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A sales director is a high-level executive that’s responsible for managing a sales team. More senior than a sales manager, the director will carry out tasks such as developing sales plans, pitching strategies to key stakeholders, and monitoring their team’s performance.
Because they typically work for large organisations, sales directors often manage large budgets – so recruiters are rigorous in finding the right person for the job. At myPerfectCV, you can learn how to make sure your CV stands out from the crowd. We’ve got top tips, UK sales director CV examples, and a proven builder tool that makes it easy for you to craft your application today.
Kick off by customising this Director CV template, or check out our 55+ CV templates to find one that meets your requirements.
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Take your career in the right direction with our top tips for your sales director CV
You’re no stranger to selling products to clients – and in this situation, your CV is the product, and your client is the recruiter! Follow our top tips to make your application an easy sell.
Include the numbers
A good sales director must be number-oriented, whether they’re checking budgets, analysing sales figures, or carrying out trend analysis. Show your recruiter you have a head for figures by including critical metrics from your CV’s previous roles. It could be a record-breaking profit margin or an impressive KPI.
Be trustworthy
Although sales directors need to be good with numbers, don’t overlook the importance of people skills. These professionals need to build lasting relationships with their team, stakeholders, and customers, including positive language to describe your work ethic and personality when writing your CV.
Show off your leadership skills
Sales directors serve as the figurehead of large sales departments. Depending on the size of the company, you could have multiple sales managers working beneath you. That means it’s essential to show a recruiter that you have the right leadership skills for the job, whether throughout your years of sales experience by mentioning your previous teams’ key achievements or listing the abilities that help you take control.
Demonstrate your relevant experience
The role of sales director is always a senior position, so you’re likely to have around 10-15 years of sales experience under your belt. List your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position, and work backwards to show your recruiter how you’ve progressed in the sector.
Include keywords from the job description
Sales directors can work in a wide variety of industries, from finance to fashion. Although lots of roles won’t specify that you need sales experience within a specific industry, some will always include keywords and phrases from the job description. It will help to tailor your sales director CV UK to your dream role.
What skills should you include on your sales director CV?
The ideal sales director skills and abilities can range from negotiation to numeracy, communication to customer service. Make sure you tick every box by including these must-have sales director skills on your CV.
Essential skills for your sales director CV
- Communication
- Budgeting
- Market research
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Presentation
Extra skills that will set your CV apart
- Knowledge of a second language
- CRM software
- Networking
- Reporting
- Teamwork
Common questions about your sales director CV
What are the duties of a sales director?
A sales director is responsible for overseeing a sales department’s success, usually at large companies with multiple sales managers. On a day-to-day basis, their duties might include supervising team members and giving feedback, carrying out market research to identify new customers, presenting new sales strategies to key stakeholders, and drawing up budgets.
What skills do you need to be a sales director?
To be a sales director, you’ll need to have a unique combination of personal and practical skills. Throughout your years of sales experience, you should have mastered communication, leadership, pitching and presentation, and negotiation skills. You will also need sharp analytical skills to carry out market research and identify new sales growth avenues.
How to be a good sales director?
If you want to become a good sales director, you will need excellent time management. It will enable you to balance the various duties of the role, whether you’re supervising staff or communicating with stakeholders. You can glean most of these skills by working your way up through the sales sector, taking on additional leadership duties as your skill level increases.
How do you become a sales director in the UK?
To become a sales director, you will need to have gained significant experience as a salesperson and, later, a sales manager. Although professional experience is always the most important qualification, most directors will also have a solid academic background. Many will have a degree in a relevant subject such as business strategy, sales and marketing, or communications. You can also boost your skillset by gaining professional certifications, for example, in sales, account management, or strategic sales.
What is a sales director salary in the UK?
The salary for a sales director in the UK can vary hugely, depending on the type of service or product you’re selling. If you’re working for a relatively small company, you could earn around £30,000 a year. However, many sales directors will make significantly more than this, with salaries frequently hitting £100,000 a year.
Invest in your career by building a competitive sales director CV
Your experience shouldn’t be a hard sell. Using myPerfectCV, you can create a professional sales director CV that shows off your skills and stands out from the crowd. Check out your favourite sales director CV sample, then craft your own with our proven builder tool.
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