As a sales development manager, one challenge you might encounter when crafting your resume is effectively highlighting your ability to scale sales operations and improve team performance in a concise manner. Our guide can assist you by delineating strategies to exemplify your leadership skills and outcomes through data-driven achievements that resonate with hiring managers.
- The most effective sales development manager resume samples, reflecting on experience and skills.
- +10 simple, yet impactful methods to tailor your sales development manager resume to the job advert.
- Using your professional achievements as the North Star to your unique value as a sales development manager candidate.
- 'No one cares about your education nowadays …' Let's prove this statement wrong with the best-kept industry secrets to your education and certifications.
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Optimize your sales development manager resume format to pass the recruiters' assessment
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your sales development manager resume.What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your sales development manager resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your sales development manager resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important sales development manager resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your sales development manager resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your sales development manager resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your sales development manager resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
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Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
Fundamental sections for your sales development manager resume:
- The header with your name (if your degree or certification is impressive, you can add the title as a follow up to your name), contact details, portfolio link, and headline
- The summary or objective aligning your career and resume achievements with the role
- The experience section to curate neatly organized bullets with your tangible at-work-success
- Skills listed through various sections of your resume and within an exclusive sidebar
- The education and certifications for more credibility and industry-wide expertise
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed sales quotas and KPIs
- Experience in leading and coaching sales development teams
- Expertise in using CRM software and sales automation tools to streamline the sales process
- Proven track record of developing and executing successful sales strategies
- Strong analytical skills to assess team performance and market trends
Writing your sales development manager resume experience
Within the body of your sales development manager resume is perhaps one of the most important sections - the resume experience one. Here are five quick tips on how to curate your sales development manager professional experience:
- Include your expertise that aligns to the job requirements;
- Always ensure that you qualify your achievements by including a skill, what you did, and the results your responsibility led to;
- When writing each experience bullet, ensure you're using active language;
- If you can include a personal skill you've grown, thanks to your experience, this would help you stand out;
- Be specific about your professional experience - it's not enough that you can "communicate", but rather what's your communication track record?
Wondering how other professionals in the industry are presenting their job-winning sales development manager resumes? Check out how these sales development manager professionals put some of our best practices into action:
- Strategically expanded the company’s sales pipeline by developing and implementing targeted sales initiatives that resulted in a 50% increase in qualified leads.
- Managed a team of 15 Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), providing coaching and mentorship to enhance performance and exceed sales targets by 20%.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to refine the sales process and incorporate customer feedback, leading to a 30% improvement in customer satisfaction scores.
- Initiated a robust outbound sales program, increasing market penetration by 35% within the assigned region.
- Developed comprehensive training materials and sales playbooks to standardize best practices, boosting team performance by 25%.
- Implemented a new CRM system that improved lead tracking efficiency and team productivity by reducing administrative tasks by 40%.
- Orchestrated the launch of a new SaaS product line, achieving 150% of the first-year sales target.
- Utilized data-driven decision making to identify key areas for growth, increasing the average deal size by 30%.
- Forged strong relationships with key industry influencers and partners, leading to a strategic co-marketing agreement.
- Successfully turned around an underperforming sales team to achieve 120% of the quarterly sales goal within the first six months.
- Implemented a comprehensive lead nurturing program that moved prospects through the sales funnel 50% faster.
- Designed and executed a sales enablement platform that provided reps with real-time insights, increasing close rates by 15%.
- Drove a 40% year-over-year revenue increase through strategic planning and execution of sales goals.
- Optimized sales workflows and processes using Lean methodologies, resulting in a 20% reduction in sales cycle duration.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous improvement, leading to the implementation of an innovative referral program that generated a 25% uptick in leads from existing customers.
- Pioneered a comprehensive cross-selling initiative that bolstered product adoption rates by 60% within the enterprise segment.
- Established key performance indicators (KPIs) that increased sales team accountability and improved monthly revenue by 35%.
- Developed a tiered incentive scheme that rewarded top-performing sales reps, resulting in enhanced morale and a 20% jump in overall sales figures.
- Instrumental in capturing a 25% share of a new international market, leading to an annual revenue growth of $5M.
- Launched a targeted digital marketing campaign that increased lead conversions by 45% quarter-over-quarter.
- Partnered with Product Development to refine offerings, directly impacting customer retention and expansion by an additional 30%.
- Overhauled the sales training program, which ramped up SDRs 50% faster than the previous curriculum.
- Led a successful market entry strategy for two new geographic regions, resulting in a 45% increase in regional sales.
- Initiated a partnership program with complementary service providers, broadening the sales funnel and contributing to a 25% increase in cross-sell opportunities.
- Executed a go-to-market strategy for a cutting-edge software solution, capturing a 10% market share within the first year.
- Created an account-based marketing program which personalized the sales approach and led to a 20% increase in conversion rates for targeted accounts.
- Drove a gamification initiative within the sales team that heightened competitive spirit and increased average deal closures by 25%.
- Directed the adaptation of a data-centric sales strategy that identified key growth areas, resulting in a 40% increase in top-line revenue.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with major industry players, securing co-sponsorship deals for events that increased brand visibility and lead generation by 65%.
- Initiated and managed a customer success program to track and analyze client health scores, reducing churn rate by 18%.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the percentage by which you exceeded sales targets to demonstrate your ability to drive revenue.
- Specify the exact number of sales team members you have managed and trained to illustrate leadership and team-building skills.
- Mention the number of new sales strategies or initiatives you implemented to showcase innovation and proactiveness.
- List the exact amount of revenue growth generated under your leadership to quantify business impact.
- Detail the number of leads generated through your sales development efforts to highlight your contribution to the sales pipeline.
- State the percentage increase in sales productivity after the introduction of new tools or processes to prove efficiency improvement.
- Indicate the volume of key accounts secured or expanded to reflect your negotiation and relationship management acumen.
- Include the size of budgets you have managed to demonstrate your financial acuity and trustworthiness with substantial business resources.
Action verbs for your sales development manager resume
No relevant experience - what to feature instead
Suppose you're new to the job market or considering a switch in industry or niche. In such cases, it's common to have limited standard professional experience. However, this isn't a cause for concern. You can still craft an impressive sales development manager resume by emphasizing other sections, showing why you're a great fit for the role:
- Emphasize your educational background and extracurricular activities to demonstrate your industry knowledge;
- Replace the typical experience section with internships or temporary jobs where you've gained relevant skills and expertise;
- Highlight your unique skill set, encompassing both technological and personal abilities;
- Showcase transferable skills acquired throughout your life and work experiences so far.
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If you happen to have plenty of certificates, select the ones that are most applicable and sought-after across the industry. Organize them by relevance to the role you're applying for.
Creating your sales development manager resume skills section: balancing hard skills and soft skills
Recruiters hiring for sales development manager roles are always keen on hiring candidates with relevant technical and people talents. Hard skills or technical ones are quite beneficial for the industry - as they refer to your competency with particular software and technologies. Meanwhile, your soft (or people) skills are quite crucial to yours and the company's professional growth as they detail how you'd cooperate and interact in your potential environment. Here's how to describe your hard and soft skill set in your sales development manager resume:
- Consider what the key job requirements are and list those towards the top of your skills section.
- Think of individual, specific skills that help you stand out amongst competitors, and detail how they've helped you succeed in the past.
- Look to the future of the industry and list all software/technologies which are forward-facing.
- Create a separate, technical skills section to supplement your experience and further align with the sales development manager job advert. Find the perfect balance between your resume hard and soft skills with our two lists.
Top skills for your sales development manager resume:
CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
Lead Generation Tools (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator)
Email Marketing Platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid)
Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, Google Analytics)
Sales Automation Software
Social Media Management Tools
Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides)
Market Research Tools
Webinar Platforms
Communication
Leadership
Time Management
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Team Collaboration
Negotiation
Strategic Thinking
Emotional Intelligence
Motivation
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
The importance of your certifications and education on your sales development manager resume
Pay attention to the resume education section . It can offer clues about your skills and experiences that align with the job.
- List only tertiary education details, including the institution and dates.
- Mention your expected graduation date if you're currently studying.
- Exclude degrees unrelated to the job or field.
- Describe your education if it allows you to highlight your achievements further.
Your professional qualifications: certificates and education play a crucial role in your sales development manager application. They showcase your dedication to gaining the best expertise and know-how in the field. Include any diplomas and certificates that are:
- Listed within the job requirements or could make your application stand out
- Niche to your industry and require plenty of effort to obtain
- Helping you prepare for professional growth with forward-facing know-how
- Relevant to the sales development manager job - make sure to include the name of the certificate, institution you've obtained it at, and dates
Both your certificates and education section need to add further value to your application. That's why we've dedicated this next list just for you - check out some of the most popular sales development manager certificates to include on your resume:
The top 5 certifications for your sales development manager resume:
- Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) - National Association of Sales Professionals
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) - Sales Management Association
- Strategic Sales Management (SSM) Certification - American Marketing Association
- HubSpot Sales Software Certification - HubSpot Academy
- Challenger Development Program Certification - Challenger™
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Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
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Adding a summary or objective to your sales development manager resume
One of the most crucial elements of your professional presentation is your resume's top one-third. This most often includes:
- Either a resume summary - your career highlights at a glance. Select the summary if you have plenty of relevant experience (and achievements), you'd like recruiters to remember about your application.
- Or, a resume objective - to showcase your determination for growth. The perfect choice for candidates with less experience, who are looking to grow their career in the field.
If you want to go above and beyond with your sales development manager resume summary or resume objective, make sure to answer precisely why recruiters need to hire you. What is the additional value you'd provide to the company or organization? Now here are examples from real-life sales development manager professionals, whose resumes have helped them land their dream jobs:
Resume summaries for a sales development manager job
- With 7+ years of experience driving sales growth in the technology sector, I've refined my ability to lead high-performing teams, craft impactful outreach strategies, and exceed sales targets through integrative solutions. Recognized for a high-energy persona and proficiency in Salesforce CRM, my proudest achievement involves scaling a startup’s client base by 300% within two fiscal quarters.
- Seasoned pharmaceutical sales manager with 10 years of experience, seeking to leverage extensive background in creating effective marketing campaigns and developing successful client relationships. Utilizing a deep understanding of complex medical terminology and client needs analysis, led a sales team to a 22% increase in annual revenue for a major pharmaceutical company.
- Transitioning from a successful 5-year career in teaching, I am eager to apply my refined communication skills, exceptional organizational capabilities, and passion for people-driven outcomes to excel in the realm of sales development. Eager to contribute to a dynamic team while learning the specifics of sales funnel management and customer segmentation to enhance client acquisition strategies.
- After building a career as a top-performing retail manager for 8 years, I am ready to transition my expertise in customer relationship management, sales forecasting, and team leadership into the fast-paced world of sales development, aiming to employ a strong track record in surpassing targets through innovative sales tactics and team motivation.
- Eager to kickstart a career in sales development, I am a recent graduate with a tenacious spirit, committed to learning strategic sales methodologies and leveraging my intern experience in market analysis. My objective is to grow within a thriving sales environment, where I can contribute to the team’s success while honing my consultative selling abilities.
- A highly motivated individual with strong interpersonal skills, looking to break into sales development; I bring advanced data analysis skills from a year of research experience, coupled with a deep fascination for understanding consumer behavior. My goal is to develop comprehensive sales strategies that contribute to the sustained growth of a dynamic sales department.
Additional valuable sales development manager resume sections to stand out
When assessing candidate applications, recruiters are often on the lookout for elements that go beyond meeting standard requirements and technical expertise.
This is where extra sections could play a key role in showcasing your unique skill set and personality.
Make sure to include sections dedicated to:
- How you spend your free time, outside of work. The interests resume section also goes to show your personality and transferrable skills; and may also serve to fill in gaps in your experience;
- Most innovative work. The projects resume section brings focus to what you're most proud of within the field;
- How you're able to overcome language barriers. The language resume section is always nice to have, especially if communication would be a big part of your future role;
- Industry-wide recognitions. Remember that the awards resume section should highlight your most noteworthy accolades and prizes.
Key takeaways
- The layout of your resume should take into consideration your professional background while integrating vital sections and design elements;
- Highlight your most pertinent achievements for the role all through different sections;
- Be very specific when selecting your certifications, hard skills, and soft skills to showcase the best of your talents;
- Include within the top one-third of your sales development manager resume a header and summary to help recruiters understand your experience and allocate your contact details. A skills box is optional, but it will help you align your expertise with the role;
- Detail the full extent of your professional experience with specific bullets that focus on tasks, actions, and outcomes.
