Account executives must perform the balancing act of keeping long-term clients satisfied and making sure they are operating in the best interest of their company.
Building relationships with clients takes time. You need to lay the foundation and then build upon it. On the flip side, if you don’t make a good first impression, you are unlikely to get a second chance. The same is true of your job search. Putting in the work upfront to create an account executive resume that gets the attention of hiring managers will yield results in the long run.
This account executive resume guide, along with Resume.io’s resume examples and resources for job seekers, are designed to give you a head start on the resume-building process. Let us help you target recruiters just as you do prospective clients by making an amazing first impression.
This resume guide, along with the corresponding account executive resume example, will cover the following topics:
What do account executives earn?
Getting a good estimate for account executive salary can be tough. Where you work, what industry you work in and your experience level all play into account exec earnings.
For example, according to Indeed, the average salary for an account executive is $64,889. Because account executives are salespeople, their compensation packages are likely to include commissions. Commissions add $22,000 to that and bonuses average $15,000. That adds up to $101,889.
However, Salary.com lists $70,577 as the 10th percentile for salaries with a median of $96,483. That lifts to $114,013 when bonuses are included. If you’re in the top 10 percent of earners, your monetary reward will be $161,449 or higher.
Ready to craft your own account executive cv? Don't forget to have a look at our related sales resume examples listed here below:
Writing your account executive resume can seem like a daunting task, but this guide will help you take it step by step. The first task is knowing what to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
You’re a salesperson and the tone of your resume should reflect the style of communication you use to sell to customers: personable, yet professional. Avoid too much jargon and stick to a straightforward message. Focus on your unique selling proposition.
Approach your future employer the way you approach a future client: Do your research. Try to find out as much as you can about the hiring process and the person who will be your boss. Tailor your resume to fit the needs of that individual, the department and the company as a whole. This sales pitch starts with your resume. To close the deal, stick to this winning formula:
Surprise is not the element you’re looking for here. Your goal of your resume format is to make it easy for hiring managers to find what they are looking for. If they have to hunt, they may just move on to the next candidate.
That means, unless you have a compelling reason, use standard headings and stick to reverse chronological order within your employment history section. If you are just starting out as an account manager or are making a lateral shift into the field, you may want to consider the resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. The functional resume format applies only if you have specialized or niche expertise.
When you place your business card in a customer’s hands you want to be sure that your contact information is clear and the card's style fits your unique brand. The header is your resume’s business card.
The first goal is to make your contact information easily accessible. It should also be professionally presented.
Don’t include:
4871 Fountain Street, San Diego, CA 92154
United States
(619) 326-6533
DOB 11/28/1982
You know the drill: you have two minutes to wow your prospective client before their eyes glaze over, and they start wondering what they are going to eat for lunch. For your resume summary (also known as a profile), you need 3-5 strong sentences that capture the essence of your sales success, communication skills, and personality.
In fact, this is the only spot in an otherwise formulaic document in which to show off who you are. You will have more opportunities in your cover letter, but there’s no guarantee that will be read before a recruiter scans your resume.
The resume summary is the place to bring out your greatest achievement and tout your success. Describe yourself with dynamic words and tell the hiring manager how you will make their life easier. Salespeople are not known to be shy, but this is definitely not the place to be demure.
Use this basic outline for your profile:
You can combine these sentences or add more descriptions if you have more to say. You can also expand your account executive summary if you have space within your two-page limit.
You can find an adaptable account executive resume example summary below:
A personable and trustworthy Account Executive with over 7 years performing in a fast-paced sales department. Bringing forth a proven history of fostering client relationships in order to maximize sales volume. Adept at business development and seeking new opportunities from a wide range of clients. Skilled in assessing client drive and implementing programs that best foster that drive.
Your employment history section offers the details you hinted at in your summary. It’s here that you show off your growth and knowledge in your industry.
Within each previous and current position, use bullet points to demonstrate what you have done to add value to your company. Remember: Your future employer has a problem and is looking to hire someone to solve it. Explain just how you've done that in each of your jobs and show that you're already doing many of the tasks required in your new desired position.
Be specific and begin each bullet with dynamic verbs: sold, closed, negotiated, improved. Below are a few examples to get your creative mind working:
Writing stronger bullet points
Take a look at the account executive employment history resume sample below:
If you're lacking direct industry experience, it's essential to focus on transferable skills.
Focus on your educational background in sales, marketing, or customer service. Detail any courses, workshops, or training programs you've attended that align with the industry's demands.
Showcase transferable skills that are pivotal in sales roles. For instance, if you have experience as a server in a restaurant, highlight how this helped hone your customer service and communication abilities, which are vital in account executive roles.
Incorporating these elements in your resume will illustrate your potential, even with no direct experience on your resume.
What’s the point of a skills section? It’s the executive-level brief of your attributes within your account exec resume. With a quick scan, your future employer can see exactly what you offer and what you think is important for getting the job done.
You’re a communicator, and you need to make that known — but don’t neglect your business acumen or technical know-how. Try to find the right blend of soft skills and hard skills.
The number one skill successful account executives need, according to MasterClass, is negotiation. That’s followed by interpersonal skills including both written and oral communication, project management, sales (of course), and analytical ability. Make sure these stand out on your resume, even beyond the skills section.
For example, throughout your work experience section and professional summary, you can highlight your:
Taking a look at the role's job description is a great place to start if you aren't sure which skills are the most important to include.
Here’s what the skills box looks like in our account executive resume template:
The education section of your resume is the most formatted section. Here you are simply listing your degrees. Most account executives hold at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications or a related field. Some may hold MBAs or more technical degrees. If you do hold an advanced degree, there’s no need to include your high school diploma.
You may also include any certificates, seminars, or classes that relate to your career. For example, add any courses, workshops, or webinars that have helped you develop your sales skills, like a course in negotiation. If you've had any internships in the past that are related to sales (don't forget that roles like customer service, marketing, or recruiting are all quite relevant), include them if you feel it adds value.
Plus, if you are a member of any professional development groups or associations, like the National Association of Sales Professionals, be sure to add it to your resume. This shows you have an interest in furthering your knowledge and building your sales network.
Value-add sections
If you have earned awards for your sales skills, you may highlight those by creating a separate awards and accolades section instead of including them elsewhere.
Other sections to consider are publications or productions if you have done creative work in the past, or industry affiliations and involvement.
Below is resume example text for formatting your education section.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Iowa State University, Ames
August 2006 — May 2010
Presentation may not be everything, but it sure is a lot. You know that, so it should come as no surprise that the layout and design of your resume can be the deciding factor. Make your design stand out without getting too flashy. If you’re in a creative field, you can stretch a little farther with a personal flourish such as an extra dab of color, but remember: function over form.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Consider using one of our expertly-designed resume templates to close the sale. Your best bet as an account to read executive is something professional or modern that is easy to read and pleasant to view.
The job market for account executives is a bit hard to parse. Just as salaries range widely depending on the market, so do career prospects. Good account executives are needed in any industry requiring sales, however, and that can make your job search a bit easier if you are willing to learn something new.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) aggregates data for account executives within the advertising, promotions and marketing managers category. The projected growth rate in that job market is 6 percent, which is faster than average. If you have technical expertise or another highly desired specialty, you can expect more opportunities.
Getting a good estimate for account executive salary can be tough. Where you work, what industry you work in, and your experience level all play into account exec earnings.
For example, according to Indeed, the average salary for an account executive is $70,604. Because account executives are salespeople, their compensation packages are likely to include commissions, which Indeed states can add $20,000 to the total. The total adds up to over $90,000 per year.
However, Salary.com lists the average account executive salary as $104,803, with a range of $89,383 to $122,553.
Median salaries in top-paying industries for advertising and promotions managers in 2022*
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | $131,190 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $133,110 |
| Information | $146,900 |
| Wholesale trade | $ 107.860 |
*Source: BLS