Sales development representative resume example

By the Rezumed team · Updated November 2, 2026

A sales development representative (SDR) books the first meeting: research a prospect, reach out, handle the "not interested", and pass a qualified lead to an account executive. An entry-level SDR resume should show you can keep up steady outreach, take rejection, and track every conversation.

Where this job fits

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't profile SDRs separately. The closest occupation in its handbook is wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, who "sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses" and other organizations. Their listed duties include identifying prospective customers, for example by following leads from existing clients, contacting new and existing customers to discuss their needs, and following up to make sure customers are satisfied. BLS says education requirements depend on the product: a high school diploma is enough for many positions, while those selling scientific and technical products usually need a bachelor's degree. It also notes that many companies have formal training programs for new sales representatives.

SDR roles sit in the first, prospecting part of that list. So the resume should show the habits that make prospecting work: steady volume, organized follow-up, and a reason a stranger agreed to talk.

Sample resume

The internship goes first because it is sales work with numbers the student actually tracked: calls a day, meetings booked, contacts added. The fundraising job comes next because it is also outreach to strangers.

Section by section

Experience: activity, results, follow-up

SDR managers think in three parts: activity (calls and emails), results (meetings booked or leads passed on) and process (how you tracked it). Try to cover all three across your bullets. Use the numbers you really tracked, and say what they count. "Booked 14 discovery calls" is clearer than "exceeded quota".

If you had a target, say what it measured and how you did, for example "booked 14 meetings against a summer target of 12". If you didn't have one, don't invent a percentage.

Non-sales jobs that count

Serving, retail, call center and campus fundraising jobs all involve talking to strangers and recovering from a "no". Give each one a bullet that shows that, rather than a list of daily tasks.

Education

A sales certificate, a professional selling course or a sales competition is worth naming. Business, communication and marketing degrees all fit. If the company sells a technical product, a related degree helps, as the BLS note above suggests.

Skills to list

Postings often name a CRM and a sales engagement tool. Write the exact product name for any you have used. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords. If the company uses Salesforce and you have only used HubSpot, list HubSpot. The habits carry over, and you can say so in the interview.

Tools

• CRM: Salesforce or HubSpot
• Sales engagement: Outreach, Salesloft or Apollo
• Prospecting: LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo or similar
• Call recording and review: Gong or similar
• Excel or Google Sheets for lead lists

Abilities

• Cold calling and leaving voicemails
• Writing short, personal outreach emails
• Asking discovery questions
• Handling objections calmly
• Keeping CRM records complete

Common mistakes

• Quota claims with no number. "Exceeded quota" invites the question: what quota? State the target and the result, or describe the activity instead.
• Personality words instead of evidence. "Driven, competitive, resilient" is on every SDR resume. A fundraising job with four call nights a week shows it.
• Hiding customer-facing jobs. BLS lists customer-service and interpersonal skills among the important qualities for sales representatives. A serving or retail job is proof of both, so keep it.
• A long resume. Sales managers read fast. One page, bullets that start with a verb, numbers where you have them.

FAQ

I have no sales experience. Can I still apply?

Yes, if you can show outreach and persistence. Campus fundraising, recruiting for a club, retail and call center work all count. BLS also notes that many companies have formal training programs for new sales representatives, so employers expect to teach you the product.

Should I list the meetings I booked as revenue?

No. SDRs usually book meetings and account executives close deals. Claim the meetings and leads you produced, not revenue someone else closed.

Do I need a summary?

A two-line summary can help if your degree isn't in business: say you want an SDR role and name your strongest outreach experience. See Resume objective or summary?

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Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives
• University of Maryland Career Center: Resume how-to guide