Graduate Sales Development Representative CV Template Example
As a career coaching professional with over 25 years’ experience guiding graduates, mid-level professionals and senior leaders, I’ve seen first-hand how crucial it is to create a strong CV tailored to the specific role you’re aiming for. One role that is increasingly in demand, and a fantastic entry point into a rewarding career in sales, is that of a Graduate Sales Development Representative (SDR).
The Graduate Sales Development Representative is the foundation of any successful sales team. It’s a role where ambition, resilience and excellent communication skills meet opportunity. The job description usually involves prospecting, lead generation, and qualifying inbound and outbound leads for account executives. You’ll be using phone, email and social media outreach to connect with potential clients, nurture interest, and book meetings that ultimately convert into revenue.
Salary-wise, UK Graduate SDRs can typically expect to start with a base salary between £24,000 and £30,000, with on-target earnings (OTE) boosting total compensation to £35,000–£45,000 in the first year. This makes it a well-paid and fast-paced entry-level role that provides significant room for growth into account management, business development, or sales leadership.
To secure interviews and stand out from the hundreds of other graduates applying for SDR roles, you’ll need a CV that not only highlights your transferable skills but also demonstrates drive, results orientation and cultural fit for sales. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create an interview-winning Graduate Sales Development Representative CV template example, with practical advice for graduates as well as tailored insights for those looking to transition at middle or senior management levels.
Why a strong Graduate SDR CV matters
The CV is your first sales pitch. In fact, you are selling yourself to the hiring manager in exactly the same way you will one day sell your company’s product or service. Just as prospects buy into people before products, employers hire based on personality, motivation, and potential before anything else. A strong CV showcases your achievements, demonstrates your suitability for the role, and positions you as the ideal candidate.
Recruiters and sales managers often spend less than 30 seconds scanning a CV. That means structure, clarity and impact are critical. Keywords such as “lead generation,” “B2B sales,” “pipeline management,” “target driven,” “communication skills,” and “sales development” need to appear naturally throughout your CV to help with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and to catch the eye of hiring professionals.
How to write a Graduate Sales Development Representative CV template example
Your CV needs to be tailored to the role of Graduate SDR. Below is a suggested structure:
Contact details – Full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn profile, and location (city-based is best for SDR roles).
Personal profile – A short but powerful summary of who you are, your skills, and your ambition. For example: “Ambitious and results-driven graduate with strong communication and analytical skills, eager to launch a successful career in sales development. Experienced in building relationships, working towards targets, and thriving in fast-paced environments.”
Key skills – Bullet point transferable skills aligned to sales. Example: “Prospecting & Lead Generation,” “CRM Systems (Salesforce, HubSpot),” “Cold Calling,” “Negotiation,” “Resilience,” “Time Management.”
Education – Degree details (subject, classification, university). Include relevant modules or projects that show analytical, communication or business skills.
Professional experience – Paid work, internships, or voluntary roles. Highlight achievements, not just responsibilities. Use metrics: “Increased customer sign-ups by 25% through targeted outreach.” “Managed 100+ outbound calls per week to generate qualified leads.”
Additional experience – University societies, sports teams, part-time jobs. Employers love evidence of leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
Achievements & interests – Showcase personality but remain professional. Avoid clichés like “enjoy socialising with friends.” Instead: “Elected President of University Sales Society, organising events with 300+ attendees.”
Advice for graduates applying for Sales Development Representative roles
As a graduate, you may lack formal sales experience, but that is not a barrier. Employers hire for attitude and potential. Showcase how your past experience demonstrates transferable skills.
Retail, hospitality and customer service jobs show communication, resilience and handling rejection.
Sports and societies demonstrate teamwork, drive, and leadership.
Academic projects show research, presentation and time management skills.
Tailor each CV to the specific company. Research their products, culture, and values, then reflect those in your personal statement and skills.
Advice for middle management candidates
If you are transitioning into sales from another function, or stepping up into a senior SDR or Business Development Manager role, highlight your commercial awareness and leadership.
Showcase metrics-driven success – e.g. “Increased revenue pipeline by £500k annually.”
Emphasise coaching and mentoring experience if you’ve managed junior staff.
Demonstrate strategic thinking: account targeting, territory planning, and sales process improvements.
Your CV should reflect progression – from delivering results as an individual contributor to managing processes, people, and strategy.
Advice for senior management professionals
At the senior management level, employers will expect evidence of leadership, growth, and transformation.
Highlight revenue impact – numbers, percentages, growth metrics.
Demonstrate ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
Show influence at board level, stakeholder management, and ability to align sales strategy with business goals.
Keep your CV concise (2 pages max), but impactful. Use powerful action verbs: “spearheaded,” “scaled,” “accelerated,” “transformed.”
The Do’s and Don’ts of a Graduate Sales Development Representative CV
Do:
Tailor your CV for every role.
Use clear, confident language.
Focus on achievements, not just tasks.
Include keywords from the job description.
Keep formatting clean and professional.
Don’t:
Use generic, vague personal statements.
Include irrelevant personal details like date of birth or full address.
Overcomplicate design – ATS systems prefer simple layouts.
Exceed two pages.
Lie or exaggerate – authenticity matters in sales.
General tips for an interview-winning CV
Structure is everything – recruiters should find what they need instantly.
Use bullet points for readability.
Quantify results wherever possible.
Keep tense consistent – present for current roles, past for previous ones.
Proofread carefully – errors signal lack of attention to detail.
Remember, your CV is your personal brand. It should reflect your energy, professionalism, and readiness to succeed in a high-pressure, target-driven environment.
Final thoughts from Jerry Frempong
Crafting a CV that opens doors is both an art and a science. For a Graduate Sales Development Representative, your CV must be laser-focused on communication skills, drive, and measurable results. As you move into middle and senior management roles, your CV should evolve to emphasise leadership, strategy, and commercial growth.
I’ve worked with thousands of professionals over the last 25 years, and I know that a strong CV combined with an optimised LinkedIn profile can make all the difference between being overlooked and being invited to interview.
If you’re ready to transform your CV and LinkedIn profile into powerful tools that land you interviews and accelerate your career, I’d love to help. Book an appointment today and let’s work together to secure the role you deserve: Book an appointment here
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