cover letter sales professional

Sales Cover Letter Tips, Templates, & Examples to Land Your Ideal Role

Published: April 20, 2022

A strong sales cover letter can do a lot for you as an applicant — like demonstrate effective communication skills, show you're invested in the opportunity, and give you room to add some color to your application.

That said, stringing cover letters together is often one of the more grating, monotonous tasks job seekers have to put up with — but while putting a sound sales cover letter together can be a chore , it doesn't necessarily have to be a challenge . There are some key tips, strategies, and structures you can fold into your letters to make them as compelling as possible.

Let's take a look at some of those tricks, review how to arrange your sales cover letter, and see an example of what a solid one looks like in practice.

Sales Cover Letter Tips

Keep it concise..

You should aim to keep your cover letter between three to five paragraphs, and under no circumstances should it be more than one page. Employers fielding a high volume of applications could be leafing through hundreds of cover letters every day. If you're too long-winded — stringing together a multi-page history of your entire professional life — you're going to get overlooked.

Use a professional font.

A cover letter is a professional document, so it warrants a professional presentation. Don't get too cute with your font selection or colors. Go with something like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri — and always have the text be black.

Avoid flowery language without sacrificing flow.

You're not writing an English essay or preparing for a poetry slam here. Again, you want to keep things professional. Avoid flowery phrases like, " At your leisure " or " Please find attached herewith. ” That said, you want your letter to flow and sound natural, so try not to come off too stiff.

Highlight relevant skills.

Pore over the listing for the role you're applying for. What is the company in question looking for? What specific skills and qualities do they call out in the job description? Once you have those questions squared away, try to find ways to include those elements in your cover letter.

Reference quantifiable achievements.

In most cases, employers won't look at the skills you highlight and just take you at your word — you need to point to hard, quantifiable results that demonstrate you're the real deal.

How to Write a Sales Cover Letter

If you’re applying to a conservative company or work in a formal industry — like finance, healthcare, or law — include a full heading: Your name and address, followed by a space, the date, followed by another space, and the company name and address.

But if you’re applying to a less formal place, you can probably get away with simply writing your name and email address — followed by a space and the company's name and email address.

Maybe you’re not sure who will be reading your cover letter — but don’t write " To whom it may concern, " " Dear hiring manager, " or any other generic title. With a little research, you can usually find the hiring manager’s name.

Let’s say you’re applying for the SMB Account Executive role at Joyfull. Google "SMB sales manager Joyfull" and see if you can find the team’s leader on LinkedIn. When applying to a conservative company, write “Dear Mr./Ms. [Last name].” When applying to a startup or relatively relaxed organization, write “Dear [First name] [Last name].”

Your intro paragraph should highlight why you’re a great fit. It’s a high-level overview, rather than an in-depth exploration of your work history and qualifications, so keep it under four sentences.

The standard cover letter opening line is something along the lines of:

"I’m interested in becoming a sales representative on your SMB team " or " I'm excited for the opportunity to apply for the SMB sales representative role. "

While these sentences might not kill your chances of getting the job, they generally don’t help. You want to grab the reader’s attention and sell yourself from the very start — so don't be reluctant to try a personalized, compelling line that will draw the hiring manager in and make them want to read more.

Here are a few examples:

" I love working with small businesses — in fact, I’ve helped more than 300 in the past year at my current job — which is why I’m so excited about the chance to help SMBs discover Joyfull. "

" Every week, I write a blog post about a common SMB challenge. Helping SMBs overcome this obstacle isn’t just rewarding -- it’s also a great lead gen strategy. My passion for this type of work led me to your SMB Account Executive position. "

Do you know a current or former employee who speaks positively about the company? Mention them in your intro. In some cases, you might have their referral — either by submitting your application or connecting you with the hiring manager — but even if you don't, you can still drop their name.

For instance, you might say something like, "As a self-starter who thrives in autonomous, results-oriented environments, I’m drawn to the BDR role at Red Shelf. I’ve heard great things about the culture and learning opportunities from Sarah Grossman, who started as a BDR and now works on your L&D team."

First Body Paragraph

In this paragraph, choose a relevant work experience. What does "relevant" mean? You’re trying to show your existing abilities and knowledge map well to the role you’re applying for, so if you currently work in retail and you want to become a business development rep, you might write:

" As a floor associate for Wilson & Co., I help 60-plus customers every day with questions about brands, fit, quality, and more. This experience has taught me how to provide a positive customer experience and be helpful while driving sales — both skills I’d use as a HubSpot BDR. Finally, it’s made me comfortable approaching strangers and acting as a product expert, which would be invaluable when reaching out to inbound leads. "

Second Body Paragraph

The second body paragraph follows the same structure as the first. Take another relevant work or educational experience, and connect the dots to the role you’re applying for. Imagine you’re currently an AE applying for a manager position. Your second section could read:

“ In the past 16 months on the Pacific West team, I’ve taken several opportunities to grow my leadership abilities. I started a mentorship program for new reps, pairing them with salespeople who have been at the company for at least two years. This program has been a huge success — the half-year retention is 20% higher for participants versus those without mentors. As a sales manager, I’d continue to look for ways to support, mentor, and train my salespeople so they can maximize their potential. "

Third Body Paragraph

If you have another relevant experience, discuss it here. But you don’t have to add a third paragraph just for the sake of adding one — a lot of the time, a shorter cover letter is better, provided you can convey an appropriate amount of relevant information.

Let’s suppose you’re applying for a sales engineer role — a highly technical and demanding job that likely warrants a three-paragraph cover letter. You could say something like:

"After spending two years in customer support, I’m in my element when answering product-related questions. There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting a challenging ticket I can dig into — and there’s nothing more satisfying than finally solving it. As a sales engineer for HubSpot, I’d get the chance to talk to customers about the product on a daily basis and answer their most complex questions. In addition, I could use the communication skills I’ve honed as a support rep."

This section doesn’t need to be long or flowery. Many people end with unnecessary statements like, "Please let me know if I can provide any more information” or "Thank you for your consideration."

The problem with these? A hiring manager can safely assume you’ll give more info if asked and are appreciative of their time. You’ll seem like every other applicant who’s grabbed a generic template from the internet — which, okay, you might be doing, but they don’t need to know that.

Instead, reiterate your interest with a strong summary line like:

“The best days at work are usually the longest and most demanding — because I go home knowing I’ve helped multiple owners dramatically change the course of their businesses. Your hyper-loyal user base suggests being a Joyfull AE comes with even more opportunities to help young and growing organizations.”

Sales Cover Letter Template

Dear Jane Doe,

I’m passionate about [helping X type of customer, solving Y goal, working in Z industry] — which is how I found the [open position] at [company name]. The more I learned about [company’s] mission to [insert mission here, i.e. “improve the remote working experience,” “make personal finance easy”], the more excited I became. My [applicable skill #1 and applicable skill #2], as well as experience in [field] and knowledge of [related topic], would make me an asset to the [department, i.e. “Customer Development”] team.

As a [title] at [current employer or skill], I’m responsible for [doing X and Y]. This has helped me develop [ability] -- in fact, [insert proof of your skill, e.g. “my boss recently said I was one of the most resourceful employees he’s ever had” or “I’m known for my ability to stay collected and take the lead during high-pressure situations.”] I’d use [X skill] as your [job title] to [achieve main objective].

I’m also [skilled in X/possess Y and Z positive traits], which comes from my [previous work or extracurricular experience]. [In that role, on that team], I developed a knack for [skill/traits]. This was instrumental in [hitting specific milestones/exceeding expectations]. You’re looking for someone with [X skill/character traits], and I believe I’m a good fit.

Over the past [number of years], [company] has [accomplished X goal, such as “become a leader in the CRM space” or “used creative marketing and social media campaigns to become a household name in Colorado.”] It looks like you have ambitious goals for the future -- I hope I get the opportunity to contribute.

[Your name]

Sales Cover Letter Example

Why It Works

This cover letter is effective for a few reasons. For one, it speaks directly to how the applicant's hard, quantifiable achievements align with both the role's required technical acumen and the more abstract qualities needed to thrive in it.

By alluding to the fact that they're familiar with the vertical the role serves, the applicant establishes the relevance of their experience — and by touching on elements like their experience with mentorship, they're demonstrating their growth potential within the role.

If you're in the middle of a job hunt, odds are you're going to write your fair share of cover letters — so knowing how to put a compelling one together is in your best interest. It might be the difference between ultimately landing a sales role and not even popping up on an employer's radar.

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Five fill-in-the-blank cover letter templates to help you impress recruiters.

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Sales Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024

• Cover Letter Examples

How To Write a Sales Cover Letter

• Cover Letter Text Examples

When writing your sales cover letter, focus on how you can grow revenue for the company that posted the job. Also, emphasize your skills in related areas like account retention, customer service, contract negotiations, or territory management. This guide offers cover letter examples and tips for landing your next sales position.

Sales Cover Letter Templates and Examples

• Entry-Level
• Senior-level

A great sales cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section back to your defining sales skills and the employer’s hiring needs. The following advice and examples show what to include in your cover letter so it’s optimized for each job application.

At the top of the page, include your resume contact header, the date, and any contact details you have for your recipient. Add the title “Sales Professional” to your contact header. You can then modify this title to align with each job posting (as long as it’s still true to your background). As sales jobs vary, this extra detail can enhance your cover letter by quickly showing employers you’re the type of applicant they’re looking for. That can pertain to someone in management, inside or outside sales, or a certain product set or market region.

(Note: Feel free to omit this section if you send your letter as an email message and your contact information is part of your signature.)

Savannah Bateman Inside Sales Representative | [email protected] | (678) 901-2345 | Columbus, OH 01234 | LinkedIn

February 11, 2024

Emma Neal Senior Hiring Manager Staples (543) 210-9876 [email protected]

2. Salutation

Whenever you can, address your recipient by name – it’s the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the recipient’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.

Dear Ms. Young:

Dear 123 Corp. Sales Manager:

3. “Hook” or introduction

To catch the reader’s attention, start your letter with an example of your success in growing revenue or an assigned client base. Since performance numbers are key to your field, quantify your example in terms of a clear percentage, ranking, or dollar amount. In the sales cover letter example below, see how the applicant quickly connects her chosen highlight to a relevant skill (sales training) that can benefit the employer.

Dear Mr. Davis:

As sales manager at The ABC Agency, I’ve led a 20-person team to exceed monthly quotas and grow annual revenue by 20% in two years. With my passion for sales training, I could be a valuable asset to your organization.

4. Body paragraph(s)

Use the main section of your letter to tell why you’re drawn to this job or employer. For instance, maybe it’s an outside sales role in an industry you’re eager to return to. Or maybe the company’s brand, business model, or sales approach appeals to you somehow. With this explanation, you can show hiring managers you read their job posting and are responding to it directly.

Following this explanation, cite two or three more of your main skills or achievements , possibly as bullet points.

With seven years of industry experience and a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I’m drawn to your company’s reputation for top-caliber digital products. My career highlights also include:

• Launching a social media strategy that increased our online presence and grew sales by 15%
• Raising customer satisfaction scores and retention by 10% in one year

5. Call to action

Finally, request an interview and thank the manager for their consideration. Carry your letter’s focus through this last paragraph by briefly restating your ability to drive lucrative sales deals. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.

I would like to further discuss the sales executive position at The Big Sales Company and how my skills can benefit your team. Please call or email me to schedule an interview. I appreciate your time and look forward to possibly hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

Simon Bishop

Sales Cover Letter Tips

1. highlight your main sales skills.

As part of your letter’s body text, add a short list of bullet points to show your success in different sales areas. For instance, you might mention a program you started to enhance collaboration with the marketing team. Or, if you’re applying to a leadership role, cite measures you took to raise sales staff morale and retention.

This is another section where you can specify revenue growth or other performance data relevant to your field. In the following example, notice how the applicant uses percentages to give compelling evidence of her skill set.

My recent achievements include:

• Leading a local market research project that improved our product positioning and grew revenue by 43% in 2023
• Generating more than 110% of my quota for five consecutive quarters
• Converting 81% of leads into sales, with 62% becoming repeat customers

2. Speak to the company's strategic goals

An effective cover letter doesn’t just give facts about your past, it also shows your excitement for the future. What direction is the hiring company headed? Does the job posting reveal its short- or long-term business goals? Speak to those goals and how you see yourself advancing them, and you’ll give your cover letter the engaged and confident tone it needs to stand out.

I’m drawn to 123 Corporation based on its recent expansion into the medical supply field. My past work with hospital suppliers and experience in the health care niche can benefit your company.

3. Show you can serve each customer's needs

Sales jobs often center on building clients’ trust and finding custom product solutions. Feature this consultative approach in your cover letter if it reflects your background and the sales roles you’re pursuing.

Last quarter, I grew my client base by 22% while maintaining a 95% account retention rate. My expert product knowledge and networking skills inspired confidence and loyalty in clients. I hope to bring the same level of growth to the sales representative role at Staples.

Sales Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

• Senior-Level

Dear Ms. Neal:

Your brand’s product set and focus on corporate clients is an ideal fit with my skills and experience. A driven professional with deep knowledge of local markets, I believe I can help your team significantly increase its revenue in 2024. My recent achievements include:

I’d appreciate the chance to discuss how my skills can make me a valued member of your team. Please let me know a suitable interview date. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Savannah Bateman

Simon Bishop Sales Executive | [email protected] | (917) 476-8365 | Rochester, NY 14622 | LinkedIn

February 12, 2024

Diane Young Senior Hiring Officer The Big Sales Company (375) 564-7148 [email protected]

Over my past four years as a sales executive, I’ve grown my client base 50% in a competitive market. I hope to make a similar impact as the newest member of your sales team.

Jennifer Manning Sales Manager | [email protected] | (836) 183-2648 | New York, NY 10027 | LinkedIn

Michael Davis Hiring Manager 123 Corporation (126) 054-7746 [email protected]

I’m drawn to 123 Corporation based on its recent expansion into the medical supply field. My past work with hospital suppliers and experience in the health care niche can benefit your company. My achievements also include:

• Launching a market strategy to improve health care industry positioning, which grew sales by $210,000 (30%)
• Devising successful social media strategies to increase our online presence

I would love to discuss how my skills and experience can benefit 123 Corporation. Feel free to contact me to schedule an interview in the coming weeks. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Jennifer Manning

Sales Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions

Do i really need a cover letter for my job search -.

Yes, in most cases. The majority of job postings today require or allow you to send a cover letter along with your resume. While not every hiring manager reads or prioritizes them, a well-crafted letter can only help you stand out from other applicants. It will also help you clarify what points to emphasize during the interview.

How do I persuade the hiring manager of my sales skills? -

Don’t just tell, show. Anytime you use a trait like “dedicated” or “client-focused” to describe yourself, follow with a clear example showing the trait in action. Detailed examples of your success help hiring managers envision the value you’ll add to your next sales job.

How long should my cover letter be? -

No more than one page, or around 250 words. Resist the urge to tell your whole career story, even if you’ve worked many years in sales. Give just enough detail to pique hiring managers’ interest so they take a closer look at your resume.

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Sales Cover Letter Writing Templates & Tips to Help You Stand Out from the Crowd

A sales cover letter is a chance to sell yourself. It’s an opportunity to personalize your job application and explain why you’re the best person for the sales job you want.

Moreover, it gives you a chance to prove that you have the selling skills necessary to succeed in a role. Research shows that 72% of recruiters expect a cover letter even when they are “optional” with 77% of the recruiters giving preference to candidates who include one. Additionally, 83% of hiring managers and HR professionals say that cover letters can boost your chances of getting an interview.

Further, Jobvite’s 2021 recruiter study showed cover letters are becoming increasingly important to recruiters with 26% considering them very important for candidate evaluation (up from just 8% in 2017).

Whether you are in the market for a business development, customer success or a sales representative position, a cover letter, in addition to a professional resume can help you land a job interview.

In this article, we’re going to explain why sales position cover letters matter, what sales managers look for in an ideal candidate and some cover letter tips to make your application stand out. We’ll also share some cover letter examples sales reps can use to help craft your own.

Why do sales cover letters matter?

Similarly, in a professional cover letter, you must position yourself as the answer to their hiring needs. Think of a cover letter your sales pitch to a prospective customer where you position yourself as the solution to their problem (i.e. a salesperson that will help them reach their goals, whether that’s to close more deals, increase revenue, grow into new markets, etc.).

A great cover letter goes beyond showcasing your sales skills and track record. You’re competing in a saturated market during your job search and many applicants have similar skills and sales experience to your own. Your cover letter can give you the edge over the competition and complement your sales resume – especially if you’re writing a cover letter for sales positions that have plenty of suitors.

Use the cover letter to not only showcase your skills but to sell yourself, explaining exactly why and how your past work experience will help you deliver results.

Take this time to show that you care not only about landing the sales position but also the company you’re applying to. Conduct thorough research and tie your own personal experiences to the company’s values.

For example, if you’re applying for a job at an email marketing SaaS company and have used their platform before, mention it. Talk about how their software helped you in a previous job or endeavor and relay your passion for the tools and their features.

A touch of personalization like this can go a long way. Personalization is key in sales because it humanizes the customer journey and selling process. Using it in your sales position cover letter has the same outcome. It gives you the chance to expand beyond simply a name on a piece of paper and helps to bring your application to life.

It also proves that you’ve done your due diligence with their products and have found a way to tie that into your unique narrative and background. This shows that you can replicate this process with your future leads, prospect’s and customers if hired.

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What do sales managers look for in an ideal sales candidate?

There are many types of sales methodologies and each one requires varying degrees of skill.

However, sales superstars share basic strengths and qualities that help them go above and beyond.

These include:

• Responsibility. Elite sales reps take ownership and accountability for their performance. They don’t blame anybody else for their shortcomings and set high goals for themselves.
• Coachability. They pick up processes and operations quickly and easily in order to perform at a high standard. As sales associates must continually learn about new products, features, tools, trends and techniques, they need to be adept at understanding and showcasing this knowledge on a regular basis.
• Goal orientation. Successful reps constantly set and surpass their targets and objectives. They go beyond what is expected and are eager to learn in order to level-up their skillset and performance.
• High motivation, willpower or grit. Reps need to be motivated and ready to convert prospects into customers, every single day. Furthermore, they need to handle rejection well and press on. Seasoned reps understand that rejection is part of the game, push through rejection and persevere.
• Product knowledge. Superstar reps have a deep understanding of the products they are selling. This allows them to portray tremendous confidence and enables them to have more meaningful conversations with their leads and prospects. They don’t stop at simply understanding a product; they become experts on the solutions they’re selling.
• Customer connection. They take the time to understand their customer’s pain points and needs in order to help solve their problems. They go beyond simply trying to sell a product or service and are genuinely interested in improving their prospects’ day-to-day. By perfecting listening skills, they can ask pointed questions to allow the prospect to come to their own conclusions about why they need their products.
• Sales process conformity or adaptability. They adhere to the sales process that their company and managers have set forth. Simultaneously, they creatively adapt their approach based on any changes or setbacks they encounter (both environmental and customer-based). They are consistently prospecting, following up and closing deals.
• Time management. The best reps are exceptionally talented at managing their time. They are able to categorize prospects and capitalize on the opportunities that generate high-value for the business. When they aren’t selling, they’re upskilling and prospecting .

Highlighting superstar traits in a sales cover letter

Knowing what sales managers look for in an ideal sales candidate equips you to position your own strengths in a way that makes them stand out in your cover letter.

Therefore, highlight your achievements in a way that aligns with one of these ideal rep qualities.

For example, say that in a previous role you alone increased company-wide customer referrals by 30%. While very impressive, rather than simply listing this as a standalone statistic, tie it into the customer connection quality from the sales superstar list.

The end product may look like this:

• Through excellent listening and conversational skills, I built meaningful customer relationships that stimulated a 30% increase in customer referrals

Here’s a sales cover letter example from an account executive applicant :

• Awarded Top Sales Consultant in the territory for two straight quarters and numerous other recognition for helping drive the business, with over $70,000 worth of merchandise sold in the top-performing quarter at Best Buy.
• Exceptional academic qualifications, including a forthcoming Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The George Washington University School of Business.
• Successfully automated and maintained an innovative metrics reporting process for the team's monthly capitalization rates, dramatically increasing capitalization opportunities on a per-project basis at Royal Bank of Canada.
• Effectively prepared a variety of business and personal tax returns for clients using Syntax, filing more than 84 tax returns a day resulting in an additional 34 new clients during the taxation season at MA Consulting.
• Provided expert assistance in auditing and organizing information regarding tax returns.
• Assisted specialists in verifying data and communicating with customers to maintain documentation, running and preparing support documents at Mariner Finance.

He seamlessly intertwines his own achievements with the attributes that make up a top sales performer.

If we take a closer look at the first bullet point, which contains his achievements:

Awarded Top Sales Consultant in the territory for two straight quarters and numerous other recognition for helping drive the business.

Sales superstar strengths:

• Driving business growth through high motivation, willpower and grit. To win Top Sales Consultant two quarters in a row takes serious determination and a will to succeed
• Goal-orientedness. In order to drive sales to such a high level, he must have set exceedingly high goals for himself and made a valiant effort to achieve them

Keeping what hiring managers are looking for front-of-mind can help you tailor your cover letter in a way that lands you an interview.

Pro-tip : Ensure that your cover letter is congruent with your profile on LinkedIn in case the hiring manager examines your credentials further. As LinkedIn’s platform is designed to blend the traditional resume and cover letter (and resume examples) via bios and job experience, it should synchronize with your application.

Sales cover letter examples: How to stand out

When it comes to cover letter examples, sales representatives should consider both quality and format.

There are three essential tactics to follow when creating a cover letter for a sales position:

• Top. Explain why you’re the best candidate for the job (as discussed in the first section)
• Middle. Format your achievements with bullet points to make them pop
• Bottom. Finish strong with a CTA (your contact details with a few words encouraging them to get in touch)

Let’s run through each section in detail with some sales cover letter samples to boot.

Top of the cover letter

Start with a targeted message. Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific position. The more details the better. Avoid sounding overly broad.

If you can find the hiring manager’s name via research, include it. Addressing your cover letter to a specific person adds a personal touch that can pique interest.

The goal is to capture the hiring manager’s attention and convey that you are astutely familiar with the company and brand that you’re applying to work for.

Here’s a cover letter template for the start of your letter:

Dear [NAME], I’m so excited to apply for this job because I’ve followed your company for years. I am very familiar with the mindset required to excel as a sales representative for your brand. I respect your values, mission and goals when it comes to making a global social impact through a meaningful, value-driven platform. I’m incredibly excited about the work that your company does and I believe my previous experience gives me the competitive edge you’re looking for in a rep. As a rep for [PREVIOUS COMPANY], I acquired a dynamic skill set that aligns with your company’s needs. I’m ready to pursue my ultimate dream career and blend my unique skills and accomplishments with something that aligns with my preeminent personal passions.

In this example, the applicant begins with a personalized opener and highlights a specific interest in the company they’re applying to work for.

By showing a specific interest in the company and role, you significantly boost your chances of landing an interview. That’s because personalization helps to bridge the gap between anonymous applicant and cultural fit.

Middle of the cover letter

Transition into your specific achievements and accomplishments in previous positions. As discussed above, align your skills with the strengths and qualities that hiring managers are looking for.

Quantify your achievements and detail specific examples of what you’ve done. Did you hit your sales goals for three consecutive years? Were you awarded the top inside sales rep for two quarters? Now is the time to say it. Use bullet points to make them pop. Go beyond what’s listed in your sales representative resume and add value bombs where applicable.

Here’s a template for the middle of your sales representative cover letter:

Closed deals at a rate 2x higher than company set targets by asking pointed questions based on actively listening to prospects’ needs

Grew customer base by 15% through driven and motivated networking, outreach and follow-ups

Awarded Top Sales Representative for 5 out of the 8 quarters I was employed

Designed a first-rate internal communications strategy that directly boosted pipeline growth by 10% in one year

Consistently drove aggressive YOY sales by 20% over the last 2 years

Created an internal communication skills course for entry-level reps which resulted in an 18% increase in quota attainment

Bolding your numeric achievements is an effective visual strategy. The hiring manager will most likely scan your cover letter and, if impressed by your achievements, will re-read in full.

Bottom of the sales cover letter

Finish with a short paragraph that indicates how you will offer an advantage if hired.

Now is the time to dictate specifically how you will use your aforementioned passion, excitement and achievements to better the company you’re applying to. Again, do your research before applying so that you can align this section with the company’s needs.

The best place to learn about what the company wants from you is the job description itself. The job description should set clear expectations of what the role entails, the daily activities and required experience. It will also tell you a bit about the company.

Allude to the themes in the job description in your final paragraph. This shows that you:

• Read the job description in full
• Conducted follow up research
• Are capable of selling yourself based on the criteria you’ve been given

Here’s a template for the end of your cover letter:

Through working on projects in local communities, I’ve developed a keen interest in connecting with the front-line workers who utilized my [PREVIOUS COMPANY’S] products and services. I’m eager to transfer the critical knowledge I’ve retained from these meaningful experiences to a more global level. Your company has grown at an impressive rate and your business strategy keeps community health and effective global leadership front of mind—two things I respect at the highest of levels. As part of the Sales Team at [YOUR COMPANY], I look forward to learning more about your product, joining a highly motivated and talented team and contributing to your overall growth.

Here, the applicant uses personalization to highlight their company-knowledge, work experience and future goals. They clearly state how they’ll contribute to the company’s growth and help them scale meaningfully. It’s obvious that they’re passionate about what the company does and are ready to take the next step in their career.

Here’s a template for the CTA with easily accessible contact information, which will make it easy for the hiring manager to reach out immediately without wasting valuable time:

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions at [phone number] or [email]. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,

[Your Name]

Make sure to end your cover letter with a professional signoff. Match your voice and tone with the company’s style, which you can find in the job description and throughout your research.

For example, if the tone is highly professional use any of the following signatures in your cover letter:

• Best regards
• Kind regards
• Respectfully
• Yours sincerely (if you know the name of the recipient and you open with their name)
• Yours faithfully (if you don’t know their name and you open with “dear sir/madam”)
• If the company’s tone is more laid back, you can use:
• Thank you for your consideration

Avoid using casual phrasing. As a cover letter is a formal correspondence and an opportunity to make a great first impression, casual phrasing can come across as overly friendly and unprofessional.

Do NOT use any of the following signatures in your cover letter:

• Affectionately
• Warm regards
• Take it easy
• Have a great day

The complete cover letter for sales associate

Combining all the sections above, this is what a complete cover letter for sales associate positions could look like.

Dear [NAME], I’m so excited to apply for this job because I’ve followed your company for years. I am very familiar with the mindset required to excel as a sales representative for your brand. I respect your values, mission and goals when it comes to making a global social impact through a meaningful, value-driven platform. I’m incredibly excited about the work that your company does and I believe my previous experience gives me the competitive edge you’re looking for in a rep. As a rep for [PREVIOUS COMPANY], I acquired a dynamic skill set that aligns with your company’s needs. I’m ready to pursue my ultimate dream career and blend my unique skills and accomplishments with something that aligns with my preeminent personal passions. Through working on projects in local communities, I’ve developed a keen interest in connecting with the front-line workers who utilized my [PREVIOUS COMPANY’S] products and services. I’m eager to transfer the critical knowledge I’ve retained from these meaningful experiences to a more global level. Your company has grown at an impressive rate and your business strategy keeps community health and effective global leadership front of mind—two things I respect at the highest of levels. As part of the Sales Team at [YOUR COMPANY], I look forward to learning more about your product, joining a highly motivated and talented team and contributing to your overall growth. Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions at [phone number] or [email]. Thank you for your time and consideration. Kind regards, [Your Name]

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the sales position, cover letters that follow the example shown by those above can help you rise above the crowd. A great sales cover letter offers an opportunity to connect with the hiring manager at the company you’re applying to. It’s a chance to stand out from the crowd, showcase your talents and your selling skills.

Use it as a sales platform to sell yourself. Format it in a way that helps the reader easily find your accomplishments and wow them by aligning past achievements with ideal candidate qualities.

Personalize it by researching the company and showcasing excitement for the specific role. Avoid generalizations and discuss details. Read the job description in full, reference its themes throughout and explain exactly why and how you are the right candidate for the job.

While not every hiring manager reads cover letters, you should always put your best effort into writing them. You never know when it will be the breakthrough you need to land an interview and eventually get the job.

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Sales Cover Letter Example for 2024 (w/ Templates!)

You've always had a knack for sales, but now you’ve come a long way from making cold calls and practicing your pitch in front of the mirror. 

You’re ready to turn your talent into a full-time gig.

There's just one hurdle left: writing that dreaded cover letter. Staring at the empty page that's supposed to sell your skills and experience feels a lot like standing in front of a tough client you just can't land.

But don't worry!

In this article, we're going to show you how to sell your professional skills, one sentence at a time.

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• What Makes a Great Sales Cover Letter Example
• 5 Steps to Writing the Best Sales Cover Letter
• 3 Essential Cover Letter Tips for Sales Pros

...and more!

So let's close the deal.

Sales Cover Letter Example

5 Steps for the Perfect Sales Cover Letter

You’ve seen what a great sales cover letter looks like. Now it's time to start writing your own . 

Simply follow these tried-and-tested steps:

#1. Put Contact Information in the Header

Kick off your sales cover letter with your personal information right at the top, similar to your resume . Here's the lowdown on what to include:

• Full Name. Your whole name should sit at the top of the document.
• Job Title. Be specific about the sales role you're targeting (e.g. Sales Manager ). This helps the hiring manager sort through heaps of applications more efficiently.
• Email Address. Keep it simple and professional. Your old, quirky email won't cut it. For instance, [email protected] is a no-no, but [email protected] is good to go.
• Phone Number. Make sure it’s correct, and if you're aiming for a job in another country, add the international dialing code.
• Location. Usually, your city and country are enough. But if you're open to remote work or moving, say so.
• Relevant Links (optional). If you have a LinkedIn profile or a portfolio, this is a good spot to include those links.

Next up, list the hiring manager's details:

• Company Name. Put down the company you're looking to join.
• Hiring Manager’s Name. If you can find it, include the name of the hiring manager for the sales department. The company’s website and LinkedIn are good places to look.
• Hiring Manager’s Title. If you learn the hiring manager's official title, use that instead of just "Hiring Manager." For example, the person reviewing your application might be the “Head of Sales”.
• Location. Note the city and country, especially if the company is global. You can get more detailed with the street name and number if you want.
• Email Address (optional). If you manage to find it, throw in the hiring manager’s email as well.
• Date (optional). Include the date you’re writing the cover letter. It adds a touch of professionalism.

#2. Address the Hiring Manager

Once you've laid down your contact information , it's time to address your cover letter to its intended reader. Skip the old ‘To Whom It May Concern’ —it's a snooze-fest.

First up, do a little digging. Look at the job ad, the company's website, or their LinkedIn page to find the name of the hiring manager for the sales role you're applying for. This way, you'll get their name and possibly their email too.

When it comes to addressing the hiring manager , it's good to be formal but not stuffy. Go for "Mr." or "Ms." followed by their last name. If you're unsure about their gender or marital status, just use their full name. Like so:

• Dear Mr. Johnson,  
• Dear Emily Johnson,

If you hit a wall and can't find any details about who the hiring manager or the head of the sales department is, aim your letter at the department or the entire company:

• Dear Sales Department,
• Dear Sales Hiring Team,
• Dear HR Recruitment Team,
• Dear Sales Division Lead,

#3. Write an Eye-Catching Opening Statement

Hiring managers usually only take a few seconds to scan each application. That means your opening paragraph needs to be as attention-grabbing as possible.

A good approach is to lead by stating why you're drawn to the sales job. A little enthusiasm for the field or that specific role can go a long way in catching a manager's eye.

Knowing a bit about the company can also set you apart from the crowd. The more clued in you are, the easier it is to show why you'd fit in well with their team. This signals that you're not just applying at random but are genuinely keen on this particular job.

If you've already got some experience under your belt, feel free to open with a big win or key skills that make you ideal for the role. 

That said, keep this part snappy. The aim is to hook the hiring manager into reading more about you, not going into depth about how you made your achievements happen.

#4. Use the Cover Letter Body for the Details

The main section of your sales cover letter is where you should get down to business and elaborate on who you are as a candidate. 

Remember - this isn't a place to copy-paste your resume . Instead, aim to showcase why you're the ideal candidate for the sales role you're eyeing by providing additional information.

So, to begin with, avoid repetition. Don't regurgitate your resume; add color to it. Discuss the achievements that prove you're good at closing deals or retaining clients. Look at the job ad and let it guide you. If they're seeking someone who can work in a fast-paced environment, highlight a time you thrived under pressure.

Also, be specific. If the job focuses on B2B sales, point out how you've succeeded in that area rather than discussing your retail experience. This tells the hiring manager that you understand what they're looking for and can deliver on it.

And, as we already mentioned, knowledge of the company is a big bonus. If you understand their sales approach, competitors, or target markets, say so. It shows you're serious about the job and have done your homework.

Need more inspiration? Check out more cover letter examples in this article. 

#5. Wrap It Up and Sign It

Ending your sales cover letter on a high note is crucial. This is your last chance to make a lasting impression , so don't drop the ball here.

Start by summarizing why you're the right pick for the sales role. Reiterate your key skills or most noteworthy achievement(s). You've made your case; now wrap it up in a neat package.

Finally, add a call to action. Prompt the hiring manager to do something next, like contacting you for a further discussion. This proactive step can set you apart and enhance your odds of landing an interview.

Lastly, sign off the right way. Keep it professional yet personal. Here's an example of what this could look like:

I’m eager to discuss how I can contribute to your sales targets and team goals. Please feel free to reach out so we can set up an interview at your convenience.

Best regards,

If "Best regards" feels too played out for you, here are other sign-offs you can consider:

• Kind regards,
• Respectfully,
• Thanks for your time,

This last section is your final shot to resonate with the hiring manager. Make it count.

3 Essential Business Cover Letter Tips

You're now up to speed on the basics of cover letters. 

Next up, we'll dive into some must-know tips to take your sales cover letter to the next level, starting with: 

#1. Match Your Resume

Going for that sales position? Then having a sharp application matters.

For that exact reason, get your cover letter to match your resume in style and formatting. A mismatch might come off as unprofessional. 

Keep your information straight and clean on the page, and ensure your fonts are on point from top to bottom. Oh, and while you're at it, get those margins and line gaps just right. Let's keep that cover letter snappy and on one page. 

Pitch yourself perfectly!

Or Use A Cover Letter Template Instead

Want to skip all the hassle? 

Our cover letter templates are just the ticket. Use our resume builder while you’re at it, and then match your cover letter to the T. 

Not to mention, with input from global hiring experts, all our templates are top-notch and industry-approved.

Problem solved!

#2. Mention Qualifications

You can't skip talking about your qualifications in your cover letter, especially for a sales job. 

Qualifications aren't just a checklist for hiring managers; they're the building blocks that show you can do the job well. So, dig a little deeper than your resume. 

Sure, your resume says you led your team in sales for three quarters. But in your cover letter, you can say how you did it. Did you initiate a new customer engagement strategy? Or maybe you excelled at cold calls? Make sure to explain it. 

By expanding on your qualifications, you're giving the hiring manager a sneak peek into how you operate and what you could bring to their team. Trust me, they'll appreciate the extra insight, and it might just land you that interview .

#3. Add Any Relevant Links

As an extension of your sales resume , your cover letter is a great place to add any relevant links. 

Sure, your resume might have a section for your LinkedIn or portfolio, but why not make it easy for the hiring manager? 

Direct them straight to the good stuff. Add a line in your cover letter that says something like, "You can see examples of my sales achievements on my LinkedIn profile," and then hyperlink it.

Doing this sends a clear message: you're not just talking about your skills and achievements; you're showing them off in real time. It saves the hiring manager time searching for them and gives them an easy way to learn more about you right away. It's a small detail, but it could make you stand out in a crowded field.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap on what makes a great sales cover letter!

We hope that our guide has made you more confident about writing your own sales cover letter and that you’ll land your dream job right away.

But before we go, let’s recap our most important points from this article:

• Start your sales cover letter by including all your relevant contact information and then fill out the hiring manager’s contact information. Keep this factual, especially your email and phone number. Otherwise, you might miss an interview opportunity.
• Add hyperlinks to your cover letter for convenience. Even if your sales resume already links to your LinkedIn profile or a sales portfolio, you should add them to your cover letter and make it easier for the hiring manager to see them.
• The body of your cover letter is where you should go into detail about what makes you right for the job. Make sure you don’t skip your qualifications—they can make you stand out from other candidates and help convince the hiring manager you’re right for the job.
• Before you send in your cover letter, sign it off professionally. Pick an appropriate closing line and add your full name underneath before sending in your application.

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Sales cover letter example

What is the primary purpose?

Secondary purpose, cover letter header, cover letter greeting, cover letter introduction, cover letter body , cover letter conclusion and signature, show that you are always learning.

The best sales pitches are brief, powerful and memorable. Their appeal to reason is hard to deny, evoking an emotional response that demands action. If a targeted sales message hits home, customers press the “buy” button. An effective sales cover letter works the same way.

Resume.io can help you with every cover letter preparation step. Our job-winning resources include a wide selection of occupation-specific writing guides and free cover letter examples.

This writing guide, along with the corresponding sales cover letter example, will:

• Explain how to make the most of your cover letter selling opportunity
• Recommend the best format for a sales cover letter and what it should
• Advise how to convey your breadth of sales experience in each over letter section: header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion
• Explore aspects of sales psychology that your cover letter can reflect
• Help you make it clear to the hiring manager that you know your sales worth.

So let’s get into it — what can transform a sales cover letter from good to great?

What lies at the heart of every great sales application letter?

When a sales professional is looking for a new role, the cover letter — sometimes called an application letter — is far more suited to their persuasive craft than the resume. The structured nature of a resume is great for hiring managers who need to sift through hundreds of applicants, but when the sales field has been narrowed, it is the cover letter that gives a window into the persuasive abilities of each candidate. 

With just 300 or 400 words to play with in a sales cover letter, how you choose to sell yourself speaks volumes about your professional ability. You have an intimate knowledge of your product, so if you fail to impress, maybe you aren’t so special after all.  No pressure.

When you might only have moments to impress a potential customer — or in this case, a hiring manager — the sales professional knows repetition is a critical consideration. You want to give customers as many reasons as possible to buy, but at the same time you cannot afford to cloud their core motivations to buy. So, you keep the selling message as simple as possible, and you use repetition to remind employers why they really (really) need it.

The primary purpose of a sales cover letter is to complement the resume. While allowing for expansion on your personality and influencing skills as a sales professional, it should not ignore the fact that your resume's core messages need repeating. 

Showcase your influencing skills with persuasive language and demonstrate that you understand the needs of your future employer. But don’t forget to ram home the messages about what makes you a great salesperson. If those messages are relevant to the prospective employer, they will stay in the heads of hiring decision-makers for the rest of the recruitment process. That is where you win.

Your sales application letter should move your target employer that little bit further down the sales funnel, increasing your percentages as each sentence in your cover letter is read. It needs to show that you are not just a great salesperson, but also a great salesperson for this employer . Do your research, find our where your fit is strongest and repeat it!

Use a sales technique (or two) in your cover letter There are many techniques that salespeople use to close deals. If you liberally use a couple of these in your cover letter, it can hint at a wealth of sales savvy to come.

One idea is to identify a sales “pain point” of your future employer. Point out the benefits of hiring you and end with a pithy closing remark. You can do that within a sentence by mirroring the sort of influencing techniques that you might use with a sales client. If successful, you not only persuade the hiring manager that you are the person for the job, but also provide insight into your sales craft.

The sales cover letter example provided with this guide illustrates some of the approaches suggested. Personalizing it to reflect your own unique sales approaches should not be too difficult.

When you are selling a product or a service, there are two main considerations. First, you need to understand what you are selling, and second, you need to understand the motivations of those who might purchase it.

While it's hard to demonstrate in your cover letter that you have the ability to “read” a whole range of customers, it is eminently possible to show that you have a detailed understanding (and passion) for the product or service that you will be selling. Your future employer needs to feel that you will live and breathe it.

However varied your sales career is in terms of different products and services, your cover letter should have a laser-sharp focus on whatever product or service will be sold in your new role. This means you must tailor each cover letter appropriately to the employer you want to work for. After all, if you do not make “customers” feel special they will move on to someone who does. So your sales cover letter should speak to the product and industry sector being targeted, and, as stressed previously, repeat if possible.

If you have not had sales experience in exactly the same industry, talk about your accomplishments in a similar industry. For example, you may not have sold B2B HR services, but the sales process from your experience in selling consulting services won’t be very different. Sharing relevant experience shows that you understand what the job will entail.

These are just two initial considerations, and most sales professionals will likely have much more that they want to say about themselves. Any sales pitch needs a logical structure to shape and temper the flow of its persuasion, and a sales cover letter is no different.

For more inspiration, we invite you to browse through these cover letter examples and writing guides in our related sales category:

• Sales Executive cover letter sample
• Sales Manager cover letter sample
• Sales Assistant cover letter sample
• Account Manager cover letter sample
• Sales Representative cover letter sample
• Sales Associate cover letter sample

Best format for a sales cover letter

While your sales pitch should be as unique as possible — and certain industries will demand more creative approaches than others — it is generally accepted that all cover letters should follow the same structure regardless of occupation. 

General advice on how to write a cover letter may be found in resume.io’s comprehensive cover letter guide. 

Your sales cover letter includes all of the same components as follows, each serving a specific purpose:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter introduction
• The middle paragraphs (body)
• The cover letter conclusion
• The sign-off (signature)

Just as potential customers need to have your contact information handy when they are ready to make a purchase decision, a hiring manager should be able to readily and easily drop you an email or make an interview appointment by phone. 

Essential personal information should always be in the header section of your sales cover letter. Although your every instinct might want to hit recipients with your sales pitch straight away, it is important to cover certain practical bases first. The white space surrounding the header in the top section gives readers a couple of seconds to settle into reading mode. It would be tragic to waste a killer first line if their mind is still on the last email they read or the remnants of unconsumed coffee they are staring at.

So besides clearly identifying who your cover letter belongs to and how you can be reached, including a sensible email address bearing your name, the header allows recipients to catch their breath before reading the good stuff.

Goal of the cover letter header: Focus attention on the letter by clearly establishing who it is from and how the recruiter can reach you.

Just as you would never start a sales call to a stranger with a cheery “Alright mate,” your cover letter greeting sets the tone for the remaining content. It is vital to make sure it is appropriate for the reader.

Opening with the classic “Dear Mr. (or Ms.) Surname,” is almost always the best option. It's consistent with the generally expected degree of respect and politeness when unfamiliar people in the sales world interact with each other.

As sales professionals are accustomed when researching their prospects, your sales cover letter should be addressed to the right individual(s) by name. Attempting to make a direct personal connection on that basis is vitally important. This initial rapport can be built upon later in the recruitment process.

A lazy “To whom it may concern,” will never cut it. If it proves impossible to address anyone by name in the cover letter greeting, a warmer variation such as “Dear <Company Name> Hiring Team” is quite acceptable. Showing that you have put some thought and effort into personalizing the greeting is what matters.

A more casual tone may be fine if you are certain it reflects the employer company’s culture. Judge accordingly, but always err on the side of formality as you would in any initial sales communication.

Goal of the cover letter greeting / salutation: Start off on a formal footing with a direct personal connection that sets the tone for further interaction during the hiring process.

Dear Mr. Hunter,

The first sentence or two of a sales cover letter is your chance to show off.

Sales professionals are masters of pithy one-liners, on social media and face-to-face in the real world, so crafting an introduction that hits home with the core of their message should not be too hard. Offer a vision of exactly what you can bring to your future employer. Talk about smashing sales targets, fueling growth and winning new clients. Give your cover letter a positive start and the reader will be hanging on your every word with whatever else comes next.

Sharing some concrete figures in the introduction would show that you understand the importance of results. Think carefully about those numbers to ensure they are genuinely impressive. If not, they could have the opposite effect on your prospective future employer.

Goal of the cover letter introduction: Perfect your elevator pitch by making it clear up front what you can deliver.

Delighting a freight customer is about far more than availability and pricing. When competing with my sales manager rivals to sell empty space on a container ship, the basic variables of service and cost are not enough to give me an edge. I need to convince customers that working with them is worth paying for. I sell my colleagues rather than my containers.

The body of a sales cover letter should ebb and flow like your sales pitch.

On one hand, you should be careful not to overwhelm the reader with a barrage of sales successes. You need to give a feel for the person behind the numbers. Simply giving a list of projects or including too many statistics can easily detract from your wider story.

By all means, share a couple of your most relevant projects, but fill in the gaps by detailing how your sales smarts made a difference and why your approach worked out particularly well. It seems so much more real when you give the context for your success.

As well as sharing your softer behavioral skills, give a flavor of your technological savvy. The most successful salespeople use a wide range of digital apps and social media techniques, so it's important to portray yourself as being at the cutting edge of the industry in this regard.

Goal of the cover letter body: Paint a picture of your sales persona in your own words and allow the reader to imagine what your sales skills would bring to their organization.

As Crano Worldwide is expanding its routes in the Far East, I hope that my B2B sales experience in the region may prove useful. I have networked here for the past decade, speaking at transport conferences, building relationships with 250+ importers and exporters, and doubling market share from 4% to 8% over a six-year period. As a student of the intricacies of the Chinese tender process, I understand how to influence effectively. Crano encourages a winning mentality at work, and I would fit in well. To demonstrate that I understand the subtleties of selling freight forwarding, consider my track record:

• Increased the ocean freight customer base by an average of 25% over the past five years.
• Averaging 92% annual client retention.
• Increasing annual profit growth per customer by 16%.
• Exceeded annual sales quota by an average of 45% over the last six years.
• 150+ Far Eastern clients — more than half of which could potentially move to Crano.
• Generated $2.3m revenue last fiscal quarter.
• Consistently top in global sales list.  

Seeking to understand the precise requirements of each customer is the key to finding those critical negotiation levers and squeezing the potential out of every opportunity. I enjoy the role most when I am managing a fluid sales process rather than simply reacting to leads.

A sales professional's closing remark s should include humility and hope in equal measure, and your sales cover letter conclusion should be no different.

With no certainty that you are a perfect hire based on a brief job description, you should avoid any arrogant pronouncements or presumptuous statements. Be humble and present yourself as being a good fit for the role as you currently understand it. Let the recruiter know you would love to further explore the possibility. 

It is fine to say “I hope that you find my qualifications of interest.” On the other hand, stating “I know that I would fit in perfectly” when you haven’t yet been able to qualify that cannot be genuine. In sales, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Your sound judgement in that regard should be evident in your application letter. Signing off is a simple matter of placing your name below "Sincerely," or "Best regards." A handwritten signature is only necessary on printed hard copies. Inserting a scanned version into electronic documents is optional, not required.

Goal of the cover letter conclusion: Temper your expression of hope that you may be a good fit for the job with some humility. Present your case and end on a “what do you think?” note.

I was referred to this career opportunity by one of your current sales managers, David Grey. I hope for the opportunity of an interview to see why he loves working for you so much. Sincerely, Christine Foster

Writing psychology: get under your future employer’s skin

Any piece of writing by a sales professional should be backed by a solid amount of psychology. After all, you are a master of influence and persuasion. Here are a few considerations:

• Reach out with emotion: if prospective employers are not feeling excited after reading your cover letter, then you have no chance of getting the job. They might also be feeling curious, intrigued or even incredulous. The more emotions you can make them feel, the more they will want to explore them during an interview.
• The circle of trust: any salesperson who is going out into the market and selling a product or service has to come across as being trustworthy. Be someone who lives by your word, who is a straight talker and who seeks to over-deliver rather than over-promise. Some sales materials can seem exaggerated; make sure that your sales cover letter engenders a gentle sense of trust rather than an unbelieving suspicion.
• Sell your benefits: working out how your experience can most benefit your prospective employer (and communicating it throughout the recruitment process) is the goal of any successful candidate. Sales people should find it easy to sell the benefits of hiring them. Being honest and clear about why they should hire you is not arrogant — you are simply setting out the reasons why you are worth bringing onto their team.
• Instant gratification: If recruiters are worrying about an aforementioned “pain point” and you have identified that you have the ability to solve it, they will subconsciously feel right away that you are able to handle a whole range of other issues. Appeal to their self-interest in showing how you will instantly make their time at work more profitable if you are hired.

Sales legend Grant Cardone talks a lot about the importance of continuous learning for any sales professional. This attitude is something that every hiring manager will want to see in a new sales recruit:

“The best investment I ever made was when I was 25 years old and I hated sales. I borrowed $3,000 from my mother to buy a sales program — it was 12 cassette tapes and it took 10 days for it to arrive. I made so much money from those tapes. I went from making $30,000 to making $100,000 a year. Most importantly, not only did I make more money, but for the first time in my life I could say I loved sales. For the first time, I knew what I was doing. Ever since then, I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars investing in myself and my people, in hopes of making us all better, more motivated, more strategic. Some of the programs don’t work, but I keep investing, knowing that it’ll pay off in the long run.”

Whether it is an MBA, an online course or even a stint working with a sales coach, every sales professional should have an insatiable drive to become more effective. You can be sure that your cover letter readers will be passionate about sales too. If they feel that you share that passion for self-improvement, they will find a kindred spirit.

Don’t style yourself as the ideal sales machine. Even if there were such a thing, it would be obsolete within a short period as the world is changing at such a fast pace.

Don’t commit these sales cover letter errors

Much of the advice in this guide has been sales-specific, but there are a few basic mistakes that belong in no job seeker's cover letter.

• Don’t overpromise. Before you join the company, you won’t know exactly what is required of you, so make sure that you don’t paint yourself as a potential sales superhero. Be inquisitive, be curious and be interested in how you might contribute.
• Keep the tone professional. Every salesperson is naturally personable, but make sure that the tone of your cover letter remains on the professional side. The interview is the time to gauge the room and show your friendly side. In an application letter it comes across as being slightly misjudged.
• Avoid being overly descriptive. Wasting words with flowery language will waste the time of any prospect. Sales communications should take people on a journey, but when a hiring manager has 10 cover letters to read, your superfluous language won't be appreciated. Get to the point and make sure it is powerful.
• Careless formatting . Just as a careless mistake might detract from your overall message in a sales presentation, any kind of mistake in your cover letter or resume might indicate a lack of attention to detail on the candidate’s part.

Key takeaways for a sales cover letter

• Use all of your sales influencing skills and persuasive tactics in your cover letter.
• Repeat the core messages to drive home your key benefits for the prospective employer.
• Show that you understand what it takes to sell that company's products or services.
• Reach out to your future employer and establish trust and confidence early.
• Talk about how you invest in your continuous sales learning.

With resume.io, your cover letter can become an ideal companion to your resume. With this dual strategy, your perfect sales role is just around the corner. Click on one of our ready-made and carefully market-researched cover letter templates and start writing. Our easy-to-use builder tool makes it a breeze to customize with your own replacement text.

Free professionally designed templates

How to Write a Sales Cover Letter (Examples & Templates) for All Sales Positions

If a cover letter seems a bit old school to you, think again. According to a recent survey by ResumeLab , cover letters are still an important component of the decision-making process among 83 percent of hiring managers, recruiters and HR staff. Moreover, 83 percent of respondents claimed that they would interview a candidate with a great cover letter, even if their resume isn’t up to par.

That said, you’ll still need a solid track record or educational background to snag the interest of an employer. But with a sales cover letter in hand, your next job search will become that much easier, whether you’re an entry-level job seeker or you’ve cultivated a LinkedIn resume that turns heads.

Why is a Sales Cover Letter Important?

Cover letters tell your potential employer who you are before you even walk in the door for a sales job interview , and it makes said interview that much more likely. Even if writing such a letter feels uncomfortable and you’d prefer to let your experience do the talking, this is still an invaluable skill to have.

5 Cover Letter Tips for Today’s Sales Professionals

Writing a professional cover letter for a sales job might not feel intuitive yet, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard. The following tips will start you off on the right foot.

Be Clear And Concise

A cover letter is not an aria. It’s not a soliloquy or a monologue. It’s certainly not a rant. No, you can think of it as a short informational pamphlet—and the subject is you.

Rather than waxing poetic about your thoughts, feelings, or even your goals, stick to the main points, including who you are, what you’ve done so far, and what you can do for the company for which you’d like to work. Keeping your letter short and sweet can increase application success.

Make it Easy to Read

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes at a time. The way you format your cover letter can either help or hurt your chances of standing out.

No, that doesn’t mean it’s time to throw in the fancy fonts and fun colors. Instead, format your cover letter with the goal of making it easy to read.

Follow best practices such as:

• Write short, concise sentences and remove unnecessary adjectives
• Make your paragraphs shorter, or use bullet points to make key ideas stand out
• Use clean, professional fonts at a size that’s easy to read

The overall goal is for hiring managers to quickly and easily see what makes you stand out beyond the rest of the applicants. Don’t hide your strongest selling points in small, swirly fonts and huge blocks of text!

Highlight Your Skills

It’s very important to highlight your sales skills in a cover letter. This is different from accomplishments, which we’re covering next. Your skills are a separate category, in which you describe what you bring to the table, regardless of whether you’ve used those skills in the past or not. Include such details as the apps, sales tools or programs you know how to use, languages you speak, and areas in which you’ve trained.

Example: I have 12 years of experience in enterprise sales , and have recently completed a course on Challenger Selling to increase my sales skill set. I happen to be fluent in Spanish, which has been a great help in closing deals in Latino markets.

While it is appropriate to include some reference to soft skills in your cover letter, limit it to a few. Any job applicant will claim they are a good problem-solver and a team player; it’s more important to share which skills make you stand out as a salesperson.

Example: When working with new customers, I consider myself a detective and my main tool is asking the right questions . This has helped me consistently identify leads that aren’t a good fit for the company right from our first conversation.

Showcase Relevant Achievements

In addition to putting your achievements on a professional resume , include a quick recap of them in your cover letter. Make those achievements quantifiable, using numbers and statistics from your sales reports or the company’s, and don’t hold back or engage in false modesty. This is no time to sell yourself short.

Example: I was the frontrunner for Employee of the Year at my company’s regional picnic, coming in at least 8 percent over my sales targets every quarter the previous fiscal year. I also took a course in enterprise sales and helped overhaul our company website to increase the user experience, following which we saw a 23 percent jump in conversions.

5 Steps To Writing A Sales Representative Cover Letter

So it’s time to write that letter and nail that sales representative position! But how exactly are you going to fit all the awesomeness that is you onto one page, single-spaced, in 12-point Helvetica font, without leaving anything out?

Good question, and as with all good answers, an analogy is called for: think of your cover letter as if it’s a highlight reel on your social media account. While your highlight reel can’t stand in for the hours you spend crafting witty tweets, it can give people a quick glance at who you are. And just like a highlight reel, the goal for your cover letter is to make others want to dig a little bit deeper.

A good sales representative cover letter should make your readers curious enough to learn more about you as a sales professional that they will want to ask you about yourself in person. Let’s take a look at how to make them do just that, in five easy steps.

1. The Header

Think of yourself as a sales hiring manager. How hard are you going to look for the contact information of a candidate if they can’t even bother to provide it somewhere obvious in the sales cover letter?

Answer: not very hard. That’s why every sales position cover letter needs a header. Usually, you’ll find it across the top, though sometimes the header runs along the side of the page. It needs to include your name, phone number, address, and any other contact information you might have.

Note that while cover letters to clients or professional colleagues might include your company name, a sales job cover letter should not. Under your info, put the date.

555.555.5555

[email protected]

December 19, 2022

Note that the header is different from the salutation, which includes the hiring manager’s contact information. Don’t confuse the two.

2. How To Greet the Employer

Here is where you greet your potential employer. It has two parts: the contact info and the salutation. First, include the same contact info you included for yourself, but relevant to the hiring manager: their name, basic info and company name.

Then greet them.

You can pick from a number of ways to do this, but if you know the manager’s name, that’s the simplest. “Dear Ms. Lannister” is always better than a “Hi there,” “Greetings,” “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” The former two are too casual, while the latter couple are old-fashioned and make it look like you haven’t bothered to look up their name.

Note: If you can’t be sure of someone’s pronouns, opt for a neutral “Dear Hiring Manager Lannister” or their full name.

3. The Introduction

As with anything else, you have very little time to make a good impression if you want the job. Whether you’re in software sales or yacht sales, you need to punch it right from the beginning.

The introductory paragraph should emphasize why you are an ideal candidate. Remember that this paragraph needs to entice the employer to read further, and readers will lose interest in a boring introduction. Include why you’re applying, any notable sales goals you’ve met or awards you’ve won, and a lead-in to the following paragraph.

Example: I was very excited to see the position of sales manager open at Winterfell Enterprises. In my ten years as an inside sales rep for Targaryen Inc., I have acquired a notable sales record, always meeting my quotas and earning Salesperson of the Year in 2020. I feel strongly that I’d be a great addition to your company as a sales manager.

4. The Body

Here’s where you flesh out your skills and achievements in more detail. Include items such as:

• Work experience
• Sales experience and sales skills
• Communication skills
• Time management abilities
• Achievement or award track record

Note that you should avoid bullet points, though you can use them in your sales resume. The same goes for detailing aspects of your education, with the exception being your degree (associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, etc.), which is appropriate to mention.

Mostly, this is a sales pitch that should include why you’re the best candidate for the job. Your existing knowledge and abilities are critical to whether or not you can land the role you’re looking for, so don’t hold back. While you should never brag or pass on compliments you’ve gotten, you should share exactly why you would be a good fit for the position.

Bad example: I’m told I’m the best salesperson if you have a difficult deal that no one can seem to close.

Good example: I have consistently proved myself as an asset to my employers, closing more than a dozen deals last year that other employees were unable to nail down.

5. The Conclusion

The last paragraph of your sales cover letter should include a summation, references, and the fond wish that you hear from the hiring manager again. It’s okay to use humor here as long as it is tasteful and doesn’t become the focus on the letter.

Example: Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My references are happy to hear from you at any time, and hopefully they will say nice things about me like they promised. I look forward to speaking with you if they do.

If you prefer a more serious tone, simply express your gratitude and desire to hear from them again.

Example: I appreciate your time in reading this letter. Please feel free to reach out to my contacts at any time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Cover Letter Examples

There exist a wide variety of job positions in the sales world, with different focuses, locations and levels of seniority. No one size fits all when it comes to sales jobs, which is why you need to tailor your sales cover letter to the exact position you’re looking for.

Naturally, we can’t cover every possible job title in a single post. However, the following sales cover letter example list should give you a fairly good idea of what employers are looking for. Feel free to browse both the resume templates and the cover letter templates for ideas before writing your own.

Sales Associate Cover Letter

If you’re just beginning your career in sales , then chances are good you might find yourself at a retail location. From cell phone stores to electronics outlets, car dealerships to boutiques that pay on commission, these are great places to cut your sales teeth.

Just because they’re good for entry-level employees doesn’t mean employers don’t expect a good showing, however. You’ll still need a cover letter that impresses. Go through the sales cover letter sample list below to see what we’re talking about:

• Sales Associate Cover Letter 1
• Sales Associate Cover Letter 2
• Sales Associate Cover Letter 3

Inside Sales Rep Cover Letter

Responsible for selling products and services from company headquarters or satellite offices rather than retail locations where customers walk in, inside sales reps spend a lot of time on the phone and using email. (Ideally for the company, they’re also spending plenty of time using smart automated sales software , but that’s another subject.)

If you hope to become an inside sales rep, you’ll need a sales representative cover letter that demonstrates related abilities. That includes good customer service, the ability to focus under pressure, and a solid background in sales or its theory. Take a look at these examples:

• Inside Sales Rep Cover Letter 1
• Inside Sales Rep Cover Letter 2
• Inside Sales Rep Cover Letter 3

Outside Sales Rep Cover Letter

While their inside counterparts work at a company building, outside sales reps travel to various locations to meet with clients on their turf. The two jobs have much in common, but an outside sales rep must demonstrate a skill set specific to traveling and meeting people in person.

This includes great one-on-one people skills, excellent personal grooming, and account growth. It is sales, after all. Here are a few excellent samples:

• Outside Sales Rep Cover Letter 1
• Outside Sales Rep Cover Letter 2
• Outside Sales Rep Cover Letter 3

Sales Manager Cover letter

Whether you’re already a manager hoping for a position at a new company, or you want to get a managerial job for the first time, the competition is stiff. You’ll need to show you not only have sales chops, but that you can manage people at the same time.

A sales manager cover letter should include how long you’ve been in the industry, how many people you’ve managed, your previous positions, your sales quota history and any related stats. These letters showcase exactly how to present professionally and put yourself in the running for manager:

• Sales Manager Cover Letter 1
• Sales Manager Cover Letter 2
• Sales Manager Cover Letter 3

You may have noticed that most of the above cover letter examples come with offers from their sites to help you craft your own cover letter (and often resume). If you don’t feel confident that you can do a stellar job yourself, go ahead and use one of those templates. Over time, you can use those skills to begin writing cover letters yourself, but there’s no pressure to do so now.

Why Are Sales Cover Letters Effective?

Again, writing a sales cover letter might feel daunting when you first set out to do it. In addition to making you look responsible and organized, however, a cover letter will immediately push you further up in the queue because a full 45 percent of job applicants don’t even include one. If you can get ahead of nearly half of the competition that easily, why wouldn’t you?

At the end of the day, a cover letter just isn’t that hard, and the potential rewards are indisputable. Take this opportunity to write the best cover letter you can, tailoring it to the job description and using a cover letter builder if necessary. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little help, but there’s everything wrong with leaving an opportunity on the table. That’s just not how salespeople roll, right?

Finally, keep learning. Increase your sales skills, learn to build remote teams , and practice your writing and communication skills as often as possible. Do this when you’re on the job hunt and when you’re not, because in the end, it will make you a better worker who is more appreciated by your employer. And that in turn is bound to pay off for life.

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Professional Sales Officer Cover Letter Examples for 2024

In your sales officer cover letter, convey your understanding of sales strategies and market analysis. Highlight your ability to turn data into actionable plans. Showcase your track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets consistently. Emphasize your exceptional communication skills and your knack for building strong client relationships.

Cover Letter Guide

Sales Officer Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Sales Officer Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Embarking on the job hunt, you've likely stumbled upon the need for a sales officer cover letter—a daunting task that can't be ignored. It's not about echoing your resume; instead, it's your chance to narrate the triumph of your proudest professional moment. Keep clichés at bay and maintain a formal tone as you condense passion and achievement into a single, compelling page. Elevate your application by crafting a cover letter that captures your unique story.

• Create a sales officer cover letter to persuade the recruiters you're the best candidate for the role;
• Use industry-leading sales officer cover letter templates and examples to save time;
• Dedicate your sales officer cover letter space to your best achievement;
• Make sure your sales officer cover letter meets recruiters' expectations and standards.

Avoid starting at the blank page for hours by using Enhancv's AI - just upload your resume and your sales officer cover letter will be ready for you to (tweak and) submit for your dream job.

If the sales officer isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• Sales Officer resume guide and example
• Key Account Manager cover letter example
• Waitress Cashier cover letter example
• Fragrance Sales Associate cover letter example
• Enterprise Account Executive cover letter example
• Customer Support Manager cover letter example
• Client Service Manager cover letter example
• Sales Promoter cover letter example
• Solar Sales cover letter example
• Corporate Sales Manager cover letter example
• Technical Sales Manager cover letter example

Sales Officer cover letter example

Ethan Smith

Seattle, Washington

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Illustrating relevant past successes, such as the launch of a new investment product, highlights the candidate’s ability to contribute to significant market gains, which is highly valuable for an Investment Chief Sales Officer role.
• Emphasizing the quantifiable impact on revenue in previous positions demonstrates the candidate's potential for driving financial growth, a critical metric of success in investment sales positions.
• Detailing experience in securing lucrative partnerships showcases the candidate's network and relationship-building skills, which are essential for sales strategy and client acquisition in the investment industry.

Standard formatting for your sales officer cover letter

Structure your sales officer cover letter, following industry-leading advice, to include:

• Header - with your name, the role you're applying for, the date, and contact details;
• Greeting - make sure it's personalized to the organization;
• Introduction paragraph - no more than two sentences;
• Body paragraph - answering why you're the best candidate for the role;
• Closing paragraph - ending with a promise or a call to action;
• Signature - now that's optional.

Set up your sales officer cover letter for success with our templates that are all single-spaced and have a one-inch margin all around.

Use the same font for your sales officer cover as the one in your resume (remember to select a modern, Applicant Tracker System or ATS favorites, like Raleway, Volkhov, or Chivo instead of the worn-out Times New Roman).

Speaking of the ATS, did you know that it doesn't scan or assess your cover letter? This document is solely for the recruiters.

Our builder allows you to export your sales officer cover letter in the best format out there: that is, PDF (this format keeps your information intact).

The top sections on a sales officer cover letter

Header: This section includes the candidate's contact information, the date, and the hiring manager's details, paving the way for a professional first impression and ensuring the letter reaches the intended recipient.

Opening Greeting: It should address the hiring manager by name when possible, showing that the candidate has done their research and adds a personal touch, which is key in sales to build rapport.

Introduction: This section should immediately capture the hiring manager's attention by succinctly stating the sales officer's experience and enthusiasm for the role, demonstrating their ability to sell themselves effectively.

Body of the Cover Letter: Here, the sales officer highlights specific achievements, sales figures, and skills that align with the needs of the company, showing they can deliver results and handle the challenges of the sales position.

Closing Paragraph: In this section, the candidate should include a strong call to action, reaffirm their interest in the position, and express the desire to discuss their qualifications in greater detail, reflecting their sales acumen and proactive approach.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

• Proven track record in sales achievements: Recruiters look for quantifiable success in meeting or exceeding sales targets as it indicates the candidate's ability to generate revenue.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills: These are crucial for persuading and closing deals with clients, as well as fostering long-term customer relationships.
• Customer-focused mindset: A sales officer must prioritize the needs of customers, ensuring satisfaction and loyalty, which translates to repeat business.
• Strategic planning and analysis abilities: Being able to develop and execute effective sales strategies based on market analysis is key to driving sales growth.
• Adaptability to change: Sales environments are dynamic, with frequent changes in products, markets, and competition, requiring a flexible approach to strategies and tactics.
• Networking prowess: Building and maintaining relationships with clients, partners, and industry professionals can lead to new sales opportunities and valuable insights.

What matters most when tailoring your sales officer cover letter salutation

Your sales officer cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.

Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.

If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your sales officer cover letter with:

• their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
• generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Company Name] Team,
• Dear [Department Name] Hiring Committee,
• Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name],
• Dear [Professional Title/Position],
• Good Morning/Afternoon [Hiring Manager's Name],

What to include in those first two sentences, or your sales officer cover letter introduction

Have you ever wondered what the best way is to present your profile in the sales officer cover letter introduction ?

There's no right or wrong answer if you're being concise and authentic to yourself.

Some professionals start their sales officer cover letter by:

• congratulating the company - focusing on something impressive, whether that's an award, an industry-leading project, or a key event;
• aligning their passion for the field or industry with the job - if you're enthusiastic about what you do, you'd thus grow your skill set and value as a professional.

How to select your best achievement for the middle, or the sales officer cover letter body

You probably feel exhausted by this point in your application: you've dived into all the details of your success and skills in your sales officer resume.

What else can you include in your sales officer cover letter body ?

Well, for starters, the next three to six paragraphs should show you further value as a professional. Or, why should recruiters choose you?

Think back on a noteworthy achievement that answers key job requirements and dive deep.

Structure your sales officer cover letter middle as you'd a story: following chronological logic and highlighting outcomes, thanks to skills.

At the end of the day, you'd want recruiters to be able to see you as the best candidate for the role and understand more about who you are and what makes your success unique (and valuable to the role).

Final words: writing your sales officer cover letter closing paragraph

The final paragraph of your sales officer cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression .

Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:

• how you see yourself growing into the role;
• the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.

Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).

If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your sales officer cover letter with a follow-up request.

You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.

Sales Officer cover letter advice for candidates with no experience

If you're worried about writing your Sales Officer cover letter and have no professional experience , we sure have some advice for you.

Turn recruiters' attention to your transferable or relevant skills gained thanks to your life and work experience.

Instead of writing about past jobs, focus on one achievement (whether from your volunteering experience, education, etc.) and the skills it has helped you build.

Alternatively, you could focus your Sales Officer cover letter on your career objectives and goals. Always remember to make those relevant to the job you're applying for by detailing how you see yourself growing as part of the company.

Recruiters would be way more impressed with candidates who fit the job profile and can bring about plenty of skills and vision to the table.

Key takeaways

Writing your sales officer cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:

• Create an individual sales officer cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
• Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your sales officer cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
• Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your sales officer cover letter to make a good first impression;
• Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
• End your sales officer cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.

Cover letter examples by industry

AI cover letter writer, powered by ChatGPT

Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.

• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
• ChatGPT model specifically trained by Enhancv
• Lightning-fast responses

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Sales Professional Cover Letter Examples (Template & 20+ Tips)

Create a standout sales professional cover letter with our online platform. browse professional templates for all levels and specialties. land your dream role today.

As a sales professional, your ability to effectively communicate your experience, skills, and enthusiasm for the role is crucial when applying for a new job. A well-written cover letter can set you apart from the competition and showcase your sales expertise. In this guide, we will provide you with essential tips and examples to help you craft an impressive sales professional cover letter that will impress potential employers and land you the job you desire.

We will cover:

• How to write a cover letter, no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a cover letter to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a cover letter fast with our professional Cover Letter Builder .
• Why you should use a cover letter template

Related Cover Letter Examples

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• Experienced Sales Manager Cover Letter Sample
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Sales Professional Cover Letter Sample

Date: [Insert Date]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my interest in the Sales Professional position at your company. With a strong background in sales and a proven track record of exceeding sales targets, I am confident that I would be a valuable addition to your team.

Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to drive sales and build relationships with clients. In my previous role at [Insert Company Name], I successfully increased sales by 30% within the first year and maintained a client retention rate of 95%. These achievements were a result of my strategic approach to sales, strong communication skills, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

I am particularly drawn to the opportunity at your company because of your reputation for excellence in the industry and your commitment to delivering top-notch products and services to your clients. I am eager to contribute to your team and help drive your company's growth and success.

In addition to my sales experience, I bring a strong understanding of the latest sales techniques and trends. I am adept at using CRM systems and other sales tools to effectively manage leads, track sales activities, and identify new opportunities. I am also skilled at conducting market research and analysis to identify potential clients and develop targeted sales strategies.

I am confident that my passion for sales, strong work ethic, and results-driven approach make me a perfect fit for the Sales Professional position at your company. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique skills and experience to your team and contribute to the continued success of your organization.

Thank you for considering my application. I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasm for sales can benefit your company. Please do not hesitate to contact me to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.

[Your Name]

Why Do you Need a Sales Professional Cover Letter?

• A sales professional cover letter is essential for introducing yourself to potential employers.
• It allows you to highlight your specific sales experience, skills, and achievements in a more personalized manner than a resume alone.
• A well-crafted cover letter can set you apart from other applicants and make a strong first impression.
• It gives you the opportunity to explain why you are a perfect fit for the sales professional position and how you can contribute to the company's success.
• A cover letter also demonstrates your communication and writing skills, which are important for a sales professional role.
• Ultimately, a sales professional cover letter can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed and landing an interview for your dream sales job.

A Few Important Rules To Keep In Mind

• Address the letter to the hiring manager or decision maker
• Use a professional tone and language
• Highlight your sales experience and accomplishments
• Show enthusiasm for the opportunity
• Customize the letter for each job application
• Keep the letter concise and to the point
• Proofread for any spelling or grammatical errors
• Include your contact information and availability for an interview

What's The Best Structure For Sales Professional Cover Letters?

After creating an impressive Sales Professional resume , the next step is crafting a compelling cover letter to accompany your job applications. It's essential to remember that your cover letter should maintain a formal tone and follow a recommended structure. But what exactly does this structure entail, and what key elements should be included in a Sales Professional cover letter? Let's explore the guidelines and components that will make your cover letter stand out.

Key Components For Sales Professional Cover Letters:

• Your contact information, including the date of writing
• The recipient's details, such as the company's name and the name of the addressee
• A professional greeting or salutation, like "Dear Mr. Levi,"
• An attention-grabbing opening statement to captivate the reader's interest
• A concise paragraph explaining why you are an excellent fit for the role
• Another paragraph highlighting why the position aligns with your career goals and aspirations
• A closing statement that reinforces your enthusiasm and suitability for the role
• A complimentary closing, such as "Regards" or "Sincerely," followed by your name
• An optional postscript (P.S.) to add a brief, impactful note or mention any additional relevant information.

Cover Letter Header

A header in a cover letter should typically include the following information:

• Your Full Name: Begin with your first and last name, written in a clear and legible format.
• Contact Information: Include your phone number, email address, and optionally, your mailing address. Providing multiple methods of contact ensures that the hiring manager can reach you easily.
• Date: Add the date on which you are writing the cover letter. This helps establish the timeline of your application.

It's important to place the header at the top of the cover letter, aligning it to the left or center of the page. This ensures that the reader can quickly identify your contact details and know when the cover letter was written.

Cover Letter Greeting / Salutation

A greeting in a cover letter should contain the following elements:

• Personalized Salutation: Address the hiring manager or the specific recipient of the cover letter by their name. If the name is not mentioned in the job posting or you are unsure about the recipient's name, it's acceptable to use a general salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Team."
• Professional Tone: Maintain a formal and respectful tone throughout the greeting. Avoid using overly casual language or informal expressions.
• Correct Spelling and Title: Double-check the spelling of the recipient's name and ensure that you use the appropriate title (e.g., Mr., Ms., Dr., or Professor) if applicable. This shows attention to detail and professionalism.

For example, a suitable greeting could be "Dear Ms. Johnson," or "Dear Hiring Manager," depending on the information available. It's important to tailor the greeting to the specific recipient to create a personalized and professional tone for your cover letter.

Cover Letter Introduction

An introduction for a cover letter should capture the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of your background and interest in the position. Here's how an effective introduction should look:

• Opening Statement: Start with a strong opening sentence that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Consider mentioning your enthusiasm for the job opportunity or any specific aspect of the company or organization that sparked your interest.
• Brief Introduction: Provide a concise introduction of yourself and mention the specific position you are applying for. Include any relevant background information, such as your current role, educational background, or notable achievements that are directly related to the position.
• Connection to the Company: Demonstrate your knowledge of the company or organization and establish a connection between your skills and experiences with their mission, values, or industry. Showcasing your understanding and alignment with their goals helps to emphasize your fit for the role.
• Engaging Hook: Consider including a compelling sentence or two that highlights your unique selling points or key qualifications that make you stand out from other candidates. This can be a specific accomplishment, a relevant skill, or an experience that demonstrates your value as a potential employee.
• Transition to the Body: Conclude the introduction by smoothly transitioning to the main body of the cover letter, where you will provide more detailed information about your qualifications, experiences, and how they align with the requirements of the position.

By following these guidelines, your cover letter introduction will make a strong first impression and set the stage for the rest of your application.

Cover Letter Body

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Sales Professional position at your company. With over ten years of experience in sales and a proven track record of exceeding targets, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your team and help drive business growth.

• Introduction: Start by introducing yourself and mentioning the position you are applying for.
• Work Experience: Highlight your relevant sales experience and achievements, such as meeting or exceeding sales targets, increasing revenue, or securing new clients.
• Skills and Qualifications: Discuss specific skills and qualifications that make you a strong candidate, such as excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities, as well as knowledge of sales techniques and strategies.
• Interest in the Company: Express your interest in the company and explain why you are excited about the opportunity to contribute to its success. Research the company and mention any specific aspects that appeal to you.
• Closing: Thank the reader for considering your application and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to further discuss how you can contribute to the company's success.

I am confident that my strong work ethic, passion for sales, and dedication to achieving results make me a great fit for this role. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to your team and help drive the company's sales objectives.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this exciting opportunity with you in the near future.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Complimentary Close

The conclusion and signature of a cover letter provide a final opportunity to leave a positive impression and invite further action. Here's how the conclusion and signature of a cover letter should look:

• Summary of Interest: In the conclusion paragraph, summarize your interest in the position and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the organization or school. Emphasize the value you can bring to the role and briefly mention your key qualifications or unique selling points.
• Appreciation and Gratitude: Express appreciation for the reader's time and consideration in reviewing your application. Thank them for the opportunity to be considered for the position and acknowledge any additional materials or documents you have included, such as references or a portfolio.
• Call to Action: Conclude the cover letter with a clear call to action. Indicate your availability for an interview or express your interest in discussing the opportunity further. Encourage the reader to contact you to schedule a meeting or provide any additional information they may require.
• Complimentary Closing: Choose a professional and appropriate complimentary closing to end your cover letter, such as "Sincerely," "Best Regards," or "Thank you." Ensure the closing reflects the overall tone and formality of the letter.
• Signature: Below the complimentary closing, leave space for your handwritten signature. Sign your name in ink using a legible and professional style. If you are submitting a digital or typed cover letter, you can simply type your full name.
• Typed Name: Beneath your signature, type your full name in a clear and readable font. This allows for easy identification and ensures clarity in case the handwritten signature is not clear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Sales Professional Cover Letter

When crafting a cover letter, it's essential to present yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. However, there are common mistakes that can hinder your chances of making a strong impression. By being aware of these pitfalls and avoiding them, you can ensure that your cover letter effectively highlights your qualifications and stands out from the competition. In this article, we will explore some of the most common mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter, providing you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you create a compelling and impactful introduction that captures the attention of hiring managers. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, understanding these mistakes will greatly enhance your chances of success in the job application process. So, let's dive in and discover how to steer clear of these common missteps and create a standout cover letter that gets you noticed by potential employers.

• Not customizing the cover letter for each job application
• Being too generic and not highlighting specific achievements or skills
• Focusing too much on what the candidate wants from the job rather than what they can offer the company
• Using cliché language and buzzwords that don't add value
• Not proofreading for grammatical or spelling errors
• Not addressing the cover letter to a specific person or using a generic salutation
• Overly long or wordy cover letters that lose the reader's interest
• Not including specific examples of how the candidate has contributed to a previous employer's success
• Making unrealistic claims or exaggerating qualifications
• Not following the application instructions provided by the employer

Key Takeaways For a Sales Professional Cover Letter

• Proven track record of exceeding sales targets
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to build and maintain client relationships
• Outstanding time management and organizational skills
• Deep understanding of the sales process and techniques
• Team player with a passion for driving results

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Sales Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

Selling your skills in a sales cover letter is an art. In this hustle-bustle of the sales world, we've got handy tips, success-proven examples, and ready-to-use templates just for you. It's time to skillfully display your accomplishments, showcase your expertise, and strategically position your skills.

In this comprehensive guide, we teach you everything you need to know about writing a great sales cover letter. Keep reading to learn about:

• Navigating real-world sales cover letter examples
• Formatting your sales cover letter the right way
• Creating your sales cover letter header and headline
• Including personalized information in your sales cover letter
• Writing a strong sales cover letter introduction to impress employers
• Showcasing your top skills and accomplishments as a sales professional
• Using powerful action words in your sales cover letter
• Encouraging employers to contact you in your cover letter conclusion
• Avoding common pitfalls in a sales cover letter
• Pairing your sales cover letter with a resume
• Understanding the average salary and job outlook for sales professionals
• Finding the best job search resources for sales professionals

Sales intern cover letter example

Why does this intern cover letter sample work?

• Strong academic record:  The candidate impressively highlights their strong academic record and active participation in extracurricular activities related to the field. This paints a picture of a dedicated, active learner.
• Detailed work experience:  There's a well-detailed section on the candidate's previous sales internship experience, explained with activities and achievements that is relevant to the position they're applying for.

What could be done better in this cover letter example?

• Length and clarity:  The cover letter's length is overwhelming and some sentences are over-complicated. Breaking down the long paragraphs into bite-size sections with clear, concise sentences would improve readability.
• Personalization:  The opening addresses "Recruiters" and could seem impersonal. If possible, finding the name of the hiring manager or specific department to address would be more engaging.
• Active language:  Although the applicant's achievements are impressive, they could be presented more energetically with active, compelling verbs. Rather than stating tasks completed during the internship, focusing on the impact of those tasks would be more powerful.

Sales coordinator cover letter example

What are the strengths of this cover letter example?

• Relevant experience:  The candidate effectively presents a strong background in Sales Coordination. Their reference to specific responsibilities paints a picture of a seasoned sales professional.
• Academics and language skills:  Including academic qualifications and language proficiency is a plus point, it provides essential information about their ability to handle the demands of a sales role.

What aspects could we improve?

• Responsibilities over achievements:  The candidate describes job responsibilities instead of highlighting achievements or contributions that affected the business positively. It would be better to use bullet points to spotlight impactful accomplishments, rather than responsibilities. 
• Lack of quantification:  The candidate doesn't specify any numbers in terms of sales growth or the successful outcomes of their strategies. This missed opportunity leaves the employer guessing their actual impact.
• Active language:  The cover letter could use more active language and power words to bring their sales initiatives to life. For instance, instead of 'prepared contracts', using 'spearheaded contract preparation' would sound more dynamic.

Sales lead cover letter example

What makes this cover letter sample effective?

• Bulleted achievements:  The applicant includes bullet points to detail their achievements rather than responsibilities. Highlighting achievements gives an empirical snapshot of their competence.
• Quantification of success:  The applicant provides concrete numbers and figures about the results they've achieved, providing a tangible sense of their contribution and success.
• Awards and recognition:  Mentions of awards and accolades, such as "Sales Lead of the Year," successfully showcase the candidate's recognized performance in previous roles.

Points to work on

• Generic salutation:  The opening "Dear Hiring Manager" could be more personalized. Addressing a specific contact would create a warmer, more personal opening.
• Long paragraphs: Although the letter includes great examples and achievements, the long paragraphs make it slightly more difficult to read. Breaking these down further would improve readability.
• Specific skill application:  While the letter mentions skills such as tenacity and negotiation, grounding these traits in specific examples within their sales experience could have made the assertions more compelling.

1. Properly format your sales cover letter

Formatting is for a cover letter what presentation is for a product — it sets the first impression and makes it shine amidst the competition. Below are some basic guidelines on how to make your sales cover letter smooth to read and easy to navigate:

• Choosing a professional font: Stick to traditional fonts like Times New Roman or Arial and aim for a standard font size between 10 to 12.
• Use of white space:  Break down your cover letter into distinct sections with clear boundaries and use bullet points where necessary. It makes the letter easier on the eye.
• Alignment:  Maintain left alignment throughout the document. It gives the letter a professional and streamlined look.
• Length:  Aim for a one-page document. Your ability to convey important information concisely is a virtue in sales.
• Margins:  Stick to a 1-inch margin on all sides. Nobody wants text cramped to the edges.
• File format:  If emailing, save your cover letter as a PDF file to preserve the formatting across various devices.

Remember, a well-formatted cover letter isn't just about making it look nice — it's about making it easy for hiring managers to spot your key selling points.

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2. create an effective sales cover letter header and headline.

Writing a cover letter as a sales professional requires more than just eloquence — it also requires you to have a strong understanding of how to give a letter visual flow and appeal .

As a sales professional, you know that to win a sale, you must first hook the customer’s attention. The same goes for applying for a sales job. You must give your cover letter a strong structure, making it easy for employers to find the most important and relevant information that will convince them to hire you.

This task is achieved through the use of a cover letter header and cover letter headline .

Your header comes first, placed at the top of the document, and lists the following:

• Your name, along with your contact information including your email, phone number, location, and LinkedIn profile link
• The recipient's name and title, as well as the company name and the company's address. 

Bad cover letter header example

  Mary Allen , Sales Pro [email protected]

Why is it ineffective? This header falls short of professionalism through the use of a too-casual email address and missing key contact information such as phone number, LinkedIn profile, and physical address.

Good example of a sales cover letter header

Mary Allen , Sales Professional (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Troy, MI 48098 | linkedin.com/in/mary-allen

To: Peter Sales, Hiring Manager Logans Window Manufacturing, Inc. 1234 Street Address Savannah, GA 31302

Why does this example work?  It demonstrates a well-rounded header, providing a professional email address, phone number, address, LinkedIn profile, and clear recipient details. It offers multiple routes of contact and demonstrates attention to detail and personalization.

After you have completed your header, you will then write your cover letter headline .

A headline can serve many purposes, including:

• Hooking the reader’s attention
• Highlighting the most important points of the letter
• Creating separation between the header and main body text

Bad cover letter headline example

Sales Professional Seeking Exciting New Opportunities

Why is it weak? This headline is not awful, but it's generic, self-focused, and doesn’t provide any specific value the candidate brings to the company.

Good cover letter headline example

Sales Professional with a Track Record of 120% Quarterly Target Achievement

Why does it work? This headline catches attention by presenting a concrete achievement that indicates the candidate's capability and dedication. "120% Quarterly Target Achievement" quantifies their performance, making their success tangible and believable.

Selling starts right from the headline. So, ensure it reflects your ability to deliver results, leading the reader down a paper trail of your professional prowess.

3. Include personalized information in your sales cover letter

Think about the last time you received a letter. More than likely, the words contained in that letter were highly specific to your life and the relationship between you and the person who wrote it.

The same should go for your professional cover letters . Writing cover letters that are generic and non-specific won't impress employers enough to land you your ideal job. Instead, you should research the employer thoroughly to find exact details, such as company goals or values, that you can reference.

Moreover, you should always try to discover who at a company will read and review your cover letter. Once you have determined this, address your letter to this person directly in a personalized greeting .

Here are 3 examples of personalized sales cover letter greetings

• Dear Ms. Jane Doe,
• Dear Head of Sales Jane Doe,
• Dear Ms. Jane Doe & the Sales Team,

Should your detective skills fall short and the hiring manager's name elude you on LinkedIn, the company website, or any other sources, fret not. You can resort to these general, yet professional, salutations:

General greetings for your sales cover letter

Dear Hiring Manager,  Dear [Company Name] Sales Team,

And one more piece of advice: Although "To Whom It May Concern" may seem like a safe fallback, it's often perceived as outdated and impersonal. It can indicate that you didn't make the effort to find the hiring manager's name and makes your cover letter less targeted.

4. Write a strong sales cover letter introduction to impress employers

Just as the opening pitch in a sales meeting can make or break a deal, the introduction of your sales cover letter can decide your career future. The opening lines must pique interest, enticing the reader to venture further.

To make a cover letter introduction strong and compelling, it is essential to include:

• A concise summary of your professional history (always include specializations when possible!)
• A clear statement on why you are applying for this position
• A mutual acquaintance or reputable professional reference (mutual acquaintances make the best professional references, as the employer already knows and trusts them)

Bad example of a sales cover letter opening paragraph

I'm writing to apply for the sales position. I've spent many years in sales and I'm now looking for new opportunities. I feel confident that this job aligns with my skills.

Why is this example weak? This opening lacks specificity, fails to provide any measured performance, and seems more self-focused. It also doesn't leverage any connections to the company, making it a forgettable introduction.

Good cover letter introduction example from a sales cover letter

I am a sales professional with 5 years of specialized experience selling used and new automobile components to dealerships and auto mechanics. My mentor, Mr. John Johnson, is a dealership owner in your city and is a longtime client of your company. Mr. Johnson let me know about this opening at your company and strongly recommended I apply due to my highly relevant skill set.

Why does this opening hit the mark?  It delivers a concise yet detailed professional summary, mentions a specific reference, and specifies why the candidate is applying for the role. It's personal, tangible, and sets the stage for demonstrating the candidate's suitability for the role. It certainly is a compelling way to start a sales cover letter. 

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5. Showcase your top skills and accomplishments as a sales professional

Hooking the employer’s attention in your introduction is only the beginning. From here, you must write concise body paragraphs that delve into your top skills and accomplishments as a sales professional.

To keep your body paragraphs well-organized, make sure to use short sentences that are easily skimmable by the employer. Additionally, you can also organize some information with bullet points, such as a list of your most notable accomplishments in a sales role, to make it more readable and scannable.

As you describe your skills and accomplishments, make sure to include enough detail to make it clear why these specific qualifications are included.

For example, do not just say you have great customer service skills. Instead, explain what kind of communication style you possess and how it has benefited customers in your previous positions. Your goal is to show employers the value you can bring to their company.

Here are 6 skills to describe in a sales cover letter

• Sales account management
• Sales tactics
• Product and inventory management
• Communication (describe your exact communication style)
• Customer service

Skillful highlighting of your sales accomplishments can make your cover letter a persuasive pitch rather than a run-of-the-mill job application. Sequencing your abilities and successes in a logical structure can lend your narrative credibility and appeal. 

Here's an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a sales cover letter

As a sales professional at [Former Employer], I achieved the highest number of closed deals in the department, meeting my sales goals for each quarter by 125%. Additionally, I helped onboard 5 major new clients, increasing overall revenues by 30% annually.

6. Include powerful action words in your sales cover letter

In the sales world, as in your cover letter, words carry a lot of weight. Action words , or verbs, are particularly potent: they paint a vivid picture of you 'in action', showcasing your abilities and achievements in a dynamic and compelling light.

Weaving action words throughout your cover letter can bring your experiences and skills to life , making your case more persuasive. By choosing words that convey energy and initiative, you can create a greater impact, just like a successful sales pitch.

Here's a shortlist of power-packed action verbs for your sales cover letter

• Outperformed

Remember, it's not j ust about the words you choose, but the compelling sales story they help you tell. Let these action words lend you the verbal strength to close the deal on your dream job.

7. Build a strong sales cover letter conclusion

Your last key step in writing a sales cover letter is to encourage the employer to contact you quickly in your conclusion . While you don’t want to make the employer feel rushed, reiterating that you are excited to hear from them and how they can best reach you will help persuade them to contact you promptly.

Always include a formal sign-off in your conclusion to show respect and appreciation to the employer.

Bad cover letter conclusion example

Hope to get a response from you soon. Thanks for considering my application. Contact me anytime.

[Applicant Name]

Why does it fall flat? This conclusion lacks enthusiasm and doesn't provide specific contact availability. The tone comes off as indifferent, leaving the employer with a weak impression of the candidate's interest.

Here is an example of a good conclusion from a sales cover letter

It brings me great excitement to be considered for this position on your team and I look forward to hearing from you soon. The best time to reach me is between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. any day of the week. As I am eager to speak with you further about this opportunity, I plan to reach out next Wednesday afternoon if I have not yet heard back.

Kind Regards,

Why is this conclusion effective?  It reinforces the applicant's eagerness for the role, sets expectations about a follow-up and also provides a window of convenient contact time. It maintains a professional yet enthusiastic tone, showing respect and interest by planning a follow-up. The formal sign-off adds a finishing touch to a well-composed sales cover letter.

8. Avoid common mistakes in your sales cover letter

The trick to perfecting your sales cover letter lies as much in avoiding some common pitfalls as in including all the right elements. Here are a few mistakes you should steer clear of:

1. Being too self-centered: Remember, your cover letter is also about the company and how you can contribute to it.

• Bad example: "I am excited to apply to this job as it will be great for my career."
• Good example: "I am excited to apply my sales expertise to improve the already stellar performance of your sales team."

2. Leaving a passive closing: A salesperson is proactive. Show them that drive in your closing too.

• Bad example: "I'm looking forward to hearing from you."
• Good example: "I'm eager to further discuss how I can bring value to your team. I'll follow up on the coming Tuesday."

3. Submitting without proofreading:  Typos or grammatical errors can quickly tarnish the impression you're trying to build. Double, or even triple, check before you submit .

4. Rehashing your resume:  Your cover letter should complement your resume, not copy it. Use it to tell a story and showcase your strengths.

• Bad example: "As stated in my resume, in my previous role, I generated a 50% increase in sales."
• Good example: "In my previous role, I pioneered a new sales technique, leading to a 50% uptick in sales."

5. Being too vague: Be specific about your skills and successes. Numbers often speak louder than words in the sales world.

• Bad example: "I have a good track record in sales."
• Good example: "Over the past two years, I've consistently exceeded my sales targets by at least 20%."

6. Failing to match the company tone: If the company presents itself informally, an overly formal cover letter might feel out of sync. Research the company and adjust your tone accordingly.

7. Not addressing the relevant person: Always try to find a specific contact person. "Dear Hiring Managers" is a last resort, not a first choice of greeting.

Accurate self-presentation is key. So sell yourself just as thoughtfully and passionately as you'd sell a product. With a well-crafted cover letter, you're one step closer to closing the deal on your dream job.

9. Pair your sales cover letter with a resume

Just like a perfectly matched shirt and tie, your sales cover letter and resume make a powerful combination. They have distinct purposes yet complement each other when crafted well.

Here's the difference in a nutshell:

A resume is a factual summary of your skills, experience, and education. It’s a snapshot of your career highlighting the who, what, and where of your professional journey.

A sales cover letter , on the other hand, adds personality to these facts. It’s your opportunity to explain the why and how of your career path. Here, you can tell your story, express motivations, and articulate fit with the company.

Creating a seamless visual experience by using the same design, fonts, and color scheme for both documents is vital. Not only does it provide a sense of cohesion and professionalism, but it also fortifies your personal brand.

Remember, consistency in presentation fosters trust and recognition, both of which are crucial in sales. So, think of your cover letter and resume as a power couple, best when together, yet each holding their own individually.

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10. average salary and job outlook for sales occupations.

According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average yearly salary for sales professionals was $35,290 in May 2022. This salary reflects a range of sales roles, from retail sales workers to real estate brokers.

While the overall employment in sales occupations is expected to decline from 2022 to 2032, do note that this doesn't close the door to opportunities. Quite the opposite, in fact. An average of about 1.8 million openings are projected to appear each year within the same period.

While market fluctuations can impact sales job availability, the turnover rate in the industry creates constant new opportunities. Regardless of the changing dynamics, sales professionals who can adapt, upskill, and deliver consistently can definitely find promising opportunities.

11. Top job search resources for sales professionals

The journey to landing or advancing in a sales career can be complex and competitive, but you don't have to navigate it alone. A wealth of resources are available to assist, educate, and inspire you. Here are a few suggestions:

• Networking:  Engage with sales professionals in your field and broader industry. Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to make connections. Sign up for industry conferences and seminars. You might learn about unadvertised opportunities or gain valuable insights.
• Professional organizations:  Join a professional body such as The National Association of Sales Professionals . Such organizations often provide training, certifications, and professional development opportunities.
• Job websites:  Leverage websites specifically designed for sales job seekers like SalesHeads.com  and   Rainmakers .
• Continued learning:  Keep expanding your knowledge. Online learning platforms like Coursera , Udacity , and LinkedIn Learning offer sales-specific courses. Remember, in a dynamic field like sales, continuous learning is key.
• Industry publications:  Subscribe to trade magazines and sales-focused publications like Selling Power and Sales and Marketing Management . These provide industry trends, tips, and success stories to learn from.

Remember, your career in sales is a journey of growth and adaptation. Keep exploring, stay curious, and continuously refine your hitting-the-target skills. Sales is about relationships — and that includes the one you have with the industry itself. Connect with it, learn from it, and let it guide you through your career progression.

Sales Cover Letter FAQ

Do i need to customize my sales cover letter for each job application.

Absolutely. Each job posting will have its own unique requirements and company culture. Customizing your cover letter to reflect those specifics shows the hiring manager that you've done your homework and genuinely care about this specific opportunity.

How can I strike the right balance between professionalism and personality in my sales cover letter?

Start by maintaining a professional tone and language throughout. Then, weave in your personality through real-life examples of your achievements, work ethic, and passion for sales. Remember, you want to come across as a real person, not a robot.

Can I use humor in my sales cover letter?

It depends on the company and role. If your research shows a company with a more informal, fun culture, a touch of tasteful, professional humor might work. However, don't force it. Your main objective should always be to present your skills and experiences effectively.

How should I handle a lack of sales experience in my cover letter?

Focus on transferable skills such as communication, negotiation, customer service, and leadership that are relevant to sales. Include examples of these from non-sales positions or situations. Show eagerness to learn and adapt.

What if I can't find the name of the hiring manager to address my cover letter?

If your research doesn't reveal a specific name, you can use a general but professional salutation. Aim for a title-specific greeting like "Dear Sales Team Hiring Manager" over a generic "To whom it may concern."

Julia Gergelova

Julia is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) and an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC™). She is also a passionate translator and graphic designer. Julia holds degrees in translation and interpretation and has international work experience in various countries across Europe, as well as in China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and contributed as a graphic designer to outlets such as The Business of Business. You'll often find her with a book in one hand and a specialty coffee in the other, always on the lookout for new insights.

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