Preparing your CV for a commercial role

Start with a short profile

Write two or three lines at the top: your sector, your level and the kind of role you want next. Write it for the job you are applying for, not for every job you have ever done.

Put results ahead of duties

A list of responsibilities tells a reader what the job was. Results tell them how you did. For each role, lead with what you achieved against your targets and what grew while you were there, then add the responsibilities that matter most.

Include the details FMCG employers look for

Employers in this sector look for specifics. Include:

• The territory or accounts you managed
• The customers you sold to, such as retail, wholesale, foodservice, on-trade and off-trade
• The products or categories you handled
• Your sales targets and what you achieved against them
• Any growth you delivered, with numbers where you can

Use numbers carefully

Numbers make a claim believable, but only when they are right. Use figures you can talk through in an interview: the value of an account, a percentage of growth, a ranking within your team. If you are not sure of a figure, give a range or describe it plainly.

Keep it easy to read

Put your most recent role first and work backwards. Use the same layout for every role, with the company, your job title and the dates. Aim for two pages. Use plain headings, a clear font and bullet points for achievements. Proofread it, and ask someone else to read it too.

Match your CV to the role

Read the job description and pick out the experience that fits. Move that experience higher up the page. If a role asks for key account experience, make sure yours is easy to find. Check that your LinkedIn profile tells the same story as your CV.

If you are moving into FMCG

Some employers want direct FMCG sales experience, and others will consider transferable experience, such as retail or wholesale. If you are coming from another sector, say which parts of your experience carry across, such as managing key accounts, negotiating terms or working to targets.

Sending your CV to Bell Recruitment

You can upload your CV as a PDF, DOC or DOCX file. We read it, check it against the roles we are working on and contact you if there is a possible fit. Many roles are filled before they reach a job board, so it is worth registering even when nothing is advertised today.