Door-to-door sales have been around for decades, and while some may think it’s an outdated method, it’s still a thriving industry. As door-to-door sales rely heavily on interpersonal communication, it’s essential to have a well-crafted door-to-door sales resume that effectively showcases your skills, experience, and personality. To aid in your job search, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to creating a compelling door-to-door sales resume.
Identify Key Skills and Qualifications
Before you begin crafting your resume, it’s essential to know what qualities employers are looking for in candidates. Companies hiring for door-to-door sales often look for the following skills:
- Confidence and excellent communication skills
- Positive attitude and enthusiasm
- Motivation and self-starter mentality
- Sales or customer service experience
- Results-driven mindset
Choose the Right Resume Format
Recruiters oftentimes have a lot of resumes to sift through, which means they’ll only glance at each one for a few seconds. Therefore, you want to make sure that your resume stands out from the rest. A well-formatted resume helps to draw the recruiter’s attention while also making it easy for them to review your qualifications. You have a few formatting options to choose from, such as:
- Chronological: Listing your work experience in reverse-chronological order
- Functional: Highlighting specific skills or achievements rather than listing your work experience in chronological order
- Combination: A mix of the chronological and functional resume
Highlight Your Achievements
Since door-to-door sales rely heavily on performance, you want to highlight your achievements, metrics, and numbers. Consider mentioning sales quotas or goals that you’ve met or exceeded in previous sales roles, such as “Generated $250K in sales in Q3 2021” or “Closed 50% more deals than the company average.” Additionally, you may want to showcase any awards or recognition you’ve received for your sales abilities.
Incorporate a Personal Touch
Door-to-door sales require engaging with potential customers and building trust quickly, so it’s essential to showcase your personality in your resume. Think about ways you can incorporate a personal touch, such as:
- Including a summary at the top of your resume introducing yourself and what you can bring to the position
- Mentioning a personal interest that ties into sales, such as being an avid traveler that hones in on interpersonal communication skills
- Including a link to a personal portfolio or LinkedIn account
Use Keywords That Match the Job Description
Recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter out potentially unqualified candidates, so it’s essential to make sure your resume fits the job posting’s keywords. Read the job description thoroughly and, if possible, tailor your resume to match the desired qualifications.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Even for experienced salespeople, creating a resume can be intimidating. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when crafting your door-to-door sales resume:
- Using generic language or buzzwords that recruiters see all the time
- Failing to highlight past sales achievements or metrics
- Including irrelevant work experience or accomplishments
- Incorrect formatting or layout
- Including typos or grammatical errors
Key Takeaways
- Door-to-door sales rely heavily on interpersonal communication, so it’s essential to showcase your skills and personality in your resume.
- Highlight achievements and use metrics to quantify your past sales experience.
- Tailor your resume to match the job description, including specific keywords.
- Incorporate a personal touch to stand out from other candidates.
- Avoid common mistakes like using generic language, incorrect formatting, or irrelevant work experience.
FAQ
Do I need to have previous sales experience to apply for a door-to-door sales position?
While previous sales experience can be helpful, it’s not always required. Companies often look for candidates with excellent communication skills and a positive attitude.
What’s the best way to highlight my achievements in my resume?
Instead of simply listing your work experience, include metrics that showcase your performance, such as exceeding quotas, closing more deals than others, or receiving awards.
How can I personalize my resume without it looking unprofessional?
Include a summary at the top of your resume that introduces you and what you can bring to the table. Mentioning a personal interest that ties into sales can also showcase your personality without making it seem unprofessional.