In the sophisticated and most of the time rigid hierarchy of the corporate world, professionals must work and move around defined roles. To achieve this, the executive positions at almost every organization are filled with great care. Since every company always wants to boost sales, the position of director of sales is one of the most important ones.
With defined roles in a hierarchical corporate setting, it becomes easier to make responsible decisions and quantify results based on their success and failure.
In this article, we will cover the brass tacks of resume writing for the position of director of sales including:
- What does a director of sales do?
- Typical responsibilities of a director of sales
- Common requirements of director of sales
- Skills & qualifications to make candidates stand apart
- Tips for writing an exceptional director of sales resume
- Director of sales resume template
So, let’s get started!
What Does A Director of Sales Do?
Director of sales is the highest possible departmental position in a company. The person holding the office is responsible for all things that are related to enhancing sales numbers and improving the future outlook of the company in this matter.
The director is involved in the complete cycle of sales, including devising new and effective policies and then implementing them in true letter and spirit.
Apart from this internal practice, a director of sales is also responsible for competitive analysis to see where the company is standing compared to other players. On the eve of each financial or fiscal cycle, mostly a quarter of the financial year, a director of sales presents a drafted report of the quarter to the executive team to discuss the current policies and targets and plan for the future.
Typical Responsibilities of Director of Sales
Being the head of a crucial department, such as sales, a director of sales is involved in almost all the operations and processes related to sales or lead and demand generation. Still, there is a quantifiable standard of responsibilities and obligations that are set for individuals in organisations.
Here is a rundown of some typical responsibilities that are entrusted to a director of sales:
- Development of policies and plans to enhance sales in both long and short terms
- Implementation of the devised policies and necessary amendments to them
- Connecting with clients and customers at a deeper level to ensure a lasting relationship to help meet sales targets
- Keeping tabs on industrial trends and changes and making arrangements to stay on top of them
- Devise and implement a proper and quick channel of communication throughout the department and beyond for effective operations and processes
- Holding the fort against changes that could be detrimental to sales specifically, and to the organization, generally
Common Requirements for Director of Sales
The best companies out there do not leave much to chance and second-guessing. When they seek candidates for the director of sales position, they specify their search by highlighting what they are looking for in the ideal candidate. This saves them and the candidates all the trouble as they will never have to entertain those who do not meet that set criteria.
It is hard to predict or say with certainty what companies will ever expect from a candidate in this position, but there are certain parallels that we can draw.
Following are some of the common requirements that are asked by companies for the role:
- Impressive verbal and written communication skills for both inbound and outbound correspondence
- Abilities to see to the sales process, from scratch to finish independently
- Excellent negotiation skills to present the stance in an effective and imposing manner
- An attitude of achieving targets and milestones by devising policies and then implementing them effectively
- Able to do competitors’ analysis and design or amend policies around it
- Ability to differentiate between long and short-term goals and take steps accordingly
Salary Expectations of a Director of Sales Position
Even though the title may run across industries and companies with little to no amendments, directors of sales across the spectrum make different salaries.
The factors that play a key role in this regard include;
- Education
- Experience Level
- Geographical Location
- Company Size & Revenue
On average, a director of sales makes around $118,000 a year.
Education & Training
First of all, each company has a grace period to accommodate the learning curve of new employees no matter which position they are hired for. In the case of the director of sales, it takes newly selected individuals some time to get connected with the facts and policies of the company to move forward effectively.
Apart from this, almost every big company offers pre-induction training and on-job education to equip people with new talents and commands for internal and external challenges.
Still, a minimum education standard is required for director of sales candidates. In most cases, it is at least a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Recently, employers are looking for candidates with much higher education, such as MBA or MS as these degrees allow candidates to better learn and implement theoretical concepts.
Quantity & Quality of Experience
In terms of simple numbers, companies often expect a candidate to have around 8 to 10 years of sales experience in a senior position including Sales Manager, Marketing Director, or else.
In terms of quality of experience, they must have played roles in their previous positions regarding designing and implementing sales and lead generation policies.
Director of Sales Resume Essentials
Now that we have covered the groundwork for the position of director of sales, let us take a look at how to compose a relevant resume that checks all the boxes while being clean and lean on the content front.
Header
The header, as the name implies, comes at the top of the page. It includes;
- First & Last Name
- Contact Details (Phone Number, Email)
- Links to Professional Profiles (LinkedIn, Portfolio)
- Professional Summary, no more than two to three sentences long
Qualifications
In the qualifications section, candidates should list relevant skills and trades that will help them stand out from the crowd.
Experience
Depending on how many companies they have worked with, the following will be a good template to follow to highlight their role and obligations there:
- Company Name (City, State)
- Position or Title
- Dates Employed
- Job Responsibilities
Repeat this template depending on the roles and companies.
Education
To highlight your educational background for the role of director of sales, here are the steps to cover in your resume:
- Degree Type with Core Field of Study
- School Name
- City, State
- Dates Attending
Tips For Writing An Exceptional Director of Sales Resume
A resume is a compact testament to a candidate’s professional acumen and prowess. It has to be succinct and brief while touching all the bases. To help candidates in this regard, here are some practical tips to highlight their skills and help them stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Give Solid Numbers Instead of Vague Description
The best thing that a candidate can do is replace vague descriptions with concrete facts. For instance, instead of writing “I was instrumental to achieve key growth figures”, candidates should write “achieved 14% growth in revenue in 4 months” as it clearly shows what was achieved in how much time.
Present A Self-Value Proposition
It is about highlighting the skills and expertise that a candidate posses and comparing them to what could it mean for the company’s finances and growth. In other words, it is about what that candidate would bring to the table against the desired salary.
Highlight Unique Qualities
At the end of the day, it is about what makes a candidate the best person for the job. So, aspirants must highlight all the unique qualities and characteristics they may have to improve their odds of selection.
Strengthening The Resume With A Cover Letter
Since the resume is directed more toward key facts and figures with minimal description, it could be lacking some details that are hard to quantify in mere numbers. This is where a cover letter comes into the picture.
Many companies specify spaces in their applications for additional cover or motivational letters. Even if it is not specified, there are spaces for additional information where candidates attach their cover letters for due consideration.
It may be additional, but it offers extra space for candidates to showcase their skills, abilities, and experience.
Conclusion
Director of Sales is a lucrative position as it comes with exciting opportunities to chalk out theories and plans and then test them in real life. In addition to this, the salary bracket for this position is also great and comes with fringe benefits and perks, depending on the location and the company.
Composing a resume for the position of a director of sales is a challenge in itself. The space is limited to highlight what makes a candidate stand out from the competition. By following the tips and understanding the requirements of the position, aspirants will be in a better position to compete and secure an ideal position.
