How to write a CV for an account manager job

Account managers are responsible for finding new customers and connecting them with the services or products of a company. When applying for a position as an account manager, your CV is an important part of your application package. This is the first impression that the hiring manager and interviewer will have of you. Make it count!

This CV guide will show you:

• Job titles that can use an account manager CV
• What exactly hiring managers and recruiters are looking for in an account manager CV
• How to use CVHelp CV examples to create your CV in just minutes
• Examples of do’s and don’ts when writing an account manager CV

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During your job search, you may see different listings that fall under the category of account manager. Common account manager job titles can include:

• Senior account manager
• Executive account manager
• Sales account manager
• Assistant account manager
• Key account manager
• Clinical account manager

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There are certain elements you can include on your CV that will boost your chances of getting hired for a job as an account manager.

Formatting and keywords

Before your CV gets through to a human, it often goes through an applicant tracking system (ATS). An ATS is a software programme that automatically sorts CVs based on formatting and keywords.

For example, if the position is for “E-commerce Account Manager” and you have worked before as an “Online Wholesale Assistant Manager,” you may want to rephrase your job title as “E-commerce Assistant Account Manager” so that some of the keywords will match on ATS.

The job description may also give you formatting instructions, such as uploading your CV as either a Microsoft Word or PDF file. Adding keywords and submitting your CV in the format specified in the job description will boost the chances of the hiring manager selecting your CV.

Contact information

Hiring managers will use the contact information you list to get in touch with you regarding interviews or further questions. The contact information you should list on your CV includes:

• Name
• Email
• Address
• Phone Number
• Work-friendly social media accounts such as LinkedIn

Professional summary or objective

If you already have experience as an account manager, you can write a short summary of your career and place it at the top of your CV. If you don’t have much experience in the industry, you can write an objective instead, which includes a statement about your goals at the job for which you’re applying.

Work experience

Account managers typically have backgrounds in sales, marketing, business or finance. If you don’t have experience as an account manager, you can use internship, volunteer or academic experiences to show your ability to do the job. In the experience section of your CV, you may want to highlight major duties such as:

• Business administration
• Business development
• Working with client relationships through customer service

Tip: If your CV is too long, try identifying larger chunks of information and breaking them down into short and direct bullet points. This will ensure the hiring manager picks up on the highlights of your career.

Skills

In the skills section of your CV, include both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills, like computer programmes. Soft skills are interpersonal skills or the type of skills you can learn by interacting with people. Ideal account manager skills can include:

• Excellent listening, planning and presenting skills
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps, Salesforce and help desk support software
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Education

In the education section of your CV, always include the highest level of school you have completed. You can also note any special courses you have completed that may be relevant to the job. For an account manager, these may be courses in business, marketing or public relations. You can also list non-degree courses, such as professional training courses or workshops.

Achievements and awards

You can include achievements and awards you have received to help your CV stand out. Achievements can include projects you have successfully led, events you have conducted or key accounts you have obtained. Here is an example of an account manager achievement:

Certifications

Read the job description carefully to see if it names any certifications that may be helpful to the account manager position, and include them if you have them.

For an account manager, some common certifications may be:

• Certifications in sales or sales management
• Certifications in accounting or finance
• Certifications in international business

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It can be stressful to try to write the perfect CV on your own. The CVHelp CV builder can help you build a CV for any job with less hassle. You can also use a free CV sample to get inspiration for your CV.

You will also benefit more from putting your CV in the right format that best presents your skills and experiences. You can review the three CV formats here, and decide which one is best for you:

• Reverse-chronological CV format
• Functional CV format
• Combination CV format

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Here are three more tips to transform your CV into a winner:

• 1. Turn your job responsibilities into achievements. Use numbers to show you have a great track record in the field already.

  For example:

  Do: “Increased total number of business accounts by 75% in a year.”

  Don’t: “At my former job as a Regional Account Manager I added accounts.”

• 2. Appearance matters. Use a professional layout and font.

  Do: Show off your creativity at the interview when you discuss your creative solutions to problems. On your CV, use classic, clean fonts and design. For an account manager job, show that you mean business by being professional. CVHelp can make it easy to design your CV in just minutes.

  Don’t: Use unusual fonts or designs to stand out.

• 3. Don’t be afraid to show off.

  Do: Draw the focus to the work you’re most proud of. Use bullet points and short, straightforward descriptions.

  Don’t: Include a three-paragraph dissertation on your lifelong accomplishments.

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