Mr Sales CV › Sales CV examples › First sales job CV
How to write a CV for your first sales job
Every sales manager hired someone without experience once. They look for drive, people skills and proof you can sell something. Here's how to show it.
What hiring managers look for in a first-time sales person
- You talk to people easily
- You don't give up after a "no"
- You're reliable and on time
- You can learn a product fast
- You want to earn (and know commission)
- Basic computer and phone skills
Where to find "sales" in your life so far
- Selling something yourself: sweets or airtime at school, clothes on Facebook Marketplace, a car-wash, hair or nails. "Sold about R2,000 of airtime a month to 40 regular customers" is a real sales result.
- Part-time or holiday work: waitron (tips, upsells, regulars), promotions (samples handed out, sales on the day), packer or till work (customers served per shift).
- School and community: fundraising, class rep, sports captain, church or youth group: anything where you persuaded people or led a team.
- Learnerships and courses: customer service, sales or call-centre learnerships, and free online courses.
Example profile with no sales job yet
Profile
Friendly, driven matriculant looking for a first role in telesales or retail sales. Ran a small airtime and data business at school, selling about R2,000 a month to 40 regular customers. Worked weekends as a waitron for a year, often the top server for upsells. Fluent in English, isiZulu and Afrikaans. Available for shifts and weekends.
Experience
- Waitron, (Restaurant), Pietermaritzburg, 2025: served up to 60 guests a shift; regularly the top server for dessert and drink add-ons.
- Own small business, 2023 to 2025: sold airtime and data bundles to classmates and neighbours; kept a record of sales and credit.
- Promotions assistant, (Agency), 2024 (weekends): handed out samples in supermarkets; sold 50+ units on most days.
Mr Sales CV has a starter path for first jobs: tap what you've done and it writes it in a way sales managers understand.
Build my sales CVTips
- One page is fine when you're starting out. Don't pad it.
- Matric results: list the year and subjects that help (English, Maths or Maths Literacy, Business Studies).
- Languages matter in call centres and retail. Say how well you speak, read and write each one.
- Say when you can work: shifts, weekends, public holidays, and whether you have transport.
- Never pay for a job. Real employers don't charge for training, uniforms or "registration". See our job search toolkit.
Questions people ask
- Can I get a sales job without experience in South Africa?
- Yes. Call centres, retail stores and many FMCG and promotions companies train new people. Show drive, people skills and any selling you've done.
- What should I put on my CV if I have no work experience?
- Matric, languages, any part-time, holiday or informal work, things you've sold yourself, volunteering, and when you can work.
- Is a learnership good for a sales career?
- It can be: sales, retail and call-centre learnerships give you training, a qualification and experience to put on your next CV.
Build your sales CV in about 15 minutes
Answer mostly by tapping on your phone, about 15 minutes. See your whole CV free, then pay R250 once for the PDF. No account, no subscription.
Build my sales CVMore sales CV examples
The examples on this page are made up to show the format. Use your own real numbers: a sales manager will ask about every figure on your CV.