How to write a successful account executive resume?

An account executive typically retains customers as well as closes sales deals. As an account executive, you know what you need to do to close the deal, and you need a resume that will close the deal with hiring managers. However, writing a resume can feel like a monumental task, and even the best sales person can find writing a resume a difficult task. Luckily, we’re here to help. Read on to learn how to write the perfect resume quickly and easily by including everything a hiring manager wants to know about you and your experience in the field.

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Account Executive Resume Sample

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1. Craft an eye-catching account executive professional summary

You likely deal with elevator pitches throughout the day, and your resume summary is your elevator pitch to potential employers. Before going into exactly what to write, it’s important to understand the application process. Most companies will use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to automatically scan resumes for keywords that highlight skills and work experience. If your resume doesn’t include keywords it’s looking for, a hiring manager won’t even look at your resume. After passing the ATS test, you need a summary that will lure the hiring manager in to show why you’re right for the position.

Look at what the job listing is looking for. If you are passionate, dedicated and experienced, lead with those terms as well as your years of experience in the field. Next, think of a few skills that you regularly utilize. So, for example, if you are great with public relations, marketing and cost avoidance, include those terms here. You don’t need to prove your experience with those skills (yet!), but giving a quick list off in your summary shows why you’re right for the job. Finally, end with your biggest accomplishments. If you increased customer retention by 70%, briefly mention it here to give hiring managers a measurable example of your experience.

2. Make your account executive work experience section stand out with your best accomplishments

Experience goes further than nearly any other part of your resume; however, very few applicants craft an excellent work experience section. Far too often, people simply put down their job responsibilities and think that’s enough to draw hiring managers in. In actuality, this tells employers nothing about you or what you’ve accomplished. Instead, you need to focus on including measurable data.

Measurable data allows employers to see exactly what you accomplished at your last job(s). If you regularly exceeded your quota or brought in over $1 million in revenue at your last position, this is where you’ll want to list those accomplishments. However, not every accomplishment is necessarily measurable. A work experience section can also include departments you collaborated with as well as frequent responsibilities like developing new strategies or improving your company’s presence. Finally, remember to save some things for the in-person interview. You don’t need to include every responsibility or achievement you’ve ever had; instead, limit each experience section to a few entries, with a maximum limit of 7 entries per job rather than providing employers with an endless list of things you’ve done (remember, the ideal resume is no more than two pages).

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3. Make your account executive education section count

Your work experience and skills are usually what will appeal you the most to hiring managers; however, you can boost your educational section to become just as valuable when crafted correctly. Most people will write out an educational experience with the school’s name, years attended and degree obtained. However, you can make your educational experience boost your resume by including relevant achievements that show why you’re right for the job.

So, what qualifies? While you’re probably not going to put your time as captain of the chess club, your time on Dean’s List or marketing for the chess club are great examples of why you’re right for an account manager position. List a few of your achievements underneath each of your degrees, keeping each list to around 3-4 entries. This can be especially helpful for new graduates who don’t have much relevant work experience but still want to show why they’re the right fit for the job.

4. Put the best skills on your account executive resume

As someone who works as an accounts manager, you likely have a host of skills you use for your job every single day; however, you simply do not have the space to list every relevant skill in your skills section. This is where you’ll want to put time into tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying for. To begin, list out your skills into three separate sections: hard, soft and technical skills (we know technical skills fall under hard skills, but you’ll want to include several in your resume). Some of the skills you may include:

Next, look at what the job listing is looking for. If the company is looking for someone with excellent problem solving and communication skills who regularly exceeds their sales goals and knows how to use Salesforce, include those skills in this section. This allows you to pass an ATS and will make you stand out to hiring managers. If a job listing asks for a lot of skills, look to include those you consider the most relevant and mention the others in your work experience or educational sections. Your skill section should not exceed 12 separate entries, with most opting somewhere between 8-10 entries.

Building a resume for an account manager position may seem like an uphill battle. However, when you know how to build a resume fast, you’ll find that you can make a resume that stands out in no time at all. Simply including a summary, work experience, education and skill sections that are tailored to the job you’re applying for will push your resume to the top of the pile.

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