business development manager resume summary

Business Development Manager Resume Example for 2024

Creating a resume is hard.

Creating a compelling resume that’s going to land you your dream business development manager job is even harder.

But worry not - in this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to create a compelling business development manager resume!

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Job-Winning Business Development Resume Example
• Step-By-Step Guide on How to Create a Compelling Business Development Resume
• Formula for Listing Work Experience the Right Way

Let’s dive right in. 

Business Development Manager Resume Example

The above business development manager resume example does everything right, including:

• Picking the right resume format . The reverse-chronological resume format is the most popular format for recruiters worldwide, and as such, is always a safe choice.
• Listing the relevant contact information. The resume includes typical details like phone number and email, as well as a LinkedIn profile (optional, but relevant for a business development role).
• Capturing the recruiter’s attention with a compelling resume summary. The resume summary briefly describes the candidate’s work history and gives the recruiter a reason to dig deeper into the resume.
• Using bullet points to concisely convey information. The recruiter doesn’t have all day. Unless they can scan your resume in a matter of minutes, they’re simply going to skip over you as a candidate. By including bullets in your resume, the hiring manager can read your resume more easily.
• Keeping the education section minimalistic. Unless you’re a recent graduate, there’s no need to go too in-depth with your education section. Simply listing the degree, university, and dates attended is enough.
• Lists the right skills. The above business development manager resume example skips over general and irrelevant skills, focusing solely on the ones that are relevant for the role.
• Takes advantage of the optional resume sections. The resume example above includes “Honors” and “Certifications,” which help the applicant further stand out from the competition.

How to Write a Business Development Manager Resume - 8 Simple Steps

Inspired by the resume example above, but still not sure how to start your own business development manager resume?

We’ve got your back! Just follow these 8 steps and you’ll be good to go, starting with:

#1. Pick the Right Business Development Resume Format

As we previously mentioned, the best resume format for a business development manager is the reverse-chronological one , which looks like this:

While there are other formats out there (namely functional and combination ), they’re nowhere near as popular as the reverse-chronological one and are more likely to harm your chances of getting a job than anything else.

Once you pick the format, then you have to start working on your resume layout, which includes:

• Keeping your resume under 1 page. Unless you have 20+ years of work experience, most recruiters expect you to keep your resume under one page. Chances are if it’s more than a single page, you’re including information that’s not super relevant for your role. If Elon Musk can keep his resume under 1 page , so can you!
• Creating distinctive section headings to ensure that the different sections in your resume are easily identifiable.
• Picking the right font size and style. The norm is 11-12 pt for standard text and 13-14 pt for section headings. Pick a professional (but distinct) font like Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.
• Save your resume as a PDF (unless requested otherwise). 

Or Use a Tried-and-Tested Business Development Manager Resume Template

Let’s face it: as a business development manager, you have much better things to do than spend hours formatting your resume.

You have to pick the right font size, structure the resume layout, make sure the format works with applicant tracking systems , and so on…

Want to skip over all that AND create a well-designed, compelling resume in minutes?

Use one of our free resume templates !

All you have to do is hit the link above, pick a template, and you’ll be set with a job-winning resume in less than an hour.

And the best part? Our resume templates look much, much better than the conventional text-editor resumes :

#2. Add Your Contact Information (Avoid Typos!)

Once you’re done with your business development manager resume layout and formatting, it’s time to start filling in the contents…

And the first section you’ll have to tackle is contact information . This section consists of:

• Your name and surname.
• Your professional title.
• Your phone number.
• Your email.
• Your location (City, state, and country. No need for an address)

If LinkedIn is important to your role (e.g. if you use it to reach out to potential biz dev partners), you should also include your LinkedIn profile URL in the contact information section.

Here’s what a business development manager contact information section would look like on a resume:

Business Development Manager

123-123-1234

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/johndoe21

#3. Write an Eye-Catching Business Development Resume Summary

When a recruiter lays their eyes on your resume, you have around 6 seconds to convince them that you’re a relevant candidate and that they should read your resume more in-depth.

If you fail to do so, they’ll simply skip over to the next candidate.

So, how can you make sure that the recruiter sees value in your business development manager resume straight away?

The answer is simple: you need to create a compelling resume summary.

A resume summary is a short, 2-4 sentence “summary” of your work history. It gives the recruiter a snapshot of:

• Your role and years of experience
• Your 1-2 top achievements
• Your most important skill(s) as a business development manager

Simply by scanning this resume section , the recruiter can instantly tell that you’re a qualified candidate for the role.

Here’s what a convincing business development manager resume summary would look like:

Self-starting business development manager with 6+ years of experience seeking to help Company X enter the German market. Experience at Company Y includes finding, negotiating with, and establishing partnerships with software installation partners in Berlin. Over $500,000 in revenue was generated for Company Y through such partnerships in 2020.

#4. Create a Compelling Work Experience Section

Your work experience is the #1 most important selling point for you as a candidate.

After all, work experiences are what differentiate an A-player business development manager from the rest.

So - how can you create a work experience section that stands out ?

First, let’s start with the formatting. When listing your work history, do this:

• Start with your current or most recent role and go backward in time from there.
• Don’t list jobs you’ve worked 15+ years ago or jobs that aren’t too relevant for the role you’re applying for. E.g. the hiring manager doesn’t need to know that you used to work as a part-time shop assistant 8 years back.
• Begin each entry with your job title. Add the company name underneath that, the dates worked, and 3-5 of your top achievements or responsibilities in bullet points.

Simply listing your work experience, though, is not enough. Sure, it’s going to get your foot in the door, but it might not convince the recruiter to pick you over other business development manager candidates.

So, what can you do to take your resume one step further?

Here’s what we recommend:

• When possible, focus on achievements over responsibilities. The recruiter has seen dozens of resumes for your profession, they know what your responsibilities are. Focusing on achievements helps you stand out better from other candidates.
• When listing your achievements, quantity them. Instead of saying “Increased sales to a record high number,” say “Increased sales by 20% in 2021 by changing up the software demo process.” 
• The best way to quantify your achievements is to include the achievement (increased sales), the number (by 20%), timeframe (2021), and the actions you took (changing up the software demo process).

Sounds simple enough, right? Now let’s see what achievements look like on a convincing business development manager resume example:

Pear Inc.  

05/2016 - Current

• Helped drive over $500,000 in sales during my 2nd year at the company.
• Hired 3 other business development specialists that reported directly to me.
• Established SOPs and guidelines for partner outreach, sales negotiations, and more.

#5. List Your Education Concisely

As a business development manager, your educational background is not nearly as important as your work history.

That said, it’s still important that you get this right.

When working on your educational history, do this:

First things first - add a section header saying “Education.”

Then, add your latest degree first . List the degree title and major (B.A. in Business Administration), university name (Chicago University), and years attended (2012 - 2016).

If you have more than a single relevant degree, you can include both (E.g. Masters and B.A.). You can completely skip on your high school degree, though, if you have any sort of higher education.

Here’s what the education section would look like on a business development manager resume:

B.A. in Business Administration

Boston University, Boston, M.A.

08/2012 - 05/2016

#6. Include the Right Skills

On to the next section!

After education, you need to include a skills section in your business development manager resume.

The key here, though, isn’t to list every skill under the sun, Instead, you should specifically include the ones that are going to help you excel at the role you’re applying for.

At the end of the day, not every business development job is the same. One hiring manager, for example, might be looking for a biz dev manager with more marketing skills, while another might be seeking someone with good knowledge of sales.

So, the best thing you can do here is to scan the job ad and look for the essential skills the role requires, and plug them in your skills section (as long as you actually possess these skills, that is).

Now in case the job ad doesn’t mention a lot of skills, here are some that are essential for business development managers in 2024:

13 Essential Business Development Manager Skills

• Negotiation Skills
• Sales Skills
• Salesforce CRM
• Pipedrive CRM
• Google Analytics
• Customer Acquisition
• Digital Marketing
• Time Management
• Lead Generation
• Communication skills
• Active listening
• Interpersonal skills

#7. Got Some Space Left? Include Additional Sections

At this point, your resume should already be one-page long . If that’s the case, you can simply skip over to the next section.

If you still have some space, though, you can use some of these optional resume sections to add some more substance to your business development manager resume.

These sections aren’t going to win you the job on their own, but they can help convince the recruiter to pick you over a candidate with a similar skill-set and work experience.

Here are the optional resume sections for a business development manager:

• Certifications. Got a certification to prove your prowess with Salesforce CRM ? Or maybe you just have that fancy CBDM certification ? Any of these should go on your resume.
• Honors & Awards. Have you won any industry-related awards? Add them to your business development manager resume!
• Languages. Language skills come in handy in any client-facing role. You can use them to communicate with a prospect whose English is not as good or to simply build up a rapport.
• Hobbies & Interests. While they’re not going to win you the job on their own, hobbies can still have a space on your resume. Specifically, they help show the recruiter what you’re all about in your free time and can sometimes serve as common ground with your interviewer.

Here’s how these optional sections would look like in your business development manager resume:

Certifications 

• CBDM Certified Business Development Manager, June 2018.
• Salesforce Sales Consultant Certification, October 2016
• Spanish (Advanced)
• Italian (Intermediate) 
• Creative Writing

#8. Attach a Matching Cover Letter

Just like any other profession, business development managers are required to submit a cover letter alongside their resume within their application.

Here are some tips to ensure that your cover letter shines as bright as your resume:

• Start by addressing the cover letter by the recruiter’s name, last name, or professional title. Writing “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern” just means that you didn’t do much research on where you’re applying.
• Write an attention-grabbing introduction . Here, you mention your job title, years of experience, and 1-2 key achievements.
• The bulk of your cover letter should elaborate on your key achievements and skills. If you want to go the extra mile, you can include information on why you’re passionate about working for that exact company.
• Conclude your cover letter with a call to action.
• Finally, go through our guides to cover letter tips and mistakes to make sure that your cover letter is nothing short of perfect!

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! 

By now, you should have all the information you need to create a compelling business development manager resume.

Before you go, let’s do a quick summary of our main learning points:

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format, as it’s the most popular one out there.
• In your work experience section, focus more on achievements instead of responsibilities.
• List essential business development manager skills like sales, lead generation, and more.
• If you have extra space on your resume, include some of the optional sections like hobbies, certifications, and others.
• Finally, work on your cover letter to make sure that it’s as good as your resume.

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14 Business Development Resume Examples for 2024

• Business Development Resume
• Business Development Resumes by Experience
• Business Development Resumes by Role

Writing Your Business Development Resume

If a business isn’t growing, it’s stalling. Business development is the foundation upon which company growth is built. To succeed in business development, you need to be creative, a great communicator, and a great salesman (or saleswoman).

You know you’ve got the right skillset for your next job, so you shouldn’t have to be an expert at resume and cover letter writing , too. That’s where we come in!

We’ve analyzed numerous business development resumes and documented what works and what doesn’t to increase your chances of getting an interview. Then, we made these 14 business development resume samples to help you land your next role in 2023. And on top of that, we’ll share our expert resume tips ; we’re here to help you put your best foot forward!

Business Development Manager Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Once you have several years of experience, use a reverse-chronological format. That way, hiring managers can see your most recent experience first.
• You can make your resume easier to read by using numbers. Luckily, as a biz dev professional, you can point to a whole host of different metrics to demonstrate your impact (sales, up-sells, conversion rate, and retention).
• We’d also recommend striking a balance between hard skills (Salesforce, Excel, LinkedIn) and soft skills (strategic planning, negotiation, communication).

Business Development Intern Resume

• What does it tell the potential employer, you ask? It could point to a proactive candidate who strives for continuous learning and is able to immerse themselves in the sector to understand intricate market trends—all invaluable skills that can stir up a storm in business development.

Entry-Level Business Development Resume

• Typically we recommend including three to six bullet points per work experience (with two to four total work experiences listed). Still, it’s okay to use eight to ten bullet points when you have only one job or internship. 
• You can title this section “hobbies” or “activities,” and be sure to include things that will impress the hiring manager. For example, if you founded a club or played a sport for many years, that will indicate dedication and good collaboration abilities.

Senior Business Development Manager Resume

• If you want to include four or more work experience entries, make sure you’re concentrating the bulk of your bullet points on your most recent/relevant jobs. 
• You can also try using a different  resume template ; you’d be surprised at the difference a template can make when it comes to fitting content on your page. 
• Try to make each bullet point no more than 200 characters.  If you go over the character count, consider breaking it down into multiple points. 

VP Business Development Resume

• Take note of how Stella lights up her piece with anecdotes of boosting sales by $1.2m at AWeber by penetrating three international markets and driving a total of $870K in new business at Wawa Inc., thanks to her prospecting prowess.

Business Development Assistant Resume

• In this case, working as a coffee barista ties in nicely with the hospitality industry for which you’re applying. Make the connection for recruiters in a career objective statement at the top of your resume.

Business Development Analyst Resume

• Highlighting that you’re a Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP) can be the qualification that bumps your name over the edge to land an interview.

Director of Business Development Resume

• How exactly do you do that? By  formatting your resume  in reverse-chronological format! It shows your career journey, starting with your most recent experience, and showcases how you’ve taken on more responsibilities in your recent years.
• Again, numbers speak louder than words here. Did your team improve their performance as a result of coaching? Did your team allow for expansion into new territories? Try to quantify this impact on your director of business development resume .

Business Development Representative Resume

• Objectives are only two to three sentences long, so you might need some practice making yours concise. We’d recommend looking at objective examples to help
• For example, if you worked in retail, you’ve likely had to help customers find the best product for their needs. This is directly applicable to business development, so include it somehow on your business development representative resume.

Business Development Associate Resume

• Try including numbers like your ROI, reviews, client base, client retention, reduction of client attrition, and other KPI metrics. 
• So, before you hit submit, put yourself in their shoes: set a six-second timer and scan your business development associate resume .
• Take a moment and analyze what stood out to you. Was there anything you’d do differently to get their attention? Take this time to make last-minute changes; you’ll be glad you did!

Business Development Strategist Resume

• Adding some style and creative flair will actually ease readability, provided you don’t go overboard.
• Use at least two contrasting fonts for your headers and body text, and don’t be afraid to experiment with a little bit of color at the top of your page.
• We recommend taking a day or two away from your resume so you can come back with fresh eyes. A cup of coffee before your final review couldn’t hurt, either!

Digital Coordinator Business Development Resume

• We’d recommend using reverse-chronological order to put your most recent experience at the top of the page. That way, hiring managers immediately see what’s important!
• Including an activity like a foreign language demonstrates your drive and dedication to self-improvement. Mentorship activities highlight your interpersonal skills, leadership, and team-building skills. 

Business Development Executive Resume

• The layout of your resume can make or break the flow of your recruiter’s reading experience. So when you’re  formatting your resume , try out a variety of  resume templates  until you find one that spotlights your greatest selling points.
• Include impressive numerical metrics such as team headcounts, portfolio sizes, and client lead generation percentages whenever possible.

International Business Development Manager Resume

• In addition to having metrics in your work experience, let your talents shine in the  skills section of your resume . Include mostly technical skills to really ‘wow’ the recruiter or hiring manager.
• For example, how many accounts did you manage? How many new customers did you bring on within a certain time frame? Did you win any awards? Your achievements are likely more numerous and impressive than you think!

Related resume guides

• Program Manager
• Business Owner
• Account Executive

Formatting your business development resume correctly is more important than you might think. Good formatting ensures your resume is readable, logical, and complete. When your resume isn’t formatted well, it can be difficult for hiring managers to read, hard for ATS to understand, and just not visually appealing. Let’s start by reviewing the key elements of resume formatting, including: 

• Your resume formatting options

Your contact header information

How to ensure the ats and recruiters read your resume.

Your resume format options

Applicants’ preferences for formatting change over time. in 2024, the most popular  resume formats  are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid.  

Specific pros and cons for each type of format:

• Reverse-chronological format:  This format highlights your career growth by placing your most recent work experience at the top, leaving your oldest work experience (and likely, least relevant) at the bottom.
• Functional format:  This format is all about highlighting your skills. It’s typically chosen by applicants with employment history gaps.
• Combination/Hybrid format:  This format includes a reverse-chronological structure with equal weight between work experience and skills. 

For business development resumes, we always recommend the use of reverse-chronological formatting. Although the combination format might seem like the best choice, it’s not common, so it can become confusing. Reverse-chronological is the preferred format for hiring managers due to its popularity, readability, and logical flow. 

You should list your name at the top of your resume in the header. Make sure to center it, and use the largest font (around 24-point). Right below your header, include the job title you’re seeking in a slightly smaller font (around 20-point font). Your header is also a great place to have some color, whether it’s for your font or as a pretty background. 

On the right or left side of your resume, somewhere just below the header, you’ll want to include the following in a list using standard font size: 

• Phone number
• City/state (optional)
• Professional links, such as LinkedIn (optional)

It can be hard to visualize what this will look like on your resume, so check out the visual below, or check out other  resume examples  for inspiration on achieving a professional yet visually appealing header. 

It’s not uncommon for a single business developer job posting to receive more than 200 applicants. Hiring teams couldn’t possibly give each applicant careful consideration, so they use ATS, aka applicant tracking systems. This software was created to help hiring teams during the explosion of online job applications.

Hiring managers use ATS to track keywords in your resume and match them to pre-selected words that the hiring team is seeking. If ATS doesn’t think an applicant is a good fit for the job, their resume can be thrown out before any person has a chance to read it.  

Use the following techniques to ensure both ATS and recruiters can read your resume:

• Margins : Use standard one-half to one-inch margins. 
• Fonts:  Keep to the basic professional fonts; no cursive or hard-to-read script! 
• Font size:  Use about 24-point font for your name, 20-point font for your job title, and 10-12 point font everywhere else on your resume. 
• Header names : Keep your font size the same for section headers and body text, but use bold lettering to make your headers stand out. You can also try using all caps to make your section headers easier to see. 
• Skills:  Ensure your skills are highly specialized to the business development job you’re seeking. Always check the  business development job description  to ensure you’ll have enough matching keywords (but never plagiarize). 
• Logical order:  Use reverse-chronological order because it’s the format ATS operates best with, and hiring managers tend to prefer it. 
• One page:  Ensure your resume is exactly one page.

Make the changes above while you’re  building your resume  to help you format your resume correctly for the ATS!

How to Write an Effective Business Developer Resume

We know that  writing an effective resume  can feel like a daunting task. However, it’s not that bad if you go section by section, which is what we’ll help you with in this guide.

We’d recommend having this article open in one tab and your resume in another, so you can go back and forth while making revisions. Now, let’s get into the bulk of actually writing your resume: 

• Using a resume objective or summary statement

How to include your work experience

• Choosing the right skills
• Education and certificates 
• Customizations
• Proofreading your resume

Clearing the confusion: an objective or summary?

Many prospective business developers are rightfully confused by the resume objective and summary . What are they, why are they important, and when should you use one?

This section will answer all of those questions and give you some examples of both resume objectives and summary statements. 

An  objective  is essentially an opening paragraph for your resume. It includes the job title you’re seeking, your years of experience, specific skills that make you a good candidate, and which company you’re applying for. Although objectives aren’t required, it’s a good idea to include an objective if you have limited work experience or are going through a significant career change. 

On the other hand, a summary is a short synopsis of your work experience. The summary emphasizes your skills and how they were used at previous jobs successfully (using metrics). A summary is best-suited for applicants with at least 10+ years of experience in business development. 

Let’s review a few examples of both strong and weak objectives and summaries:

• Analysis: This objective does include years of experience, which is good, but it’s entirely too vague. Make sure you mention a specific job title, several particular skills, and the company’s name. 
• Analysis: This objective is pretty good! It contains a specific job title, years of experience, job-specific skills, and a company name. Hiring managers would be instantly intrigued by this job candidate. 
• Analysis: If your summary is this vague, leave it out entirely and add more work experience instead. 
• Analysis: This summary is specific and demonstrates the applicant’s value through relevant metrics and skills. 

Focus on including two to four job experiences on your business developer resume. We know it can be tempting to include every work experience you’ve ever had. Still, including irrelevant jobs from your teenage years isn’t useful when you have many years of relevant work experience. When you’ve held several job titles,  be choosy about which two to four you include on your resume . 

How to write your work experience descriptions

Make your work experience examples professional, interesting, and impressive. Use action verbs such as “spearheaded,” “orchestrated,” or “developed” to start each of your bullet points, and use active voice throughout (rather than passive). This will ensure that you take ownership of your resume and display confidence. 

You also want to avoid personal pronouns, such as “me” or “I,” in your work experience. The hiring manager knows you’re writing about yourself, so avoid taking up the extra space and dooming your resume to the “unprofessional” pile. You’ll also need to decide on punctuation. You can either end all of your bullet points with periods or leave them off. It’s up to you; just be consistent. Finally, pay special attention to using consistent verb tenses. All of your past experience needs to be in the past tense, and you can choose whether you want to include your current experience in the past or present tense. 

Here are some examples of good business developer resume bullet points that incorporate all of the above advice: 

• Prospected and qualified potential customers with targeted advertising, improving conversion rate by over 20%
• Conducted multi-channel outreach to prospects by leveraging 3 forms of CRM management tools
• Developed marketing campaign featuring educational business material, resulting in $200K net profit

How to quantify your impact as a business developer

One of the most important things you include on your business development resume is metrics. Numbers showcase your job impact in a way that words alone cannot.

Aim to have metrics on at least 50 percent of your bullet points, but don’t be afraid to add more if you can. Here are some of the best ways to leverage metrics when you’re discussing your previous business development roles: 

• Increased revenue:  Arguably, increased revenue is the most important job of a business developer. Highlight how much you’ve increased gross company revenue during your tenure. 
• Conversion rates:  Have customer conversion rates gone up as you’ve adopted new systems for reaching customers? Did you use targeted advertising, answer questions within minutes or hours, or did you use multi-channel outreach to increase conversion rates? 
• Leads:  It’s not just important to tell hiring managers that you increased revenue. Tell them  how  you did it. Perhaps you reached 25 percent more leads through the CRM processes you’ve developed? Maybe you initiated a successful referral program? Or perhaps you’ve collaborated on building social media campaigns? 
• Data analysis:  It’s important to discuss how you’ve utilized data from CRM and related software to get results. Make sure you don’t neglect to mention how your data analysis has improved the ROI for acquisition at your company. 

Using these types of metrics, we created work experience bullet points that could fit any strong business development resume: 

• Crafted a holistic paid acquisition strategy, leading to a 38% ROI for every dollar spent 
• Initiated data analysis processes that enabled a deeper understanding of consumer trends, contributing to the creation of 3 unique metrics to track consumer habits 
• Launched Requests for Proposals (RFPs), collaborating with 19 contractors while meeting 97% of profitability targets and ROIs

How to choose skills for your business developer resume

You must choose the right  skills on your resume  if you want it to be seen by a hiring manager. A successful business development skills section provides insight into your areas of expertise and ensures ATS can find matching keywords on your resume. 

Here are some of the best skills to include on your business development resume:

• ROI and Data Analysis 
• Lead Conversion
• Sales Pitches
• Presentations
• Lead Qualification
• Relationship Building
• Tactful Communication
• Campaigns 
• CRM Salesforce

We’d recommend mostly including hard skills, like “CRM” and “Sales Pitches,” because they’re job-specific, easy to quantify, and focus more on learned abilities. These are the types of skills that demonstrate a clear understanding of the job, and hiring managers actively seek these applicants. These resume skills are some of the best, most sought-after in the business development industry.

Soft skills, such as “time management,” “organization,” and “collaboration,” can play a supporting role in your skills section. They’re important, but harder to quantify and demonstrate, so you should include a few (but not too many) soft skills on your business development resume.

What to know about education, certs, and more

In the field of business development, there are no standardized job qualifications. However, many hiring managers will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business, management, or marketing. Some jobs may require applicants to hold an MBA or other graduate degrees, but that’s not the norm. 

On the other hand, certifications are incredible inclusions on your resume. Though they’re often not required, Certified Marketing Professional, Blockchain and Digital Marketing Professional, Digital Marketing Specialist, and other credentials as shown in the example below can give you an extra edge with hiring managers. 

We typically don’t advise business developers to include  interests and hobbies on their resumes , but there are some times when it may be appropriate.

A few pointers for when interests and hobbies may be appropriate for your resume:

• Consider including this section if you have minimal work experience. Interests, hobbies, and projects can stand in for work experience! 
• Include unique interests and hobbies if your potential employer values individuality. (For example, a creative company like Nintendo would value knowing you like to sketch in your free time.
• Think about whether your interests, hobbies, or activities demonstrate a high level of commitment and focus. For example, hobbies such as Olympic Powerlifting prove that you’re a results-driven, focused, and dedicated person. 

This candidate hints at soft skills with spot-on activities.

Make your business development resume unique to the job

Remember to tailor your business development resume for every job to which you apply.  It will help ATS recognize keywords and show the employer that you’re genuinely interested in the job. Pay special attention to customizing your resume objective or summary with a specific job title and company name.

Your skills section should also be customized, which you can do by carefully reading the job description. Finally, every bullet point you include should be carefully edited to highlight the most important skills and job duties listed in the job posting. Hopefully, you won’t have to make too many edits, but even if that is the case, this step is essential!

Edit and proofread your resume

You may be tempted to submit your business development resume the second you finish writing it, but stop for a second!

Give yourself a day or two to rest your eyes and brain so that you can proofread your resume with fresh eyes. Send it off to friends and family for edits before  checking your resume  for one final time. You may be surprised to realize you misspelled a few words or used inconsistent punctuation! 

Well on Your Way to Your Next Business Development Job

You should be proud of yourself for reading through this entire resume guide! The hardest part of working on your resume is getting started, and now you’re ready to put in the work and  get your dream business development job in 2024 . Use our  resume checker  to upload your completed resume and check it against our AI-powered tips. On the other hand, if you haven’t started on your resume or want to begin from scratch, use our  resume builder,  which has built-in AI-powered tips and proper formatting to help set you in the right direction. 

Samples › Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager Sample

Download and customize our resume template to land more interviews. Review our writing tips to learn everything you need to know for putting together the perfect resume.

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A Business Development Manager focuses on business opportunities for growth. Below is a general job description:

Business development managers are responsible for managing expectations and developing business solutions for their organizations. They are in charge of creating effective business plans to generate more revenue, increase brand loyalty, and improve customer satisfaction.

You should never use a creative resume

Many job seekers think that an eye-catching resume template will help them stand out to hiring managers and increase their chances of landing an interview. This is a myth put out by resume builders that value design over content.

The truth is that most hiring managers prefer a traditional resume format.

Creative resume templates, like the one pictured here, can actually hurt your chances of landing an interview. Instead, you should use a basic resume format that quickly communicates your basic information and qualifications–like the one included below.

Business Development Manager resume (text format)

How confident are you feeling about your resume? If you need more help, you can always refer to the following resume sample for a position.

City, State or Country if international

Phone | Email

LinkedIn URL

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER PROFESSIONAL

Award-winning Business Development Manager reflecting expertise in providing successful customer-specific solutions catering to a wide array of industries on a global scale, including: OEM’s for the Medical, Government, Semiconductor, Biotechnology, and Alternative Energy.  Drive new business through providing excellent customer service and establishes strategic partnerships with stakeholders and executives to increase channel revenue.  Outstanding success in building and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers, establishing large volume accounts and ensuring client retention and loyalty. Able to succinctly articulate complex principles and to demonstrate product function to both business and technical users.  Well organized with a track record that demonstrates self-motivation, perseverance and the creativity to achieve both personal and corporate goals. Extensive face-to-face interaction with a focus on client relationships, as well as management of partnering account teams to identify opportunities, then architect, position, and close new projects to provide all customers with exceptional results.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Market Planning

Solution Selling

Customer Service

Account Management

Business Development

Territory Growth

Project Management

Negotiations

Brand Promotion

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Business Development Manager

ZipJob, New York NY | Year to Year

Responsibilities

Focused on results and increased revenues by over $xxx while leading the product development

Spearheaded efforts to develop new products and continuously deliver profit driven revenue models.

Worked with cross collaborative teams to analyze complex projects and develop product requirements to successfully lead business development efforts.

Streamlined technical service and logistics aspects of new product lines which saved over $xxM annually.

Increased annual revenues by 50% annually and took a declining market to high levels of sales within one year

Initiated cost benefit analysis for existing product lines as well as newly introduced products to ensure top ROI.

Developed marketing and sales communication strategies – new marketing campaigns resulted in an increase of brand recognition by over 40%.

Sales Manager

Successfully managed xx major accounts through an acquisition / merger adding $XX in monthly revenue.

Consistently achieved monthly sales quota by XX%

Developed Managed a team of 25 dedicated sales agents – grew territory revenues by over 20% in two years and crated a team focused on collaboration, teamwork and results

Developed a new line of management/sales to capitalize on market penetration – created three different categories: Executive, Field and Direct phone groups to ensure maximum level of client support

Expanded the Field agent team responsible for meeting our groups upon their arrival

Created new strategic alliances in new markets resulting in greater market penetration

Developed lasting relationships with contacts at which prove to be an excellent referral source

Complete School Name, City, St/Country: List Graduation Years If Within the Last Ten Years Complete Degree Name (Candidate) – Major (GPA: List if over 3.3)

Relevant Coursework: List coursework taken (even include those you are planning on taking)

Awards/Honors: List any awards, honors or big achievements

Clubs/Activities: List clubs and activities in which you participated

Relevant Projects: List 2-3 projects you have worked on

Everything you need to write your business development manager resume

 Now that you’ve seen an example of a job winning Business Development Manager resume, here are some tips to help you write your own. You should always begin with a summary section. Remember to use basic formatting with clear section headings and a traditional layout. Finally, be sure to include top skills throughout your resume. We’ve included several examples common for Business Development Manager below.

Let’s start with your resume summary section.

 The resume summary replaces the out-of-date resume objective. A summary outlines the most impressive parts of your resume for easy recall by your potential employer, while also serving to fill in personal qualities that may not appear elsewhere on the page. Remember that summaries are short and consist of pithy sentence fragments! You can check out the Business Development Manager resume example for more information!

Always start with your most recent positions at the top of your resume. This is called  reverse-chronological format , and keeps your most relevant information easy for hiring managers to review.

2. Formatting

Our experts recommend you start your resume with a resume summary, like the one above. Other common sections are Work Experience, Education, and either Skills or Core Competencies. Here are some guides from our blog to help you write these sections:

How To Write Your Resume’s Work Experience Section

How To Write Your Resume’s Education Section

Good Skills To Put On Your Resume

Some resumes will include other sections, such as  Volunteer Experience  or  Technical Skills . When it comes to what sections you need to include on your resume, you will know best!

Other sections for you to consider including are foreign language skills, awards and honors, certifications, and speaking engagements. These could all be relevant sections for your resume.

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In 48 hours, you will know how your resume compares. We’ll show you what’s working--and what you should fix.

3. Appropriate skills

Your resume should include all your skills that are relevant to your target job. Skills include both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical know-how you need to complete a job, such as data analysis or HTML. You can include hard skills in your core competencies section. Soft skills are harder to quantify, so they require more information to explain your aptitude. Some top soft skill examples include communication, problem solving, and emotional intelligence. Use several examples of how you use your key soft skills throughout your work history, profile summary, and resume title.

4. Experience section

Your Work Experience section should make up the bulk of your resume. This section should include your relevant job titles, companies that employed you, and the dates you were employed.

Your Work Experience section should make up the bulk of your resume. This section should include your relevant job titles, companies that employed you, and the dates you were employed. Most people will finish this section by listing daily duties in short bullet points. Don't be one of them ! To make your resume stand out, you need to add your accomplishments and key skills to your resume's Work Experience section. Here are three tips from our experts:

Use the STAR method to describe a situation, task, action, and result. This is adapted from a behavioral interview technique, so interviewers will recognize the format. it's also a great chance for you to organize your key accomplishments.

Don't forget about LinkedIn! The majority of employers are going to look you up on LinkedIn, so it's smart to make sure your LInkedIn profile is up to date and include your URL in your resume's contact section.

Always include a cover letter. Not everyone will bother, so it helps you look like a serious job applicant. It's also your chance to introduce yourself: who you are, why you're applying for this job, and how you want to proceed.

Let’s wrap it up!

Standout resumes will include a resume summary, a traditional reverse-chronological layout, and the skills and experience relevant to your job target. This resume example shows how to include those elements on a page. It’s up to you to insert your personal compelling qualifications.

Keep your resume format easy to scan by both humans and computers; our resume template is designed by our experts to satisfy both audiences. And be sure to include your own skills, achievements, and experiences. Job-winning resumes are resumes that successfully market you, leading recruiters and hiring managers to want to learn more!

Finally, emphasize your interest with a customized cover letter. When writing, remember that the resume and cover letter should support each other. Check out our  cover letter tips and examples  for more advice.

Didn’t get the specific answers you were looking for on this page? Hire a professional resume writer to get the advice you need to land your next job. 

Related posts:

ATS Resume Test: Free ATS Checker & Formatting Examples

What Does Relevant Experience on a Resume Mean?

How to Tailor Your Resume to Different Positions

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• Career Blog

Business Development Manager Resume: 25 Tips for 2024

As a Business Development Manager, your job entails strategizing and implementing plans to help your organization acquire new customers and expand its reach. It’s a demanding role, and a successful Business Development Manager needs to have a diverse skill set that includes sales, marketing, networking, and leadership.

In a competitive job market, a well-crafted resume could make all the difference in landing your dream job. Recruiters and hiring managers only spend a few seconds scanning a resume before moving on to the next one. Therefore, it’s crucial to create a resume that stands out and showcases your skills and achievements.

In this article, we’ll share 25 tips for creating a powerful Business Development Manager resume. From structuring your resume in a clear and concise manner to highlighting your accomplishments and tailoring it to the job description – this guide covers everything you need to know to make a lasting impression on recruiters.

Whether you’re starting out in your career or looking for a new challenge, this article will provide you with valuable insights and tips to help you create a winning resume that lands you the job you desire.

Understanding the job of a Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, creating and implementing business strategies, and building relationships with clients and customers. Here are some key responsibilities of a BDM:

Key responsibilities of a BDM:

• Identify potential business opportunities: A BDM is responsible for identifying new business opportunities that align with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement business strategy: A BDM develops and implements a business strategy to achieve long-term business goals.
• Build strong relationships with clients and customers: A BDM builds and maintains relationships with clients and customers to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.
• Conduct market research: A BDM conducts market research to identify trends and opportunities in the market.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements: A BDM negotiates contracts and agreements with clients, suppliers, and partners to ensure the best deals and agreements for the organization.

Qualifications and certifications:

To become a Business Development Manager, one must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Marketing, or Sales. Along with the degree, the following certifications can help to enhance the resume and increase the chances of getting hired:

• Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP) from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP)
• Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) from the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)

Industry-specific requirements:

The specific requirements for a BDM may vary depending on the industry. While the key responsibilities remain the same, there are some industry-specific requirements that a BDM should fulfill. Here are some examples:

• IT industry: A BDM in the IT industry should have knowledge of software development, cloud computing, and IT services.
• Healthcare industry: A BDM in the healthcare industry should have knowledge of healthcare regulations, insurance policies, and healthcare IT.
• Finance industry: A BDM in the finance industry should have knowledge about financial markets, investment strategies, and financial regulations.

A successful Business Development Manager should have a combination of key skills such as communication, negotiation, strategic thinking, and leadership. Along with the qualifications and certifications, a BDM should understand the industry-specific requirements to fulfill the job responsibilities effectively.

Resume format and layout

When it comes to crafting a Business Development Manager resume, choosing an appropriate format is vital in creating a great first impression with hiring managers. There are three main resume formats to choose from: chronological, functional, and combination.

The chronological format is the most commonly used and lists your work experiences in reverse order, starting from the most recent. This format is ideal for applicants with a consistent employment history and a clear career progression.

The functional format highlights your skills and achievements, rather than your work history. It’s ideal for applicants with less work experience or whose career path may not be linear.

The combination format is, as the name suggests, a mixture of the chronological and functional formats. It highlights both your work experience and skills while still emphasizing career progress.

Selecting the correct format largely depends on your experience level, career history, and the job you’re applying for. It’s crucial to tailor the format to the job description and ensure your experience aligns with the qualifications required.

Formatting tips are essential in making your resume stand out. Here are some tips to follow:

• Use bullet points to draw attention to key accomplishments and responsibilities.
• Keep the layout clean and concise to allow hiring managers to skim-read if necessary.
• Choose a legible font that’s easy to read, such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Use industry-specific language that the hiring manager will understand.
• Keep a consistent format throughout the document.

Effective use of white space is crucial when formatting a Business Development Manager resume. Dos:

• Use white space to separate different sections and make the document easier to read.
• Use margins to keep the text within a specific area and avoid clutter.
• Keep the line spacing consistent and easy to read.
• Don’t overload the document with text, making it hard to read.
• Avoid using small font sizes or complex layouts that can confuse the reader.

Including keywords and action verbs is vital to get your resume past the applicant screening software used by recruiters. Before submitting your resume, conduct keyword research to determine what skills and attributes are essential for the role. Then, incorporate these keywords into your resume description to optimize it for job software.

Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Some examples include:

• Collaborated
• Implemented
• Streamlined

Choosing the best format, incorporating effective tips, utilizing white space, and including keywords and action verbs are all essential elements in creating a standout Business Development Manager resume. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to landing your dream job.

Summary Statement

Crafting a captivating professional summary is essential for a Business Development Manager resume to make an outstanding first impression. To create an impactful summary, focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and expertise that align with the job requirements. Start with a powerful opening statement that summarizes your key achievements and goals. Use keywords from the job description to tailor your summary, making it clear that you understand the company’s needs.

Here are some examples of strong summary statements to help you get started:

• A results-driven Business Development Manager with 8 years of experience creating and implementing growth strategies that have led to a 30% increase in revenue. Skilled in market analysis, project management, and building strategic partnerships.
• A customer-centric Business Development Manager with a proven track record of developing strong relationships with clients and exceeding sales targets. Experienced in market research, product development, and contract negotiations.
• An innovative Business Development Manager with a talent for identifying emerging market trends and developing strategies to capitalize on them. Skilled in lead generation, account management, and strategic planning.

Remember to customize your professional summary for each job application, using specific keywords and phrases from the job description. This will show the hiring manager that you understand the position and can meet their requirements.

A compelling professional summary is key to making a strong first impression on potential employers. By highlighting your relevant skills and achievements, customizing your summary to fit the job description, and using clear and concise language, you can create a powerful summary that stands out from the crowd.

Professional Experience Section

When it comes to listing work experience on a Business Development Manager resume, there are a few best practices to follow. First and foremost, it’s important to include your most recent and relevant positions, and to list them in reverse chronological order.

Under each job title, it’s crucial to highlight key achievements and responsibilities that demonstrate your value and expertise. For example, rather than simply listing “increased sales revenue,” provide specific details such as “boosted sales revenue by 15% in Q1 through strategic market analysis and sales coaching.”

Additionally, it’s important to demonstrate transferable skills from previous jobs, especially if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you previously worked in event planning and now want to transition into a Business Development Manager role, highlight your skills in project management, communication, and relationship building.

Here are some additional tips for crafting a standout Professional Experience section:

• Use bullet points to make your accomplishments and responsibilities easy to scan and read.
• Quantify whenever possible. Use numbers and percentages to demonstrate the impact of your work.
• Focus on achievements that demonstrate your potential to succeed in a Business Development Manager role, such as building successful partnerships, generating new leads, and driving revenue growth.
• Tailor your experiences and accomplishments to the specific job description and company you’re applying to. Use keywords and industry language to show that you’re a good fit.

By following these best practices and highlighting your key achievements, responsibilities, and transferable skills, you can craft a Professional Experience section that will make you stand out to potential employers.

Education and Certifications

Your education and certifications are an essential part of your business development manager resume. They show your commitment to professional development and demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in your field. Here are some tips for showcasing your education and certifications:

How to showcase your education and certifications

The easiest and most effective way to showcase your education and certifications is to create a separate section for them on your resume. Use a clear heading such as “Education and Certifications” at the end of your resume.

Under this section, list your academic qualifications in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent and relevant degree. Follow this with any professional certifications or licenses you have obtained, again in reverse chronological order.

Make sure to include the name of the educational institution or certification body, the name of the degree or certification, and the date of completion. If applicable, also list any honors, awards or special achievements you received while completing your education or certification.

Prioritizing relevant education

If you have several degrees or certifications, prioritize those that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a business development manager job in the healthcare industry, highlight any healthcare-related qualifications you have first.

If you have a postgraduate degree or higher, list this before any bachelor’s degree or diploma you have obtained. If you have several degrees from the same institution, for example, a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, list these as separate entries.

Including language skills and other relevant credentials

Depending on the requirements of the role you are applying for, you may also want to include any language skills or other relevant credentials you have. For example, if you are fluent in a language other than English, or you have experience with a specific software program, mention these in your education and certifications section.

This can help to demonstrate your versatility and your ability to bring additional value to the role. However, make sure to only include credentials that are relevant to the position and avoid listing too many unrelated qualifications.

Your education and certifications are an important part of your business development manager resume. By creating a separate section for them and prioritizing relevant qualifications, you can highlight your expertise and commitment to professional development. Including language skills and other relevant credentials can also help to demonstrate your versatility and value as a candidate.

Skills section

A well-written skills section on your resume can make all the difference in securing your dream job as a Business Development Manager. It’s where you showcase your expertise, experience and most importantly, your value proposition. Many hiring managers will skim through this section to see how well you align with their needs. Therefore, it’s essential that you take the time to craft a skills section that stands out.

When organizing your skills, ensure that you list both hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical skills needed to perform the job, while soft skills are more about your work habits and how you interact with others. Examples of hard skills include project management, sales forecasting, market analysis, SEO, and CRM management, while soft skills include effective communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving, and leadership.

Most importantly, prioritize and tailor your skills list to match the job description. Review the job posting and identify the key requirements and responsibilities. This will give you a clear sense of the vital hard and soft skills the company is looking for in a Future Business Development Manager. You can then align your skills list with their needs and emphasize the most relevant skills first.

When listing your skills, avoid generic or overly broad statements such as “excellent communication skills.” Instead, provide specific examples that demonstrate your ability in this area, such as “developed and led sales presentations to clients which resulted in a 20% increase in sales.” By providing relevant and specific skills, you are giving hiring managers a better understanding of your capabilities and how you might fit within their team.

When developing the skills section of your Business Development Manager resume, take the time to prioritize, tailor, and emphasize the right skills based on the job description. Showcasing a strong combination of hard and soft skills will make you more competitive in the job market, so don’t be shy about highlighting your strengths. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of landing your next Business Development Manager role.

Accomplishments and achievements

To make your Business Development Manager resume stand out, you need to demonstrate that you can deliver results. This means highlighting specific achievements that prove your ability to generate revenue, build relationships, and drive growth for the company.

When listing your accomplishments, it’s important to provide measurable results and impact. Quantify your achievements with specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts. This will give hiring managers a clear sense of your performance and the value you can bring to the organization.

Here are some examples of accomplishments you could include in your resume:

• Increased sales revenue by 25% in Q2 2021 through new partnerships and strategic account management, resulting in $1.5M in additional revenue.
• Launched a new product line that generated $500K in sales within the first 3 months of launch, surpassing initial revenue projections by 50%.
• Secured 10 new contracts with Fortune 500 companies, resulting in $2M in annual recurring revenue for the company.
• Improved customer retention rate by 20% within 6 months through the implementation of a customer loyalty program, resulting in $500K in saved revenue.
• Developed and executed a successful marketing campaign that generated 1,000 new leads and 25 new customers, resulting in $250K in new revenue.

In addition to highlighting your achievements, it’s also important to include relevant awards and recognition. This can help demonstrate your expertise and accomplishments, and show that you are well-respected in your industry. Some relevant awards and recognition you could include on your resume might include:

• Salesperson of the Year (awarded by your company)
• Top 100 Salespeople in the industry (awarded by a relevant industry publication or association)
• Outstanding Achievement in Business Development (awarded by a relevant industry organization or association)

By highlighting your specific achievements, providing measurable results and impact, and including relevant awards and recognition, you can help make your Business Development Manager resume stand out from the competition.

LinkedIn and Online Presence

Having a strong online presence is crucial in today’s job market, and LinkedIn is a powerful platform that can help you showcase your skills and experience to potential employers. When it comes to your business development manager resume, your LinkedIn profile can play an important role in capturing the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.

The Importance of a Strong Online Presence

Your online presence is more than just a digital resume. It’s an opportunity to showcase your professional brand and connect with others in your industry. A strong online presence can help you establish credibility and build relationships that can lead to new job opportunities.

One of the most important aspects of your online presence is your personal brand. Your brand reflects who you are and what you stand for professionally. When building your personal brand, it’s important to consider your values, your strengths, and your unique perspective. Your brand should be authentic, concise, and consistent across all of your online platforms.

Including Links to Social Media Profiles

In addition to your LinkedIn profile, you should also include links to your other social media profiles in your business development manager resume. This can give hiring managers and recruiters a more comprehensive view of your professional experience and interests.

When including links to your social media profiles, make sure that they are professional and relevant to your industry. Avoid linking to personal profiles that may not be appropriate for a professional context.

Maximizing the Use of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for job seekers, but it can also be overwhelming if you’re not sure how to use it effectively. Here are some tips for maximizing the use of LinkedIn:

Optimize your profile: Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. Use keywords and phrases that are relevant to your industry to help your profile appear in search results.

Engage with your network: LinkedIn is a social network, so it’s important to engage with your connections. Like and comment on their posts, share relevant articles, and participate in groups to build your network.

Use LinkedIn’s features: LinkedIn offers a variety of features that can help you showcase your skills and experience. For example, you can add multimedia to your profile, ask for recommendations, and publish articles to share your thoughts and expertise.

Follow relevant companies and influencers: Following companies and influencers in your industry can help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and opportunities. It can also help you build connections with people who may be able to help you in your job search.

Your LinkedIn profile is an important part of your business development manager resume. By building a strong online presence and maximizing the use of LinkedIn, you can increase your visibility and attract the attention of potential employers.

Cover Letter

A cover letter is an essential component of your job application package. It provides a platform to demonstrate your enthusiasm and passion for the position you’re applying for. The role of a cover letter is to complement your resume by highlighting your relevant skills, qualifications, and experience.

The objective of a cover letter is to make a great first impression and convince the employer that you’re the right fit for the role. You can achieve this objective by tailoring your cover letter to the specific job description and showcasing why you would be an asset to the organization.

To personalize your cover letter, it’s essential to research the company and the position to understand the responsibilities, requirements, and culture. Use this information to tie your experience and skills to the job description and explain how you can add value to the team.

Another way to personalize your cover letter is to address it to the hiring manager by name instead of using a generic salutation. This will demonstrate that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the company and the job.

Finally, to communicate your passion and interest in the position, it’s crucial to showcase your achievements and experiences that relate to the job. Your cover letter should not only showcase your skills but also demonstrate your passion for the industry and the particular role you’re applying for.

A cover letter is a critical part of your job application package. It should complement your resume and provide an opportunity for you to showcase your enthusiasm and passion for the position. To personalize your cover letter, research the company and the job description, address it to the hiring manager by name, and showcase your achievements and experiences relevant to the role.

Proofreading and Editing

As a business development manager, your resume should be both professional and persuasive. It’s essential to proofread and edit carefully to ensure that it accurately reflects your qualifications and highlights your skills and accomplishments. Here are some best practices for proofreading and editing your resume.

Best Practices for Proofreading and Editing

Take a Break: After completing your first draft, step away from your resume and take a break. A fresh perspective can help you spot errors and inconsistencies.

Proofreading Techniques: When proofreading your document, read your resume aloud, use a spell checker, and focus on the details. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.

Ask for Help: It’s always a good idea to ask a friend, family member or professional to proofread your resume. They might see mistakes or suggest improvements you overlooked.

Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to emphasize your qualifications and experience that align with the job description. This will help you stand out from other applicants and impress hiring managers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Typos and Grammatical Errors: These kinds of mistakes are easy to make, but they can cost you the job. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to help you identify errors and improve your writing.

Irrelevant Information: Keep your resume focused on what matters to the employer. Avoid including information that is irrelevant or outdated.

Lack of Keywords: Hiring managers use keywords to match your resume with their vacancy. Look for keywords in the job description and include them in your resume to increase your chances of being noticed.

Utilizing Online Tools and Resources

Online tools and resources can be invaluable when editing and proofreading your resume. Here are some of our top picks:

Grammarly: Grammarly is a tool that checks and corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also provides suggestions to improve writing style.

Hemingway Editor: The Hemingway Editor helps you simplify your writing and avoid complicated sentences. It highlights sentences that are hard to read and suggests simpler alternatives.

Thesaurus: Ditch the overused words and find synonyms that better explain your achievements or skills.

Proofreading and editing your resume is essential to have a successful job search. Follow these best practices, avoid common mistakes and use online tools and resources to make a powerful first impression with hiring managers.

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13 Business Development Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

When crafting your business development resume, spotlight your track record of increasing revenue. Detail specific strategies and initiatives that led to growth. Showcase your ability to build and maintain relationships. It's crucial to highlight successful partnerships that you've developed with stakeholders.

All resume examples in this guide

Business Development Executive

Director of Business Development

VP Business Development

Senior Business Development Manager

Business Development Intern

Business Development Analyst

Business Development Consultant

Engagement Manager

Planning Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Representative

Resume guide.

Writing a Business Development Resume

Resume Header

Resume Summary

Resume Experience

Resume Skills and Keywords

Education on Resume

Business Development Certifications

Key Takeaways

By Experience

Working in business development means you have an eye for the future and know how to get there. You’ve got the right skills and dedication to make any business better, but how can you communicate that to companies?

Your business development resume needs to show recruiters that you can develop strategic plans and impact success.

Hiring managers want to know how you’ll take their business to the next level.

They’ve got a stack of resumes from qualified candidates, and you have to stand out. Often it’s not about your skills -- it’s about how well you translate them into your resume.

In this business development resume guide, you’ll learn:

• How to write a business development resume that gets shortlisted
• What hiring managers focus on in your business development resume
• How to guide recruiters’ attention to your strongest qualities and achievements
• A resume format that lands business development interviews in 2024

How to write a business development resume that gets interviews

The first step in writing a resume that catches the eye of recruiters is to choose the right format. Professional layout and easy readability pull in recruiters before they’ve even started reading.

Business development resume formats to choose from

There are three resume formats you can choose from:

• Reverse-chronological layout
• Hybrid layout
• Functional Layout

A reverse-chronological resume layout is best suited for your business development resume if you have 1-6 years of experience.

A hybrid and functional layout would be right for senior profiles like business development director or manager so they can put their career highlights on top.

Improve the scannability of your resume by using custom sections , bullet points, and headers. Create a custom resume layout that keeps your resume compact and guides recruiters' attention where you want.

Now that you’ve chosen your format, let’s move on and make a good first impression with your header.

What to include in your business development resume header

The header is a short but important section of your resume.

It contains crucial information recruiters and hiring managers need to follow up with you.

It’s the first thing they see when looking at your resume. There’s no room for error or your resume will end up in the trash immediately.

Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Business development resume header

What’s wrong with this example:

• Includes entire address
• No contact information
• No LinkedIn or portfolio link

What works in this example:

• Shows only city and state for location
• Includes phone number and professional email address
• Includes LinkedIn URL so hiring managers can do further research

While keeping your resume header clean, recruiters get a quick and accurate idea of who you are right away.

Now that you’ve gotten critical basic info out of the way, you can introduce yourself in more detail with an informative summary.

Business development resume summary: how to capture recruiters’ attention

In your career, whether you’re about to start off or have been there a while, your sales numbers do all the talking for you.

Pretty simple!

The best business development candidate closes the most and biggest deals.

Expect the hiring manager to look for numbers of closed deals and big figures in your resume.

Keep this in mind while you introduce yourself with your business development resume summary .

Business development resume summary samples

Every business relies on different growth methods. Some are more important than others. If your target company relies heavily on direct sales growth, your resume should at least mention a similar experience.

Bad example: digital marketing expert for a traditional cold-calling company

Good example: digital marketing expert for a traditional cold-calling company who made cold-calling more effective through automated CRM scripts and multi-channel marketing.

This example is much better. It gives specific examples and real numbers that will stand out to recruiters.

Let’s look at another one.

This example uses broad terms like “solid sales experience” that don’t really mean anything. Recruiters won’t know how to interpret your examples unless you get specific.

This candidate also describes responsibilities like “attending client meetings” with no explanation of success or impact.

Hiring managers already know the job description. They want to see what you achieved.

Look at the difference between these two examples.

A good summary presents a clear picture of how you spend your day at work and what results you achieve while doing so.

That makes the above summary 100% complete.

And it says you're their best candidate.

There, you’ve created a positive first impression. Kudos!

Let’s now move on to your resume experience section.

Business development resume experience: turning your work history into a magnet for recruiters

As you write your experience section, be selective about what accomplishments you choose to include.

Always tailor your work experience to your target job.

Note that the hiring manager will look for certain key factors in your resume:

• Sales figures and number of closed deals
• Whether you represent your company to the clients on your own
• Make cold calls and write emails and reach out to clients on daily-basis
• You have client servicing experience
• You make sales collaterals and give presentations
• You have industry-relevant experience or education

In your resume experience section, you want to write crisp sentences - short and meaningful.

How you write your resume experience will make a big difference.

It’s like when you pitch your prospective client a solution, you don’t want to list all the features.

You know it doesn’t work.

It works when your message is short and paints a picture of how useful your solution could be to your client’s business.

Similarly, you will show the hiring manager which of your hard skills can prove to be fruitful for their team and business if they hire you.

Take a look at these 4 business development resume experience section examples.

The bad example may not sound bad unless you read the good ones.

That’s the impact your business development resume should have on hiring managers.

Business development resume samples - experience section

• • Run end-to-end sales cycle
• • Cold-calling, emailing, in-person meeting, pitching services and negotiating deals
• • Consulting clients and resolving product and service queries
• • Client servicing for existing client
• • Generating new leads and researching prospects
• • Presenting products and new features to prospects and existing clients

This candidate makes the mistake of listing general roles and responsibilities.

Remember to focus on what you achieved, not just what duties you carried out.

• • Devised and implemented sales initiative A-Deal-A-Day which is now a part of sales culture at Home@bay Inc. that raised deal closure by 30%.
• • Identified and developed new business opportunities - expanded from selling locally to internationally, bringing in 10 new clients on an average every month.
• • Qualify leads as sales opportunities and pursue for closure.
• • Developed sales collaterals, case studies, and selling guide to migrate from SME to Enterprise selling.
• • Expertise in expanding sales area, unlocked 15 new zones in Canada, USA, and Europe
• • Present company to potential clients - run sales cycle from researching prospects to cold calling, in-person meeting, pitching, consulting, negotiating, and closing deals

This is a big improvement. It gives specific examples of achievements and uses industry-specific keywords.

Let’s look at a few more that follow the same advice.

2 business development resume experience samples

• • Made huge sales all-year-around
• • Created plans and strategies for the sales team to achieve their yearly targets
• • Prepare sales collaterals and share with the team
• • Strengthen relationships with existing clients and pitching new products
• • Attend trade shows and all company functions
• • Plan and execute marketing campaign with Marketing Head
• • Cracked a $1million single sale within 3 months of first approach
• • Devised case studies for sales team with pitch plans and approach strategies
• • Explored and unleashed 3 new sales channels which has together generated $750k sales every month
• • Plan and execute campaigns to achieve yearly sales target. Consistently achieved targets in excess of $500,000 during past 4 years
• • Prospecting potential new clients- added 62 new clients in 48 months while training SDR on the job

Mentioning numbers in your resume is important, but some numbers make much more impact than others. Focus on business growth results and avoid routine.

Bad example: created 10 real-time business dashboards with relevant metrics

Good example: increased quarterly sales by 23% after implementing real-time user segmentation dashboards in every marketing department

See for yourself how nicely the good examples show a picture of what the candidate is worth.

It helps your hiring manager set clear expectations of you on the job.

While the bad examples describe similar job roles, they fail to create an impact.

The hiring manager has no way to understand if the applicant achieves results while carrying out their job.

This good example experience above is totally sellable.

Imagine the hiring manager’s confidence when they see you have a track record of making million-dollar sales.

That’s what they are looking for.

The sales figures that you’ve mentioned will be your advocate and your hiring manager will find it easy to remember and share this exciting information with the business team.

You’ve created your impact!

Another way to highlight your skills and qualifications is with an expert cover letter .

Not all job applications will require one, but they are a great opportunity to expand on achievements that don’t fit in your experience section.

Your cover letter is also a tool to demonstrate your linguistic articulation and communication.

Business development resume skills and keywords: what to mention

Your skills section is where you can showcase industry-specific skills. It also puts important keywords on your resume so it doesn’t get filtered out by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) .

Add these job-relevant skills if you have them. Your aim should be to map your most powerful skills to those given in the job description.

22 business development resume skills and keywords

• New/ Global Market Penetration

Business development education section: where to put it?

Educational requirements vary by industry, so there may not be a particular degree that is required for the job you want.

If you are an experienced industry professional, including the degree, school, and dates attended is sufficient. Hiring managers will likely be more interested in your work history than your educational background.

Business development resume - education section example

Don’t include your GPA on your business development resume.

The only time a GPA may be helpful is if you are a recent graduate applying for an entry-level position. Even then, only include it if it is truly exceptional.

Depending on your educational background and industry, you may also want to consider adding a certification section.

Are certifications necessary for a business development resume?

Great question!

There aren’t a lot of certifications for salespeople, but you may use what’s most probable to add value to your skills.

They are a good opportunity to highlight skills in a specialization if the job you’re applying for is in a niche industry.

Remember, if you’re a great salesperson, you may not need certifications. But, adding certifications to your resume shows that you invest time in honing your creative sales skills.

Here are some you that you could add:

• Challenger Sales Certification
• Spin Selling Certification
• Sandler Training Certifications

Key takeaways for writing a great business development resume

Business development resume examples.

Explore additional business development resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

• Showcase strong domain knowledge. Senior business development managers are nurtured within a company as it’s the sole way to ensure that the candidate knows their environment to the letter. When there’s a need to hire a senior from the outside, companies will favor candidates with deep relevant domain knowledge, e.g. e-commerce, retail, digital, etc. Frame your experience section to put relevant experience forward.

A job description contains all the info you need. Tailor your resume to the job and increase your chances of landing an interview.

• An internship experience is work experience. Don’t be intimidated by your lack of workplace experience. If you’re a recent graduate and have internship experience in the industry, recruiters will want to see what you accomplished.
• Choose an appropriate layout. The right layout for your resume will depend on things like industry, experience, and level. This candidate uses a single-column reverse-chronological layout. This is a good choice for someone with limited experience who needs to be mindful of leaving blank spaces.

• Break down your strengths . This candidate adds soft skills to their resume as “strengths” and offers a brief example beside each one. Soft skills can be interpreted in different ways. Don’t leave anything to the imagination and provide recruiters with specific examples.
• Highlight volunteer experience. Your best industry experience may not have come from a paid job. If you have specialized experience that makes you uniquely qualified for your target job, don’t leave it out just because it doesn’t fit into the right category.

Adding extra sections to highlight special projects, volunteer work, and even hobbies can improve your chances of getting hired.

• Showcase strategic development skills. The key difference between a business manager and entry-level business development roles is that entry-level jobs are all about execution, whereas business development managers combine both execution and a strategic effort. Showcase that you can operate and achieve results on a scale to gain an advantage over other candidates.
• Experience working for regional and global companies. Modern business is global and connected. Any business that wants to grow needs to explore strategic global partnerships. Your business development manager resume should highlight either experience or skills relevant to these tasks.

• Showcase smooth execution of business tasks. Even sales-related achievements are valuable when it comes to business development representatives, as your tasks will revolve around attaining specific growth metrics. Highlight your results and ability to achieve and surpass business KPIs (sales, quotas, market share) in your business development representative resume to attract the recruiter’s attention.
• Get an internship at well-known companies in your target domain. Even a couple of months’ internship at an industry leader or niche-leading company will dramatically increase your chances of getting hired by every company within the target domain.

Looking to build your own Business Development resume?

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• Business Development Manager Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Business Development Manager Resumes:

• Identify new business opportunities by researching industry and market trends.
• Develop and maintain relationships with potential clients, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Create and present business proposals to prospective clients and negotiate contract terms.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop strategies for targeting potential markets.
• Attend conferences, meetings, and industry events to network and promote the company.
• Work closely with the product development team to ensure offerings meet customer needs.
• Prepare sales forecasts and track business development metrics to measure success.
• Coordinate with the finance department to develop pricing strategies and perform cost-benefit analysis.
• Manage the business development team, providing training and support to achieve goals.
• Provide feedback and insights to the company's leadership regarding market feedback and competitive intelligence.
• Ensure adherence to legal guidelines and company policies during business negotiations.
• Drive the end-to-end sales cycle, from initial contact to closing deals and post-sale relationship management.

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

Business Development Manager Resume Example:

• Orchestrated the expansion into three new international markets, resulting in a 40% growth in market share and a 25% increase in annual revenue within the first year of entry.
• Negotiated and secured a landmark contract with a Fortune 500 company, which led to a sustained 30% increase in quarterly sales and solidified the company's position in the industry.
• Led a targeted inbound marketing strategy that boosted lead generation by 150%, significantly shortening the sales cycle and increasing the conversion rate by 20%.
• Developed and implemented a strategic partnership program, fostering relationships with key industry players that resulted in a 35% increase in referral business and enhanced brand reputation.
• Spearheaded the adoption of a CRM system that improved sales forecasting accuracy by 50% and enabled the tracking of key performance metrics, optimizing the sales process.
• Launched a comprehensive training program for the sales team that improved product knowledge and sales techniques, leading to a 15% increase in average deal size and a 10% rise in customer retention rates.
• Drove the company's pivot to a consultative sales approach, which contributed to a 50% increase in customer lifetime value and positioned the company as a thought leader in the industry.
• Initiated and led a cross-departmental initiative to streamline product development feedback, resulting in a 20% faster time-to-market for new products and services.
• Implemented a data-driven decision-making culture by integrating market analytics into business strategies, which led to a 25% improvement in targeting accuracy and resource allocation.
• Market Expansion Strategies
• Contract Negotiation
• Inbound Marketing
• Lead Generation
• Sales Conversion Optimization
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Sales Forecasting
• Sales Training and Development
• Consultative Sales Techniques
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Product Development Feedback Integration
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Market Analytics
• Resource Allocation
• International Business Acumen
• Brand Positioning
• Customer Retention Strategies
• Thought Leadership
• Business Strategy Planning

Top Skills & Keywords for Business Development Manager Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Market Research and Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Financial Analysis
• Relationship Building
• CRM Software
• Competitive Analysis
• Presentation Skills
• Project Management

Soft Skills

• Leadership and Team Management
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Collaboration and Cross-Functional Coordination
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Prioritization
• Empathy and Customer-Centric Mindset
• Decision Making and Strategic Planning
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Creativity and Innovation
• Active Listening and Feedback Incorporation
• Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Building

Resume Action Verbs for Business Development Managers:

• Collaborated
• Implemented
• Established
• Strategized
• Strengthened
• Facilitated

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Resume FAQs for Business Development Managers:

How long should i make my business development manager resume, what is the best way to format a business development manager resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a business development manager resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a business development manager, compare your business development manager resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Business Development Manager job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for Business Development Managers:

Account executive, sales development manager, regional sales manager, corporate sales manager, national sales manager, strategic account manager, sales account manager, territory sales manager.

Business Development Manager Resume Example

Impress hiring managers by showcasing your experience and skills as a business development manager. We've got a guide that will help you take your resume to the next level.

Our resumes have been proven to work.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

We live in a world where we have the possibility to dream, and dream big, even making our dreams a reality. Some people dream of starting a business, whether it's a restaurant, a clothing brand, or anything else. Here is where business development managers come in. Business development managers are tasked with planning, coordinating, and directing skill-enhancement and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. They are responsible for helping businesses and companies grow by finding new opportunities for them through leads and potential clients. Now, to become a business development manager, you do need the following:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree
• 5 years or more of work experience in a related field

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook , business development manager positions are at a 7% growth rate , which is faster than average. With that said, there are currently 42,300 jobs in the market right now. If you're looking to grow yourself as a business development manager, one thing that is important is to have a business development manager resume and keep it updated, even if you're already working with your dream company. Luckily for you, we're here to help you grow your resume and allow it to really showcase what you've got. In this article, we are going to go over the following 7 steps that will help take your resume to the next level:

• How to format your resume
• How to write a resume summary
• How to describe your work experience
• How to list your key skills
• How to add your certifications
• How to add your education
• How to add your known languages

1. Format your resume like a professional

There's a lot of competition in the business world, and when it comes to applying to jobs and actually getting hired, there's just as much. To truly impress hiring managers, it is crucial to correctly format your resume. Be sure to include the following sections in your resume:

• Resume summary
• Contact information
• Work experience
• Certifications

Tip: If you're part of an organization relevant to the field or have any relevant hobbies , if you've got the space, feel free to create sections for them in your resume.

There are three ways to choose from to correctly format your resume:

• Reverse-chronological , which emphasizes your previous work experience
• Functional , which highlights your key skills
• Hybrid , which combines the previous formats

As a business development manager , you want to use the reverse-chronological format to highlight the work you've done. Given hiring managers are looking for someone with at least 5 years or more experience in business development, they want someone who knows the ropes and will help the business to grow and succeed. If you're applying to your first business development manager position and have more skills to offer than actual experience, considering selecting the functional format . If you've got both the skills and the experience and really want to impress hiring executives, then go with the hybrid format .

Tip: Since the field is growing, hiring managers may be receiving tons of resumes and applications for the job. Look over the job listing and implement some details and keywords listed to your resume to ensure it at least gets looked over.

Take a look at our guide on how to format your resume if you want to learn more.

2. Write an impressive resume summary

We live in a busy world, and businesses are busy, too. Oftentimes, resumes are only looked at for only 6-7 seconds . Therefore, you can make your resume stand out to hiring managers by including a resume summary at the top of your resume. A resume summary is a 1-2 sentence blurb that summarizes the important stuff on your resume. Including a resume summary shows hiring managers that you don't want to waste their time. It also makes your resume look more professional , which can help you land the job. Here are some things to include in your resume summary:

• Years of experience
• Kind of experience
• Achievements
• Personal characteristics

Tip: Sometimes, it's easier to write your resume summary after you have already written your resume. That way, you can pick and choose what you want to include.

Here's an example of what your resume summary can look like as an executive: Self-motivated and success-driven business development manager with 5+ years of experience helping the development of startups, new and growing alike. Skilled in negotiating $3.5 million contracts and increasing company sales and recognition by 25%. Here's what your resume summary should not look like: Business development manager with experience helping startups grow. The difference is pretty noticeable. Need more help writing a professional resume summary? Our guide on writing resume summaries has tons of examples.

3. Describe your professional work experience

To become a business development manager, you need at least 5 years of experience working with businesses or around the field. This could be on an assistant level or through training. With that said, it's time to go over what you should be putting in the work experience section of your resume. When listing your work experience, it is important to go in reverse-chronological order. This shows hiring executives your most recent job experience and what you learned or mastered in that job.

Tip: When listing your work experience, it's also important to highlight the specifics you did on the job and use good verbs .

Here are some job descriptions examples you can include in your resume as a business development manager :

• Identified and influenced product and sales opportunities that support the business’s strategic priorities.
• Evaluated benefits and worked with all cross-functional areas of the company to execute on the relationships
• Created partnership strategy from beginning to launch to deliver impact
• Nurtured senior-level relationships with strategic partners across multiple levels (C-Level, Product, Marketing, Sales)
• Identified and created a blueprint for partnerships that can scale and replicate on a global basis
• Developed short and long term plans for the region working in conjunction with Product / Engineering leadership
• Analyzed and drew clear insights and actions from large data sets
• Recruited, lead, and developed a team of SDRs & BDRs, applying best practices to produce maximum results
• Assisted the Head of SMB & SDR in determining the process, playbooks, career paths, and appropriate measurements for SDRs & BDRs
• Developed a highly scalable yet personal outbound outreach strategy
• Worked with Sales Managers and Executives toward common goals of pipeline generation
• Utilized quantitative methods to measure, manage, and optimize efforts and allocation of resources
• Identified and made recommendations for improvement in the areas of process, efficiency, and productivity
• Maintained focus and commitment on assigned targets
• Helped build a fun, high energy environment where people love coming to work

Want more tips and tricks on how to write your work experience description? Check out our guide on describing your work experience .

4. List your key skills

As a business development manager, it is crucial for you to have certain interpersonal skills :

• Communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Leadership skills
• Management skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Time-management skills

On top of that, there are other key skills you can include on your resume that will show hiring managers you're qualified for the position.

Here are some examples of hard skills as a business development manager :

• D2C E-Commerce Solution
• Omnichannel Processes
• Customer Acquisition
• Social Media Branding
• Rapport Building

Tip: You can also include languages as key skills if you don't have the space to make them their own section or simply don't want to.

Having trouble identifying your skills? We have a guide with 100+ key skills you can include in your resume.

5. Add executive certifications to your resume

While certifications are not a requirement to land a business development manager position within a company, they can definitely help. Oftentimes, you can get business certifications directly through your university , but if this is not an option, there are online programs you can complete as well. Here are some certifications that you can get and include in your resume:

• Google eCommerce Analytics
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Women in Leadership

If you're looking for more certifications to include in your resume or want to know how to correctly list them , check out our guide.

6. Add your education to your resume

As we mentioned earlier, you need a minimum of a Bachelor's degree to land a business development manager position. Even then, an MBA will make you look even more attractive to hiring managers. To assure you have a chance at getting hired, it is crucial to add your education to your resume. With that said, here is how you should be listing your education in your resume: New York University

New York, NY

2015 — 2017

MBA in Business Management

Tip: If you're low on resume space and got your MBA at the same university you got your Bachelor's degree in, just list your MBA and make sure to add up the years it took you to get both degrees.

Need more helping listing your education? Don't know if to include your GPA? We have a guide that will help you list your education in 2021 with examples and tips .

6. Add your known languages to your resume

Business development managers work with nearly any industry and type of company. This means, more likely than not, you are going to run into foreign businesses and/or workers. Therefore, if space allows, it is important to list languages in your resume in their own section.

Tip: If you don't have the space to highlight your known languages on their own, as we mentioned earlier, be sure to add them to your key skills.

Knowing more than one language helps to improve your verbal communication and makes you more precise and logical in your problem-solving. Not to mention, it also makes you a more attractive candidate. Here are some languages you can include on your resume if you know them:

Tip: Next to the languages you know on your resume, add if you're fluent, intermediate or a beginner in the language to show hiring managers just how well you know the specific language.

Need more help writing the perfect resume ? We have a guide that can help you do just that.

Key Takeaways

As a business development manager, your job is to help companies and businesses grow. As resume builders and experts, it is our job to help you grow by creating and building a resume that will land you any job with any company. We know we've covered a lot, so here's a summary of everything we've covered:

Good luck out there in the business world!

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Business Development Manager Resume Samples

Business Development Manager is a highpriced asset to the company as they are involved in building and generating new sales to the company. The job role of these managers are to identify sales leads , pitch goods and services to new clients and fulfil all other roles and responsibilities such as –following up new business opportunities , setting meetings, planning business strategy, executing presentations, communicating to existing customers about new product development , overseeing business development, writing reports, and providing necessary feedback to the management.

The candidates applying for this post should have bursting self-confidence, enjoy public speaking and presentations and love networking. It would be an additional asset if the Business Development Manager Resume mentions skills like – good business sense, a thorough understanding of marketing and business management principles and negotiation skills. Employers look for candidates with an education level to the least of GCSE, along with some marketing and sales experience.

• Resume Samples
• Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager Resume

Headline : To continue my career in the environmental services industry, combining my environmental and business acumen, to be able to provide clients with reasonable, business-smart solutions to their environmental issues.

Skills : Microsoft Office, Project Management, IT Management, Facilities Management, Data Entry, Sales, Customer Service

Description :

• Find potential new customers, present to them and ultimately convert them into clients.
• Continue to grow business in the future by means of implementing tactics in line with company image.
• Manage existing clients and ensure they stay satisfied, positive and remain in good standing while promoting growth in sales.
• Call on clients, make presentations on solutions and services that meet or predict their client's future needs.
• Plan persuasive approaches and pitches that will convince potential clients to do business with the company.
• Develop a rapport with new clients, and set targets for the sales team while providing support that will continually improve the relationship.
• Grow and retain existing accounts by presenting new solutions and services to clients.

Sales And Business Development Manager Resume

Objective : Business Development Manager is responsible for the establishment of new business relationships that will lead to revenue generation. This includes identifying potential partners, cultivating existing relationships, marketing, and managing the sales process to close deals.

Skills : Business Development, Business Analysis, IOS, Salesforce, Sales, Business Operations, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Management, Management, Customer Service.

• Meeting potential clients by growing, maintaining, and leveraging network to ensure a robust pipeline of opportunities.
• Identify potential clients, and the decision makers within the client organization.
• Work with team to develop proposals that speak to the client's needs, concerns, and objectives.
• Handling objections by clarifying, emphasizing agreements and working through differences to a positive conclusion.
• Work with technical staff and other internal colleagues to meet customer needs.
• Identifying opportunities for campaigns, services, and distribution channels that will lead to an increase in sales.
• Ensure that data is accurately entered and managed within the company's sales management system.
• Train, mentor, and shadow sales team members, including appointment setting, outbound cold calling, prospecting and negotiating sales contracts with new and existing accounts.
• Managed all vendor relationships, lead pipeline and direct marketing sales campaigns.

Business Development Manager II Resume

Summary : To attain a Sales Management position using expertise in Window Treatment Sales/Marketing Management, increasing sales and creating effective programs that contribute to higher organizational profits and market share.

Skills : Graphic Design, Social Media Management, Microsoft PowerPoint, Business Correspondence, Microsoft Excel, Training/Education, Recruitment/Retention, Office Management, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher

• Maintain membership records through the database; updates member records; compiles and prepares reports and presentations including research as needed.
• Assist in the development and enhancement of member benefits, while monitoring and managing current member services develop, implement, and manage strategic member recruitment and retention plan.
• Develop and manage a membership engagement program that increases member participation in the association.
• Assist with a web site, including back-end registration, membership and events portions.
• Manage all administrative elements of the membership database, processes membership applications (online and print).
• Ability to think outside the box, meet tight deadlines, and be flexible.
• Work closely with recruiters to ensure account maintenance and maximum revenue development.
• Responsible for new account acquisition, profitability targets, relationship management, cross functional collaboration and promotional activations.
• Exceeded goals by a minimum of 10% each quarter, outpacing the division each period through customer relationship and targeted sales focuses.

Sr. Business Development Manager Resume

Objective : Experienced project manager, team leader, business manager and strategist. High level business valuation, analytical and project management skills. Track record of resolving complex problems and implementing large projects. Board chair of national not for profit organization.

Skills : Word, Powerpoint, Visio, Excel, Outlook, Microsoft Office Suite, Data Analysis, Research, Renewable Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, Strategy, Energy Efficiency, USGBC, LEED, BREEAM, Creative, Problem Solving, Quick Learner

• Designed, managed, implemented business development efforts, request for proposal, contract negotiation, recruiting and sourcing contracts, and staff augmentation services to various utilities such as southern company, luminant corporation, and constellation energy.
• Documenting and tracking all opportunities in salesforce.com leveraging the dashboard tools, chatter, opportunities, account planning activities, action items, etc.
• Partnering with a 50+ account management team to build out account plans specific to global services.
• Developed and executed marketing and business development strategies to increase new customer base and existing client retention.
• Increasing net-new revenues by 25% calculated interest rates, margins, debt ratios and yield spread premiums.
• Developed long-term strategic business plans for each franchisee and potential developing markets.
• Continually grew territory while consistently exceeding quotas and bonus levels.
• Responsible for all aspects of the development, concept, and copy for the company website and all company literature.

Project Coordinator & Business Development Manager Resume

Summary : Highly Accomplished business professional with diverse experience poised to transition solid background in Business and Administrative assistance and client services. Offer outstanding team leadership, communication skills, behavioral management and conflict resolution skills.

Skills : Microsoft Office, Network Administration, Visio, Acronis, Symantec, Malwarebytes, Unitrends

• Research and expand the suite of services, focused on technology and customer experience improvement.
• Research hardware and software technologies for disaster recovery enhancement projects to include virtualization, secure storage solutions, and encryption.
• Manage vendors for infrastructure installations of mobile bank units including delivery, construction, water, sewage, electrical, and communications.
• Manage to make or buy decisions regarding a fleet of mobile banking equipment; optimizing delivery methods and leasing from partners and vendors.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound logistics, conducting an inventory of equipment, diagnostic testing of hardware, maintenance of mobile bank fleet and satellites.
• Develop in-house services, network servers, and enhancements to office infrastructure.
• Identified the opportunity for selling encrypted storage devices for transporting network virtual images, reducing the time for encryption processes by 100% and increasing annual sales revenue.
• Developed new accounts and increased business at existing accounts, focusing on high profile organizations.

Regional Business Development Manager Resume

Headline : Business Development Manager is responsible for generating relationships and revenue opportunities within the global market. This includes developing and executing on strategies that will grow the business and generate revenue. 

Skills : Sales Force, Microsoft Office, Pipeline Managment, Powerpoint, Vmware, Disaster Recovery

• Work directly with marketing to discover opportunities from leads, and set appointments from those leads.
• Use of strong selling and influencing skills to set up qualified appointments.
• Consistent use of sales approach and techniques based on product or service solutions.
• Working closely with account executives and attending customer meetings as required.
• Attend sales meetings, vendor training, local trade shows to keep current with technology.
• Understanding of workflow systems and their application to customer business process improvement.
• Key decision maker in developing the company's strategic business plan and annual sales projections.
• Generated new sales and maintained existing sales accounts through skilled large account management.
• Developed and implemented focused sales and marketing program of accounts.

Associate Business Development Manager Resume

Objective : Self-motivated, highly personable, results oriented leader with over six years experience changing peoples lives. Out of the box thinker with compelling and ambitious goals, collaborative team leader who seeks to help and inspire others.

Skills : Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, Graphic Design, Fundraising, Event Planning, Customer Service, Waitress, Event Management, Event Marketing, Public Relations, Community Outreach

• Develop business plans and sales strategy for the market that ensures attainment of company sales goals and profitability.
• Development and implementation of marketing plans, market research and developing the core positioning and messaging for the product.
• Developing & managing relationship with principal product partners and manufacturers.
• Prepare proposal and ensure completion of all customer & internal agreements & processes.
• Participate in various regional trade shows to promote the products and establish customer relations in the region.
• Develop and continue to maintain relationships with current and potential clients.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date spreadsheets on forecasted client staffing budget spend.
• Business development manager reviewed movie pitches and private entertainment endeavors, and identified potential investment and business opportunities.

Headline : A highly capable and motivated individual with a proven track record in Business to Business Sales and Project Management: a frequent recipient of Sales Excellence recognition with a focus on detail and customer satisfaction.To obtain a challenging position that will allow me to utilize my skills in Client Relationships, Management, and Sales.

Skills : Microsoft Office, Human Resources, Trainer, Sales, Marketing, B2B, Account Management

• Keep communication open to internet sales managers and general sales managers to help aid in sales leads.
• Filing, documenting conversations with customers, or logging a phone call to a customer.
• Following up with customers who previously bought from the dealership with my team to keep customers coming back to our dealership.
• Partnering with technical solutions team to create an all-encompassing proposal for potential opportunities.
• Developed and initiated a partnership program to expand reach into new markets.
• Prepare and appropriately document sales reports for all weekly sales activity, market and competitor information, business and market trends.
• Managed commercial properties, negotiated and drafted leases, collected rent, and coordinated maintenance and repairs.
• Conducted detailed market analysis studies to work with three large customers to identify additional markets to expand the usiness.

Headline : Accomplished business professional with over 5 years of business management experience. Areas of expertise include, project management, and customer relationship management Exceptional communication and interpersonal skill leading to building extraordinary and lasting business relationships with clients.

Skills : Medical Records, Inventory Management, Office Management, Microsoft Office, Customer Service

• Worked cross-functionally with senior management, sales, marketing, and product management to generate marketing campaigns, speaking opportunities, and sales leads.
• Adjusted partnerships to align with overall company goals through an annual state of the union meetings with partners.
• Presented across the country at conferences, in office conference rooms, and one-on-one over lunch or on the phone.
• Promoted four diverse software and web-based products across three industries: banking, insurance and investor relations.
• Identified key markets in big data, advertising, e-commerce, cms platforms, and CDN solutions lead clients through the entire sales process from the initial inquiry, pricing proposals, business term negotiations, and close.
• Directly managed the day-to-day tactical and long-term strategic activities within the business.

Summary : Hands-on sales and business development professional, effective client relationship manager. Strong focus on consultative sales approach to understanding and solving customer needs. Successfully directed multimillion dollars in sales of professional services, as well as communications and leadership development products for individual and organizational development. Strong belief in team success based on an environment that fosters respect and team accountability.

Skills : Management, Leadership Training, Product Management, Business Development

• Working with excel to track all revenue potential, revenue delivered, and other forecasting activities.
• Effectively utilize cosmos to develop bids and proposals, strategize with inside staff and analyze sales activities for the week.
• Develop partnership relationships between a and b opportunities, building profiles of organizational structure and key contacts.
• Solicit opportunities to speak before professional organizations and business groups.
• Develop and maintain processes with the insurance department to ensure the quality length of stay and maximize revenue.
• Conduct presentations with judges, attorneys, probation and parole departments, department of human services, shelters, hospitals and other drug treatment facilities with clients.
• Develop and maintain efforts coordinated with the director of business development and marketing.

Table of Contents

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Business development manager linkedin summary examples.

Approved by LinkedIn experts and recruiters, these Business Development Manager LinkedIn summary examples will increase your profile's engagement and ensure you give people a strong first impression. Optimized for 2024's LinkedIn algorithms.

Table of contents

• Business Development Manager
• Entry-Level Business Development Associate
• Senior Business Development Executive

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Business Development Manager LinkedIn Summary Example

Passion as a motivator

Your LinkedIn summary is your chance to tell your story, not just list your skills. Remember that passion is infectious. In this case, the phrase "Turning a simple conversation into a business opportunity has always fueled my passion" is just the kind of opener that grabs recruiters' attention, emotionally invests them in your narrative, and sets the tone for the rest of your summary.

Concrete Achievements

When discussing past roles, LinkedIn users often list their job responsibilities. However, including concrete achievements, as in "spearheaded the entrance into three new markets, leading to a sales increase of 35% over two years," elevates your summary. It demonstrates your effectiveness, and allows potential connections to envision how you might add similar value to their own organizations.

Personalizing professional experiences

Comparing your professional approach to your hobbies or past experiences helps to create a powerful personal-professional connection. In this example, "I bring the same spirit to the workplace; collaboration and strategy have been my key drivers in the business development field," the author draws a parallel between his football coaching experience and his professional approach, which makes him more relatable and memorable.

Direct impact on company's bottom line

Pointing out how your work impacts the company's bottom line, like "I managed strategic partnerships that led to a 15% increase in annual revenue", is a smart move. It highlights your value and contribution to the organization's success. This could pique the interest of recruiters or potential partners who are looking for someone who can deliver tangible results.

Clear Call-to-action

Ending your summary with a clear call-to-action, like "If you need someone to explore new markets, forge strategic partnerships, or give your sales a boost, feel free to get in touch," encourages potential connections to engage with you. It makes it clear what you can do for them, making them more likely to reach out.

Entry-Level Business Development Associate LinkedIn Summary Example

Express genuine interest

Expressing authentic interest in your field, like this person has done in the opening line, creates a positive impression. It shows that you're driven by a real passion and not just chasing a paycheck. Recruiters on LinkedIn appreciate candidates who are genuinely interested in their field, as this often translates to more motivation and dedication on the job.

Highlight other relevant skills

This person cleverly weaves in their relevant extracurricular activities (blogging about market trends) to demonstrate additional skills (communicating complex business concepts). This gives recruiters more reasons to consider them. It also shows a proactive attitude towards learning and improving, which is highly valued in the fast-paced business development field.

Showcase your contributions

Don't be shy about sharing your successes. This person has given a specific example of how they made a significant contribution during their time at Future Tech Ltd. It shows potential employers that they're capable of making an impact. Additionally, it gives a glimpse into their expertise in launching new products and their understanding of market dynamics.

Make a clear call to action

Ending your summary with a clear call to action, like this person has done, is a great way to prompt potential employers or connections to reach out to you. It also helps to specify the kind of role or opportunity you're interested in. This makes it easier for relevant opportunities to find their way to you. LinkedIn's algorithm also favors profiles that are clear about what they're looking for, increasing your profile's visibility in search.

Senior Business Development Executive LinkedIn Summary Example

Channel enthusiasm for problem-solving

LinkedIn users appreciate when their connections show a passion for their work. This is often demonstrated through the enthusiasm in your summary. By stating that solving problems and creating opportunities is what wakes you up every morning, you're expressing a deep dedication and excitement towards your role as a Senior Business Development Executive.

Showcase significant achievements

LinkedIn users aren't just interested in what you've done, but also the impact you've made. By highlighting your successful product launch at Next Level Tech which contributed to a significant increase in annual revenue, you're effectively showing that you're not just a doer but also a generator of results.

Express a commitment to community

LinkedIn is a platform for professionals, but it's also a community. Your commitment to mentoring young entrepreneurs shows that you don't just care about your own success. You're invested in the growth of others as well. This is a valuable trait that can make you more attractive to potential employers or partners.

Emphasize leadership and results

Being a leader doesn't just mean being in charge; it means generating results. By stating the significant revenue you managed to bring in while leading a team at Growth Factor Ltd., you're showcasing your capacity to lead effectively and achieve substantial outcomes.

Include a call to action

LinkedIn is more than just a resume - it's an interactive platform. Including a call to action like an invitation to connect for opportunities or collaborations can encourage interactions and increase your chances of forming valuable professional relationships.

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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.