Mr Sales CV › Sales CV examples › Sales CV template

Sales CV template for South Africa

By the Mr Sales CV team · Updated 19 October 2026

The layout South African sales managers expect, section by section, with an example you can copy. The short version: put your numbers where they look first.

The sections, in order

1. Name and contact details. Full name, cell number, email, the town you live in, and your driver's licence code if the job involves driving. No ID number, no photo, no marital status: South African employers don't need them on a CV.
2. Profile (3 to 4 lines). Your job title, years in sales, what you sell and to whom, and your one best result.
3. Career highlights. 3 to 5 bullets with numbers: % of target, rankings, growth, biggest deals, awards.
4. Key skills. 8 to 12 short skills that match the adverts you're applying for.
5. Employment history. Most recent job first. Company, job title, dates (month and year), then what you achieved there, with numbers.
6. Qualifications and training. Matric, any diploma or degree, and sales courses or product training.
7. References. "Available on request" is fine. Have two managers ready who know your results.

Example: profile and highlights

How to write your results

Every line under a job should answer "so what?". Use this pattern: what you did + a number + over what time.

• Weak: "Responsible for managing key accounts."
• Strong: "Managed 22 key accounts worth R14m a year; grew them 19% in 2025."
• Weak: "Achieved targets."
• Strong: "Achieved 104% to 131% of monthly target for 20 of the last 24 months."

Don't have exact figures? Use honest ranges and percentages ("top 3 of 12 reps", "about 30 new customers a quarter") and be ready to explain them.

Numbers worth putting on a sales CV

• % of target achieved
• Ranking in the team or region
• Rand value of sales or your target
• Growth % year on year
• New accounts opened
• Biggest deal or contract
• Customer retention %
• Conversion rate
• Average deal size
• Awards and incentive trips
• Team size (managers)
• Calls or visits per day

Mistakes that cost interviews

• Duties instead of results. Everyone in the job had the same duties. Your numbers are what's different.
• Too long. Two pages is right for most sales people. Older jobs can be one line each.
• One CV for every job. Change the profile and skills to match each advert's job title and key words.
• Gaps with no explanation. A short line ("Took a career break to care for a family member") is better than a mystery.
• A Word file with odd formatting. Send a PDF unless the advert asks for Word.

Questions people ask

How long should a sales CV be in South Africa?

Two pages for most sales people. Three is fine for long careers or senior managers, as long as the first page carries your best results.

Should I put my ID number or a photo on my CV?

No. South African employers don't need your ID number, photo, age or marital status to shortlist you. Add them only if an advert asks.

What if I don't know my exact sales figures?

Use honest ranges and percentages, like "top 3 of 12 reps" or "about 110% of target in 2025". Never make numbers up: interviewers ask about them.

Is a CV template enough?

A template gives you the layout. What gets you shortlisted is what you put in it: results with numbers, written for the job you're applying for.

More 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.