Pick a clean, professional template that highlights deals, revenue, and client work. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your latest sales wins sit near the top. That layout reads well and parses reliably for ATS systems.
Keep your resume short and focused. One page works for entry and mid-career sales pros. Use two pages only if you have long, relevant track records and major accounts.
Choose plain, ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri or Arial. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headers. Keep margins at least 0.5 inches and add white space between sections for easy scanning.
Use clear headings like Contact, Summary, Experience, Achievements, Skills, and Education. Put measurable results under each role, such as quota attainment, pipeline growth, or contract values. Lead with outcomes, not tasks.
Avoid complex columns, images, or decorative icons. Those elements often break ATS parsing and distract recruiters. Keep alignment consistent and use simple bullet lists to show achievements.
Watch these common mistakes: using unusual fonts that ATS can’t read, cramming too much text onto one page, and mixing many colors. Don’t bury metrics in long paragraphs. Don’t use PDF with copy protection or unusual encodings.
Proofread headings and dates so recruiters can scan quickly. Keep verbs active and concise. Tailor the top of the page to the role you want and match keywords from the job description.