Overview
Tiger Brands, one of South Africa’s most trusted and well-established FMCG giants, is recruiting for a dedicated Sales Representative to promote and sell Albany products across Pretoria and Polokwane. This role offers a dynamic opportunity to work with a brand that has built its reputation on quality, consistency, and nationwide market influence. The position is suited for driven individuals who thrive in a fast-paced commercial sales environment where customer relationships, market penetration, and route management are central.
The Sales Representative will be responsible for executing Albany’s sales strategy on the ground by developing accounts, managing routes, conducting pricing surveys, opening new customer accounts, and maintaining excellent relationships with all trade partners. This role is essential in expanding Albany’s footprint in the retail and wholesale sector while ensuring that product quality, merchandising standards, and daily operational targets are consistently met.
Minimum Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric) – Essential
- Valid South African driver’s license
- Minimum 3 years FMCG sales experience, preferably in the bakery industry
- Strong understanding of route execution, merchandising, and customer development
Key Competencies and Skills
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Strong negotiation and customer engagement abilities
- Ability to manage route sales cycles and maintain route performance data
- Good understanding of trade marketing principles
- Time management and planning skills
- Ability to work independently under pressure
- Knowledge of pricing strategies and market analysis
- Attention to detail in merchandising, stock rotation, and promotional execution
Responsibilities
- Sales Execution
- Grow accounts and increase market penetration
- Understand and manage all sales routes
- Conduct regular route rides and complete call cycles
- Update profile cards daily
- Plan, organise, and execute promotional activations
- Manage returns, donations, and pricing surveys
- Conduct discount reviews and manage bread stand placements
- Meet and exceed weekly/monthly sales targets
- Perform relief representative duties when required
- Merchandising
- Ensure product displays are clean, fresh, and free of damaged or expired stock
- Manage TBFS relationships and shelf availability
- Ensure point-of-sale material is placed correctly
- Minimise credit returns and manage stock rotation
- Customer Relations
- Open new accounts and support account growth
- Handle outstanding payments and customer queries
- Ensure special deliveries are completed timeously
- Quality & Compliance
- Understand Albany product quality standards
- Report customer complaints to the Field Sales Manager
- Manage market incidents and follow recall processes
- Understand logistics processes and operational requirements
- Trade Marketing
- Build customer plans in line with channel strategies
- Understand pricing strategies and customer management workflows
Important Notes
This position is onsite, requiring travel between routes Candidates must be ready to work early hours typical of bakery sales operations Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be considered As Tiger Brands prioritises consistency and brand excellence, strong FMCG knowledge is beneficial
🧾 ATS-Friendly CV Guide
In today’s digital job market, most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs before human eyes ever see them. These systems are designed to scan documents for keywords, structure, and formatting that align with the job description. An ATS-friendly CV improves your chance of getting past automated filters and landing an interview. Whether you are applying for the Albany Sales Representative Opportunity position at Tiger Brands – Albany Bakeries Division or another opportunity, your CV must speak both to machines and people. This guide walks you through proven strategies to optimize your CV from top to bottom, offering practical examples, formatting tips, and best practices to maximize your success.
1. ✅ CV Structure
- Header: Example — Thabo Khumalo | 0612 74 1234 | [email protected] | Randburg, South Africa.
- Professional Summary: Tailored to the role. E.g., “Motivated customer service agent with 3+ years’ experience in retail and a track record of increasing client satisfaction scores by 25%.”
- Key Skills: Include 6–10 bullet points. E.g., Point of Sale (POS) systems, Inventory control, Conflict resolution, Merchandising, SAP, Microsoft Excel.
- Work Experience: Reverse-chronological. Example:
- Retail Assistant | Bradlows | Jan 2022 – Present
- • Assisted 40+ daily customers with purchases and queries.
- • Maintained 98% shelf availability by overseeing stock rotation.
- Education: Highest level first. E.g., “Diploma in Business Management, UNISA, 2021.”
- Certifications: “Occupational Health and Safety, 2023 (SASSETA)”
- References: “Available upon request” unless stated otherwise in job ad.
2. 🖋️ Typography & Formatting
- Font Choice: Use clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica — ATS systems can misread decorative fonts.
- Font Size: Body text should be 10.5pt–12pt; Headings 14pt–16pt for readability and emphasis.
- Spacing & Margins: Use 1.15–1.5 line spacing. Keep margins at 0.75–1 inch. This ensures text isn’t cramped and is easy to scan.
- Avoid: Tables, columns, headers/footers, text boxes — most ATS software can't interpret them properly.
- File Format: Save your CV as a PDF or DOCX — PDF preserves formatting across devices, DOCX is often required by ATS platforms.
3. ✏️ Content Best Practices
- Mirror Job Language: If the ad says “inventory management,” use that term instead of synonyms like “stock control.”
- Quantify Achievements: Numbers give weight. E.g., “Managed R50,000 monthly inventory with < 2% loss.”
- Tailor for Each Job: Don't send the same CV to every employer. Highlight different skills depending on the job ad.
- Be Clear, Not Clever: Avoid vague buzzwords. Say what you did and how it helped your company.
- Proofread! ATS won't reject for spelling — but hiring managers will. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway.
4. 📷 Photo?
- Photos are discouraged unless required. ATS software can’t read them and they can add bias.
- If required (e.g., acting, modeling), choose a neutral background, natural lighting, and professional attire.
- Ensure file size is small if embedded. Avoid image-heavy CVs as they increase loading time.
5. 🔍 ATS Keyword Optimization Tips
Copy the exact job description and extract nouns and verbs that repeat. For example, for a Retail Assistant post: “customer service,” “cash handling,” “inventory,” “POS,” “stocktaking,” “sales target,” “merchandising,” and “teamwork.”
6. ✅ Dos and ❌ Don’ts of ATS CVs
- ✅ Use job-relevant keywords
- ✅ Keep formatting simple and consistent
- ✅ Quantify wherever possible
- ❌ Don’t include tables or graphics
- ❌ Don’t submit images or logos
- ❌ Don’t use colored or stylized fonts
7. 💾 File Naming & Saving Tips
- Name format: YourName_Albany Sales Representative Opportunity_CV.pdf
- Save as PDF unless job ad specifies otherwise
- Avoid spaces in filenames: Use underscores instead
- Check file size — keep it under 2MB
8. 🧠 More about ATS
Your CV is the first impression recruiters and ATS software get of you. To pass the ATS filter, you must optimize your CV with clean formatting, appropriate keyword use, and targeted content. Focus on clearly structuring each section: headline, summary, skills, work experience, education, and certifications. Customize the content for every role by mirroring the terminology and phrasing used in the job advert. Quantify achievements wherever possible. Format with simplicity — avoid graphics and stick to standard fonts. Proofreading is non-negotiable: even small typos can disqualify you. Save and name your file properly to avoid compatibility issues. Remember, your CV must be easily readable by both algorithms and humans. By applying the principles in this guide, you will greatly improve your chances of being shortlisted for interviews and finding the right role for your skills.
Professional Summary Example
A highly motivated and customer-focused sales professional with strong experience in FMCG sales, route management, and account development. I bring a proven ability to grow market share, deliver exceptional customer engagement, and execute structured sales cycles in line with organisational standards. With exceptional communication and negotiation skills, I am committed to building long-term client relationships, driving product visibility, and consistently exceeding set sales targets. I work effectively with trade partners, merchandising teams, and logistics staff to ensure seamless product availability, brand compliance, and operational excellence.
I possess strong business acumen, an understanding of pricing strategy, and the ability to analyse route performance to drive continuous improvement. Adaptable and self-driven, I excel in high-pressure environments where initiative, discipline, and customer service are essential. My goal is to contribute to the growth of Albany Bakeries by applying my FMCG knowledge, strong interpersonal skills, and hands-on approach to sales execution, while representing Tiger Brands with professionalism and integrity.
📝 How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply directly through Tiger Brands’ official careers portal using Job Requisition ID JR001069 before 20 November 2025. Ensure your CV is updated, professional, and includes relevant FMCG sales experience.
