Business Development Resume Example
A career as a business developer typically involves identifying new opportunities and building client relationships. For a successful business developer application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your business developer applications.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your business developer applications. You'll find valuable tips on writing a resume that best showcases your unique skills and achievements. There is also extensive guidance on how to structure your resume to match the job description, and to reflect your experience levels to impress HR specialists and employers. Continue reading to find the best business development resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Key sections for a business development resume
The key sections to include in a business development resume are similar to those for any role or profession.
For junior and entry-level business developer positions, you may be short on work experience to include in your resume. Select a resume layout that emphasizes your skills and qualifications, such as a functional format. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
For those with some prior experience as a business developer work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. Your resume should focus on your career achievements, and the role you've played in successful projects and activities for your employers. Consult the job description for guidance on what to showcase, and provide evidence to support your claims.
For senior business developer roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Header and Personal Information
A business development resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
James Watson
james.watson@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/james–watson123
Resume Profile
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a business developer.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as a business developer, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. See below for some great examples of how to approach your business development resume.
Dynamic and results-driven Business Developer with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Business Development Manager. Proven track record in identifying growth opportunities, forging strategic partnerships, and driving revenue growth. Skilled in market analysis, sales strategy, and client relationship management. Adept at leading cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives and deliver exceptional results
Business professional with a degree in business and some experience in developing business strategies. Have found ways to grow and worked with others to increase revenue. Can look at markets, plan sales, and manage relationships with clients. Have led teams to meet goals and get good results
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your business development resume summary
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a business developer. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a business development resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Business Development Manager, January 2022 - Present
Innoventis Solutions, Buffalo
- Increased annual revenue by 35% through strategic partnerships and new client acquisitions within the first year
- Successfully expanded market presence into three new regions, contributing to a 50% growth in market share
- Led a cross-functional team to secure a $2M contract with a major industry player, driving long-term business growth
Business Development Manager, January 2022 - Present
Innoventis Solutions, Buffalo
- Enhanced company performance by implementing effective strategies and fostering key relationships
- Contributed to business growth through innovative solutions and market expansion efforts
- Played a crucial role in achieving company objectives by leading diverse teams and projects
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as a business developer.
Opportunities as a business developer and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your data-driven decision-making or market research analysis.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), 2017 - 2020
Rice University, Houston, TX
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for business developer roles. Whether your skills include CRM software proficiency, strategic thinking or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for business developer positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
How to include hard skills on your business development resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a business developer. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a business development resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a business development resume, see below.
- Market research analysis
- CRM software proficiency
- Sales strategy development
How to list soft skills on your business development resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to business developer roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a business development resume.
- Communication and negotiation
- Relationship building
- Strategic thinking
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a business developer. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and proessional certifications required for business developer roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a business development resume:
- PMP Certification, 2022
- ScrumMaster Certification, 2022
- Lean Six Sigma, 2022
Optional Sections
As well as the main sections of a business development resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Volunteer Experience
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for business developer roles. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
References aren't a standard business development resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best action words for your business development resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Analyze
- Strategize
- Negotiate
- Collaborate
- Innovate
- Implement
- Optimize
- Forecast
- Communicate
- Drive
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of a business development resume
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your business development resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
•
james.watson@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/james–watson123
Dynamic and results-driven Business Development Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and extensive experience in identifying growth opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and driving revenue. Proven track record in market research, sales strategy development, and client relationship management. Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously to achieve organizational goals.
Business Development Manager
2020
-2022
Synergy Solutions Inc (El Paso)
- Increased annual revenue by 35% through strategic partnerships and market expansion initiatives
- Successfully led cross-functional teams to secure 15 high-value contracts, totaling $5 million in new business
- Implemented a CRM system that improved lead conversion rate by 50% and streamlined sales processes
Market research analysis
CRM software proficiency
Sales strategy development
Communication and negotiation
Relationship building
Strategic thinking
PMP Certification
ScrumMaster Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Best practices for a business development resume
- Mention your key educational achievements, such as degrees and professional qualifications, along with grades such as your GPA, if they're high.
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Use a well-structured resume layout that optimizes headings, structure, margins, fonts and line spacing to make your document as accessible as possible to the reader.
- Use action verbs to showcase how you've put your business developer skills to use in your career (e.g. 'analyze', 'strategize', 'negotiate').
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
- Don't list personal details such as your age, gender or a photo, unless these are necessary for the role. They can lead to hiring bias.
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your business developer experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't list unrelated work experience unless you can show you used skills that are valuable to the job you're applying for.
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. When writing your business development resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
If you need help creating a professional resume, take a look at our expert career articles and variety of resume examples created by careers experts.
Frequently Asked Questions about a business development resume
Now that you know how to write a professional business development resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the business developer role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your business development resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for business developer jobs. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Business Development Specialist
- Strategic Growth and Market Expansion Expert
- Senior Business Development Strategist Expert
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Key points for your business development resume
The best resumes focus on your skills and the value you've added to previous roles, rather than focusing on your duties and responsibilities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. A stylish, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job prospects. See Jobseeker's cover letter examples, written by careers experts, to help you craft an eye-catching application.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
