Business Development Manager Resume Keywords for ATS
ATS systems screening Business Development Manager CVs prioritise commercial terminology such as 'pipeline management', 'revenue growth', and 'client acquisition'. Successful candidates demonstrate measurable business outcomes using sector-specific language around lead generation, strategic partnerships, and contract negotiation. CVs must balance hard commercial skills with relationship-building capabilities, using exact phrases from job descriptions.
ATS keywords for a Business Development Manager Resume
Use these as a checklist — include the ones that genuinely apply to you, matched to the wording of the job you are targeting.
Core skills
Tools & software
Soft skills
Certifications & qualifications
How to get a Business Development Manager Resume past the ATS
- Include specific revenue figures and percentage growth metrics (e.g., '£2.5M revenue growth' or '35% increase in pipeline value') as ATS often scans for numerical business outcomes
- Use both 'Business Development' and 'BD' as variants, and include sector-specific terms if targeting particular industries (e.g., 'SaaS', 'B2B', 'enterprise sales')
- Mirror exact terminology from the job description for sales methodologies mentioned (e.g., 'solution selling', 'consultative sales approach', 'value-based selling')
- List CRM systems prominently in a Skills or Technical Proficiencies section, as these are high-frequency ATS search terms for this role
- Include phrases like 'new business development' and 'existing account growth' separately, as some ATS search for these as distinct competencies
Before & after: Business Development Manager Resume bullets
Before: Responsible for finding new clients and growing sales
After: Drove new business development generating £1.8M revenue through strategic client acquisition and pipeline management across 45+ enterprise accounts using Salesforce CRM
Before: Worked with partners to increase business opportunities
After: Negotiated strategic partnerships with 12 key channel partners, delivering 28% revenue growth and expanding market reach into three new sectors
Before: Managed sales process and met with potential customers
After: Led end-to-end tender management and contract negotiation for high-value B2B opportunities, achieving 65% win rate and £3.2M annual contract value
Business Development Manager Resume keywords — FAQ
What keywords should a Business Development Manager put on their Resume?
A Business Development Manager Resume should include core skills such as Lead Generation, Pipeline Management, Revenue Growth, Client Acquisition, Contract Negotiation, Market Analysis, and name specific tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Pipedrive. Always match the exact terms used in the job description you are applying to.
How do I make my Business Development Manager Resume ATS-friendly?
Use a plain-text skills section, mirror the keywords from the job posting word-for-word, spell out acronyms once alongside their short form, and quantify your achievements. Include specific revenue figures and percentage growth metrics (e.g., '£2.5M revenue growth' or '35% increase in pipeline value') as ATS often scans for numerical business outcomes
What skills do employers look for in a Business Development Manager?
Beyond technical skills, employers screen for Relationship Building, Negotiation Skills, Strategic Thinking, Communication Skills. Relevant qualifications include Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Qualification, Institute of Sales Management (ISM) Diploma, Prince2 Foundation.