How to Write a Compelling Account Executive Resume

As an account executive, your resume should highlight your ability to exceed sales targets and maintain client relationships.

This is your chance to get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, so make it count.

In today's article, we'll guide you through each step of creating a compelling account executive resume and share some valuable tips for making it stand out.

How to Structure Your Account Executive Resume

If you want to write a resume that gets you interviews, you must first learn how to structure it properly. Let's break down each section of an account executive resume below:

Header Information

The header is where you put your contact details. This section should be at the top of your account executive resume so hiring managers can easily reach you.

You should include your full name, phone number, and email address. Make sure your name is front and center.

If you have a LinkedIn profile, a professional website, or a portfolio, you can also add them to your resume. This gives recruiters further insight into your skills and professional career.

Professional Summary or Objective

The professional summary or objective is your chance to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. This short section at the top, just below your contact information, highlights your key achievements and career goals.

If you already have work experience, you should write a compelling summary statement. It should provide a snapshot of your professional career path that showcases the value you can offer.

Alternatively, you must craft a resume objective if you're a recent graduate or a career changer. It should explain why you're seeking an account executive position and what you can bring to the table.

Work Experience

The work experience section of your account executive resume is where you detail your previous jobs.

You should list your roles chronologically, starting with the most recent job.

For each position, put emphasis on your job title instead of the company name, unless it's a well-known organization.

Then, make sure to describe your responsibilities and key accomplishments in detail.

Skills

You need to showcase what you’re good at in the skills section.

You must list both hard skills, like knowledge of sales negotiation tactics, and soft skills, such as communication. Make sure to include skills that are relevant to the account executive role.

If you're navigating a career pivot, you can move the skills section above your work experience. This helps employers see what you can offer.

Education and Certifications

This section of your account executive resume includes your educational background and any certifications.

You should only list your highest degree, and never your high school diploma. Don't forget to specify the institution’s name, location, and graduation date.

You can also add relevant certifications to your account executive resume. This shows hiring managers that you're committed to professional development.

Additional Sections

Having additional sections on your account executive resume can set you apart from other candidates. These include any awards, recognitions, special projects, or even volunteer work.

These extras can provide a fuller picture of your qualifications and interests, showing that you’re well-rounded and engaged in your field.

How to Craft a Strong Account Executive Resume Summary

After learning how to structure your account executive resume, it's time to write the content. Let's start with the summary.

Start with a Strong Opening Statement

You should begin with a powerful opening statement that captures your professional career. This brief, engaging line should highlight your experience and expertise.

A good sales account executive resume example is something like this: "Dynamic account executive with over five years of experience driving revenue growth and building client relationships in the tech industry."

It sets a strong tone and immediately communicates your value to potential employers.

Focus on Key Achievements

Now that you've captured the attention of hiring managers with your opening statement, you must follow up with your key achievements.

It's best to include specific accomplishments that showcase your skills and results. For example, you can mention, "Proven track record in acquiring new clients, which increased annual sales by 30%."

By using numbers to describe your achievements, you can provide concrete evidence of your success.

Highlight Account Executive Expertise

Besides your key achievements, you must also highlight your expertise in areas relevant to the account executive role. This might include customer account management, strategic sales planning, or contract negotiation.

You can use terms that reflect the job description’s requirements. For instance, you can say something like, “Skilled in managing high-value client portfolios and delivering exceptional customer service.”

This connects your experience directly to the account executive position you’re applying for.

Keep It Short and Impactful

While it can be tempting to go overboard with your professional summary, it should be brief but impactful. The goal is to capture attention quickly and make the hiring manager want to read more.

You should aim for two to four sentences. Avoid fluff and focus on what’s most relevant to the job description.

How to Write Experience in an Account Executive Resume

After crafting a strong summary, you can move on and write about your work experience. Below are some tips to effectively showcase your experience:

List Your Most Recent Work Experience

You should list your most recent job first and work backward.

For each position, include your job title, the company's name, location, and the dates you worked there. This format helps employers see your most current and relevant experience immediately.

For instance, you can say, “Sales Account Executive, ABC Corp., New York, NY – June 2021 to Present” or something like, "Senior Account Executive, XYZ Inc. (2018-2020)."

Use Action Verbs When Describing Responsibilities

When describing your responsibilities, you should use strong action verbs to make your role clear and impactful. Insert words like “led,” “managed,” “developed,” and “increased”, to help highlight your contributions.

For example, you can write, “Managed a team of five sales representatives and led sales presentations that increased annual revenue by 15%.”

By adding action verbs to your account executive resume, you can show that you were proactive and results-driven in your roles.

Quantify Your Impact

Numbers and percentages can make a big difference in how recruiters perceive your resume. This is why it's important to quantify your achievements to give concrete evidence of your success.

You should avoid generic statements like "Improved client satisfaction." Instead, you can say, "Increased client satisfaction scores by 25% by closely collaborating with customer success teams." The latter statement is more impactful and proves that you can deliver tangible benefits to future employers.

How to Add Skills to an Account Executive Resume

With your experience outlined, the next step is to add your skills to your resume. You can refer to the tips below on how to present your skills effectively:

Divide Your Skills into Sections

You should divide your skills into two main categories: hard or technical skills and soft skills.

Hard skills may include software knowledge or sales forecasting. Meanwhile, soft skills refer to character traits like communication or negotiation abilities.

By grouping related skills together, you can make your resume more readable and showcase a well-rounded skill set, which will make you stand out from other account executives.

Use Bullet Points

You can list your skills using short, clear bullet points to make your resume organized. Here's an example:

Hard Skills for Account Executives

• Client relationship management
• Strategic planning
• Sales strategy
• Proficient in Salesforce CRM
• Data analysis tools

Soft Skills for Account Executives

• Relationship-building
• Excellent communication
• Active listening
• Client negotiation
• Problem-solving

Provide Context for Key Skills

It's not enough to simply list down your skills. You should also provide context to show how you’ve used these abilities in past roles.

Instead of just saying “strong leadership,” you can include a note like, “Led a team of 10 in developing new client acquisition strategies.” Doing so helps hiring managers understand how you apply your skills to real-world situations.

How to List Education and Certifications in an Account Executive Resume

After adding your skills to your account executive resume, you can move on and detail your educational background. Here’s how to present this information clearly:

Prioritize Your Highest Educational Degree

You should only include your highest degree in your resume. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, you should list the master’s degree.

Avoid mentioning your high school because it's not relevant to the account executive position.

Specify Institution Name, Location, and Graduation Date

Be sure to include the name of the institution, its location, and the graduation date for your degree. This helps employers verify your qualifications.

You can use the following format: “Master of Business Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL – 2015.”

Include Relevant Coursework or Projects

If you're a recent graduate, it's acceptable to mention relevant coursework or projects.

For example, if you took a course on advanced sales strategies or completed a project on marketing, mention it.

This gives a deeper insight into your education and its relevance to the account executive job you’re applying for.

Highlight Relevant Certifications

Besides your education, certifications can be a strong addition to your resume, especially if they relate to the account executive position. They show your commitment to professional growth, which can set you apart from other candidates.

You can include both ongoing and completed certifications in fields like sales, marketing, or project management. If you have many certifications, you can mention three to five relevant to the job you're applying for.

You should list the certification name, the issuing organization, and the date obtained (if completed). For example, you can state the following: "Certified Professional Salesperson | Sales & Marketing Executives International, Inc. | 2021."

How to Include Additional Account Executive Resume Sections

Once you’ve covered the main sections of your resume, consider adding additional sections that can make your job application stronger. Let's take a closer look at each section below:

List Awards and Recognitions

If you’ve received awards or recognitions relevant to sales or client management, include them. This could be “Top Sales Performer of the Year” or “Best Client Relationship Award.”

You must list the award name, the organization that issued it, and the date. A good example is: “Top Sales Performer, XYZ Corp, 2022.”

Listing your awards and recognitions demonstrates that others have acknowledged your skills and contributions.

Mention Volunteering Experience

Do you love volunteering? The good news is that you can also add your volunteer experience to your resume, as long as it is relevant to the account executive role. This shows a well-rounded character and commitment to your community.

For example, you can mention something like, “Volunteer Coordinator, ABC Nonprofit – Organized fundraising events that raised over $50,000.” It highlights your leadership and organizational skills, which are important character traits for account executives.

Add Professional Affiliations and Memberships

You can also include professional affiliations and organizations related to account management or sales on your resume. For instance, being a member of the “National Sales Network” can be a plus. It proves your engagement in the industry and commitment to staying informed.

Be sure to list the organization’s name and any positions you’ve held or committees you’ve been a part of.

Present Spoken Languages

Finally, if you speak multiple languages, you can also mention this information in a separate section of your resume. For example, “Fluent in English, Spanish, and French.”

Language skills can be a significant asset in client-facing roles, especially if you’re applying to a company with a diverse client base. They show your ability to communicate with a broader audience.

5 Resume Writing Tips for Account Executives

After writing all the key sections of your resume, it's time to polish it up to make it stand out in a competitive job market. Here are five important resume writing tips for account executives:

1. Use the Correct Resume Format

Choosing the right resume format is important to catch a recruiter's attention.

For account executives, a chronological format often works best. This format highlights your work history and shows your career progression.

You should start with your most recent job and work backward. Make sure to use clear headings and a consistent layout. This helps hiring managers quickly see your career growth and relevant experience.

Avoid overly creative formats that might distract from your qualifications.

2. Optimize for Relevant Keywords

Today, most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan through hundreds of account executive resumes.

If you want your resume to pass ATS and get into the hands of a human recruiter, you must include relevant keywords. Carefully analyze the job description to learn which terms you can add to your resume.

For instance, if the job listing mentions “client relationship management” or “sales strategies,” be sure to include these phrases in your resume. Matching the language used in the job ad demonstrates that you’re a good fit for the role.

3. Make Your Account Executive Resume Job-Specific

It's also important to customize your account executive resume for each job application. Do not simply copy and paste generic statements, which can show that you are lazy and do not put in much effort.

You should highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the specific position you’re applying for. For instance, if a job ad mentions “B2B sales,” focus on your B2B sales achievements.

Tailoring your resume to the job description shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the role. It also makes your resume more appealing to employers looking for candidates with specific qualifications.

4. Proofread Your Account Executive Resume

Spelling, grammatical, or formatting mistakes can make your resume look unprofessional.

So, before submitting your resume, you should proofread it for any errors. Read your resume multiple times and fix issues promptly. Having a polished resume reflects your attention to detail and commitment to quality.

5. Consider Asking for Feedback

Lastly, don’t hesitate to seek feedback from professionals or mentors in your field. They can offer valuable insights on improving your account executive resume and making it more effective.

You can ask for specific advice on content, format, and presentation. Then, make sure to apply their feedback to your resume.

Let Better Career Help You Land Your Dream Job

Need further help writing your account executive resume? Better Career offers detailed resume guidance as part of their 1:1 Coaching Programs.

Better Career can also help you land your dream tech job in two different ways:

• 1-on-1 Career Coaching: Work closely with former tech leaders turned career coaches to land your next Sales or Sales Engineering role, or advance your career. We'll customize the program to meet your unique goals and needs.
• PreSales & Sales Tech Job Board: Connect directly with key people at hiring companies through our curated job board for B2B tech positions. This includes direct LinkedIn profiles and posts for each listing.

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FAQs About Account Executive Resume

How can I make my account executive resume stand out from the competition?

To craft a standout resume, you must tailor it to the job you're applying for. Carefully read the job description, and insert relevant keywords naturally throughout your resume. You should also highlight quantifiable results and relevant skills using powerful action verbs. You can review popular account executive resume examples to see how others have showcased their experience and achievements.

How long should an account executive's resume be?

Ideally, an account executive resume should be one to two pages long. Keep it concise while ensuring you include all relevant experience and skills. Avoid unnecessary details that don’t add value to the job you’re applying for.

Should I include a cover letter with my account executive resume?

While a cover letter is not required, including one can provide additional context about your experience and motivation. Use the cover letter to further explain why you’re a great fit for the role and how your skills align with the job requirements.

 

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