Action Verbs for Sales & Business Development
Use powerful sales-focused verbs to highlight revenue generation, client acquisition, and business growth achievements that drive hiring decisions.
InterviewPal Career Team
Resume Experts • 10+ Years Experience
Sales and business development action verbs are crucial for demonstrating your ability to drive revenue, build relationships, and grow market share.
These verbs showcase your commercial acumen and ability to convert prospects into profitable business relationships.
When you use sales-focused action verbs, you immediately communicate to hiring managers that you understand the bottom-line impact of business development.
The best sales professionals know that numbers tell the story, and the right action verbs frame those numbers in the most compelling way possible.
Whether you're in direct sales, account management, or strategic partnerships, these verbs help you articulate your commercial success with precision and impact.
Powerful Sales & Business Development Action Verbs
Sales and business development verbs demonstrate your ability to generate revenue, acquire new clients, and expand market opportunities. Recruiters prioritize candidates who can prove they drive measurable business growth and build profitable relationships.
Acquired
Accelerated
Capitalized
Captured
Closed
Converted
Cultivated
Delivered
Developed
Drove
Exceeded
Expanded
Facilitated
Generated
Identified
Increased
Influenced
Initiated
Launched
Leveraged
Maximized
Negotiated
Optimized
Penetrated
Positioned
Prospected
Qualified
Realized
Secured
Sold
Strengthened
Targeted
Transformed
Upsold
Won
Built
Established
Forged
Nurtured
Partnered
Pitched
Presented
Promoted
Pursued
Retained
Sourced
Structured
Surpassed
Tracked
Validated
Yielded
Boosted
Commanded
Dominated
Elevated
Examples of Sales & Business Development Action Verbs:
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase with a stronger action verb.
Generated $2.5M in new revenue by developing strategic partnerships with 15 enterprise clients across healthcare and technology sectors
Exceeded annual sales quota by 145% through targeted prospecting and relationship building with C-level executives
Secured 23 new client accounts worth $1.8M ARR by implementing consultative selling approach and customized solution presentations
Converted 35% of qualified leads into closed deals, resulting in $950K revenue growth within first quarter
Negotiated multi-year contracts totaling $4.2M with key accounts, improving client retention rate by 28%
Expanded market share by 22% through strategic territory development and competitive displacement initiatives
Cultivated relationships with 50+ decision-makers, resulting in 40% increase in pipeline value and 18-month sales cycle reduction
Pro Tips for Resume Writing
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
Quantify Everything
Numbers make your achievements concrete. Instead of "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 45%." Metrics are memorable.
Start with Action Verbs
Every bullet point should begin with a strong action verb. This immediately shows initiative and makes your resume more dynamic.
Avoid Repetition
Don't use the same action verb twice. Variety keeps recruiters engaged and showcases the breadth of your skills.
Match the Context
Choose synonyms that match your actual role. Leadership words for leading, collaboration words for teamwork.
Summary & Takeaway
Selecting sales and business development action verbs positions you as a revenue-generating professional who understands commercial success. These verbs help you articulate your ability to build relationships, close deals, and drive measurable business growth — the core competencies that sales leaders actively seek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.
“I replaced just 5 words on my resume. Got 3x more callbacks within a week.”
Product Manager
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