Sales Assistant at New Look May 2017 – Present Oakfield Road

Provided a personalised service to all customers who entered the store. It was here that I was truly able to showcase my love of customer service by ensuring they received knowledge of all store promotions and special offers.

Key Skills & Achievements

• Ensuring an exceedingly high level of customer service.
• Handling customer queries patiently and efficiently while dealing with any complaints. When the need arose, I escalated the situation to a manager.
• Ensured that the visual standards of the store met the company’s high standards.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with close attention to detail.
• Completing transactions at the checkout.
• Gained valuable experience in using effective sales techniques.
• Won awards for providing the best customer service on five occasions and was top salesperson on seven occasions.
• Building great relationships with customers, colleagues, and suppliers.

Customer Assistant at Lidl May 2015 – April 2017 Holywood Road

• Processed sales, exchanges, and refunds on a daily basis.
• Ensured shelves were fully stocked and matched visual merchandising guidelines.
• Tidied and made sure the shop floor was free of obstacles.
• Followed company guidelines on retail and security procedures.
• Helped customers to make purchasing decisions answering queries.
• Worked well under pressure; especially during weekend shifts when the store was busiest.

Education & Qualifications

August 2014

NVQ Qualification: City & Guilds; Retail Level 2

August 2012

7 GSCEs including English and Mathematics

Additional Information

• I enjoy going to the gym particularly Crossfit.
• I like to crochet and make of my own clothes.
• I keep up to date with the latest innovations in the world of retail.

SALES ASSISTANT CV TEMPLATE FREE

Download your Sales Assistant free CV Template UK and modify it accordingly.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

• View and apply for  Sales Assistant Jobs
• Set up a  Sales Assistant Job Alert
• Write a  Sales Assistant Cover Letter  to go with your CV
• Prepare for a successful interview with these   top interview questions
• For more info on CV writing check out our How to write a CV – The Complete Guide

In need of some more advice? Head on over to nijobfinder’s  career advice  area where you’ll find everything from tips on preparing for an interview to advice on starting your new job.

Are you searching for a new job? nijobfinder lists thousands of  NI jobs  on site at any one time, with new jobs added daily.

CV example sales assistant

As a sales assistant, your job is to sell a company's products and services to customers in a retail environment. In addition, you could also be labelling products, restocking shelves, cashing up, processing refunds, handling customer queries on the phone or arrange displays to promote products.

Depending on where you work, whether in a department store or a small shop, your tasks and responsibilities could vary greatly.

How can you make sure that you land the right job for your skills and experience? By tailoring your CV to your potential employer's needs. We’ll show you how with our writing tips and our sales assistant CV example .

Personal statement or profile

In sales, first impressions count. If a customer doesn’t like the look of the product you’re trying to sell, they won’t want to hear your presentation.

The same applies for your personal statement or profile , which need to convince recruiters and hiring managers that the rest of your CV is worth reading.

Consider this your sales pitch. What makes you stand out from other candidates? Have you maintained a 95% - 100% customer satisfaction rate? Have you consistently sold more than your colleagues? Perhaps, you have expertise in specific sales systems or within a specific sector?

I am a customer-focused and target-oriented sales assistant with 9 years’ experience. My key achievements include generating £1,000 in additional monthly revenue and being named the best sales assistant in the first month at Bodyshop. I excel in delivering exactly what customers need, by asking the right questions and forming trusting relationships with them.

Work experience

Generally, no prior experience is required for entry-level sales assistant roles; however, most employers will be looking for customer service experience.

For the more senior roles, employers will want to know:

• Whether you consistently met targets
• How you handled complaints
• Which POS (Point of Sale) systems you used
• How much money you handled on a daily basis
• Whether you managed any promotions

As sales is a numbers game, try to quantify your achievements rather than simply listing your roles and responsibilities:

Sep 2018 - present Sales Assistant, Debenhams, Oxford

• Consistently reaching £2,000 daily sales target of beauty and cosmetic treatments.
• Train new members of staff, ensuring they understand the company policy and expected levels of service.
• Implementing a new stock management system to increase efficiency by 25%.
• Processed cash and card payments via the Lightspeed POS system.

Feb 2016 - Aug 2018 Sales Assistant, Superdrug, Oxford

• Regularly exceeded sales targets by 20%.
• Arranging displays attractively to promote products.
• Took receipt of deliveries, storing stock appropriately within the warehouse.
• Advised customers on skincare regimes.

Mar 2012 - Jan 2015 Sales Assistant, Bodyshop, Oxford

• Named the best sales assistant in my first month for generating £1,000 in revenue.
• Received a 98% rating on customer satisfaction surveys.
• Processed transactions, using the Vend POS systems.
• Assisted in setting up store promotions and displays.

While there are no minimum qualifications to work as a sales assistant, employers generally prefer a high level of education and good literacy and numeracy levels as you’ll be interacting with the public and handling cash all day.

Additional qualifications such as NVQs could help boost your application as they demonstrate an interest in the industry and dedication to self-improvement:

Aug 2011 - Sep 2011 Level 2 Certificate in Retail Skills, City & Guilds, London

• Displaying stock to promote products.
• Keeping stock on sale at required levels.
• Demonstrating products in a retail environment.
• Helping customers to choose products.
• Carrying out promotional campaigns.

Sep 2009 - Jul 2011 A-Levels in English, Maths and History: A, B, C, Falmer High School, Brighton

As a sales assistant, you’ll need a multitude of skills to carry out the various tasks associated with the role: engaging with customers, highlighting promotions, responding to customer inquiries, arranging merchandise displays, processing transactions, and guiding customers through the buying process.

Communication: Building relationships with customers to facilitate sales.

Software: Experience with POS Systems Lightspeed and Vend.

Product knowledge: Developed comprehensive product knowledge of health and beauty products, contributing to an increase of £1,000 in monthly sales.

Leadership: Train new members of staff, ensuring they understand the company policy and expected levels of service.

Accounting: Processing £2,000 daily in transactions.

Customer service: Received a 98% satisfaction rating from customer surveys.

Visual merchandising: Arranging displays attractively to promote products.

As with any customer-facing role, the ability to interact with customers in their own language can ease interactions and lead to sales.

You don't need to be fluent in a language to put it on your CV. Depending on the needs of the company where you will be working, just being able to greet the customer and exchange a few words may be enough. On the other hand, if you’re applying for a role where you’ll be negotiating deals with clients, then more advanced language skills will be required:

English - native

German - fluent

French - intermediate

While it may be tempting, never exaggerate your ability to speak a foreign language (or to do anything else on your CV for that matter!). It’s all too easy for employers to test your language skills, whether in an interview or even long after you’ve landed the job. If you’re only able to speak a language conversationally or only know a few words of the language, be honest, so employers know what to expect.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteering can be a great way to see whether a career in retail is for you, while giving something back to the community. Typical tasks as a volunteer include skills that you would also be expected to demonstrate as a sales assistant: arranging displays, promoting products, running campaigns, assisting customers, etc.

Where there is strong competition for a job, your volunteer experience could help sway the hiring manager’s decision. According to research conducted by the professional service network Deloitte , 85% of hiring managers are willing to overlook other CV flaws when a candidate includes volunteer work:

Volunteer experience

Oct 2011 - Feb 2012 Volunteer Charity Shop Assistant, Barnado’s Hospice, London

• Tripled the number of donations through charity events (coffee mornings, quizzes and raffles).
• Assisted the charity shop manager with the preparation of stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing.
• Processed sales and returns, while ensuring customer satisfaction.

Format and layout

If you have a lot of experience, listing your work experience and education in reverse chronological order allows recruiters to quickly piece together your career history. This means listing your most recent job or degree as close at the top of the corresponding section and subsequent ones underneath in descending order.

On the other hand, if you lack experience, you want to emphasise skills and other experience that demonstrate that you would make a good sales assistant (e.g. customer service skills, the ability to persuade people, etc.). In this case, you can use a functional or skills-based CV , where you list five or six key skills from the job description and prove examples of situations in which you have used or developed these skills. Choose the resume format that is best fitting for your situation.

Layout and design

Sales assistants represent the brand of a company and need to maintain a professional image at all times. To be on the safe side, choose a discreet and classic cv template that corresponds to the different companies recruiting sales assistants. Stick to two or three colours at the most to avoid your CV looking too garish.

If appropriate, you could also use the colour code of the company you’re applying to; however, proceed with caution here, as very few employers want to see yellows and pinks on a CV or resume .

Keep to a font size of 10 to 12 for normal text and up to 16 headings, so that recruiters can quickly find the information they’re looking for. The key word here is legibility.

Hopefully, you now have everything you need to create your own sales assistant CV.

Create your CV as a sales assistant now!

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CV Example Project Manager

CV Example Customer Service

CV example Pharmacist

CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

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School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!