To rank at the top of recruiter searches in 2026, your Sales Development Representative resume must include specific "hooks" that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are programmed to find. Use this comprehensive list of 50+ keywords to audit your Sales Development Representative resume and ensure you aren't being filtered out.
I. Technical & Core Skills
These are the foundational skills recruiters and ATS look for in SDRs.
A. Prospecting & Research
- Digital Prospecting: LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo, Clearbit, Apollo.io, DiscoverOrg, Iron Frontier, AI-Powered Prospecting Tools, Data Enrichment, Lead Generation Platforms.
- Research Techniques: Account-Based Prospecting (ABP), SPIN Selling, Challenger Sale, Needs Analysis, Competitive Intelligence (CI), Gartner Magic Quadrant, Forrester Wave, Industry Reports.
B. Sales Tools & Platforms
- CRM Systems: Salesforce (Leads, Contacts, Activities), HubSpot Sales Hub, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle CX Sales, SAP Sales Cloud.
- Email Marketing & Outreach: HubSpot B2B Email, Mailchimp for Sales, Outreach.io, Nimble AMS, Saleshandy, Lemlist, Autopilot.
- Scheduling Tools: Calendly, Acuity Scheduling, Sy calendar, Ozpage.
- Sales Enablement: Salesloft, Navigator by ZoomInfo, Chorus.ai, Gong.io (listening), Talkdesk AI.
C. Outreach & Engagement
- Email Techniques: Personalization Engine, Hyper-personalization, ICP-based Email Sequences, ABM Email Strategies, Social Selling.
- Calling & Communication: Voicemail Navigation, Discovery Calls, Consultative Selling, Social Proof, Referral Marketing, Collaboration Platforms (Slack, Teams).
D. Tracking & Reporting
- Metrics & KPIs: SQL (Qualified Leads), MQL (Marketing Qualified Leads), SQL (Sales Qualified Leads), ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue), LTV (Lifetime Value), Pipeline Velocity, Sales Cycle Length, Conversion Rate, Win Rate, ROI, NPS.
- Tracking Systems: CRM Dashboards, Pipeline CRM, Lead Score Models, Activity Tracking.
II. Industry Standards & Compliance Codes
While less technical than engineering, understanding these standards is crucial for professional credibility and compliance.
- Data Privacy & Security: GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), CAN-SPAM, CAN-SPAM Act, CASL (Canada Anti-Spam Legislation), Data Subject Access Request (DSAR).
- Sales Ethics & Practices: CAN-SPAM Act, TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), FTC Guidelines on Telemarketing, Truth in Advertising, Compliance Auditing, Anti-Bribery/Corruption (ABC) Policies.
- Industry Benchmarks: Industry-specific CRM Standards, Sales Force Automation (SFA) Best Practices, ICPv2 (Ideal Customer Profile) Framework, Sales Cycle Benchmarking.
III. Professional Action & Impact Verbs
Use these verbs to describe your actions and achievements effectively.
- Execution: Prospected, Researched, Identified, Targeted, Nurtured, Engaged, Qualifed, Followed-up, Scheduled, Dialed, Dialed-out, Segmented, Personalized, Sequenced, Automated, Generated, Validated, Submitted, Scored.
- Analysis: Analyzed, Researched, Monitored, Evaluated, Forecasted, Benchmarked, Diagnosed, Interpreted, Assessed.
- Collaboration & Strategy: Coached, Trained, Presented, Collaborated, Scripted, Strategized, Consulted, Networked, Referenced, Cross-sold, Upsold.
IV. 2026 Emerging Keywords
These reflect the future of sales development.
- AI-Powered Sales Assistants: AI Chatbots for Prospecting, Predictive Lead Scoring AI, Sentiment Analysis AI, Virtual Co-Pilot.
- Hyper-Personalization: Dynamic Content Engine, Predictive Engagement, Real-Time Analytics Integration.
- Sales Enablement Automation: AI-Powered Meeting Summaries, Smart Call Routing, Integrated Sales & Marketing Tech Stacks.
- Blockchain for Sales: Lead Verification, Secure Data Sharing (emerging).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important ATS keywords for an SDR resume in 2026?
The core keywords are "Lead Generation," "CRM (mention specific CRM like Salesforce)," "Sales Prospecting," "Email Outreach," "LinkedIn Sales Navigator," "SQL," "MQL," "ABM," "Data Enrichment," and "Sales Cycle Optimization." Tools like "HubSpot Sales Hub," "Outreach.io," and "Calendly" are also highly sought after.
How can I avoid keyword stuffing while still optimizing my SDR resume?
Integrate keywords naturally into your summary, skills section, and bullet points. Describe your actions and results using the Professional Action Verbs. For example: "Targeted 500 prospects using LinkedIn Sales Navigator and ZoomInfo, achieving a 25% higher response rate on initial outreach campaigns." Don't just list "Sales Training"; show you delivered it: "Trained a team of 5 new SDRs on ABM strategies and HubSpot Sales Hub, improving pipeline velocity by 15%."
Should I include technical skills like CRM platforms or prospecting tools?
Yes, absolutely. CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot) and prospecting tools (ZoomInfo, DiscoverOrg) are mission-critical for SDR roles. List them prominently in your skills section. Mentioning specific tools shows you are proficient and relevant to the role.
Is it necessary to include compliance terms like GDPR or CCPA?
While perhaps less emphasized than core skills, including terms like "GDPR Compliance," "CCPA Compliance," and "CAN-SPAM" demonstrates an understanding of data privacy standards, which is increasingly important in sales roles. It shows awareness of legal boundaries.