7 Business Development Manager Resume Examples for 2024

Crafting a resume for a business development manager role requires a clear understanding of what hiring leaders value. This article offers tested samples and practical guidance. Expect tips on highlighting sales strategies and partnership-building skills that set apart strong candidates. We'll show you how to showcase your experience in driving growth effectively, making you a prime candidate for your next career step.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in top business development manager resumes.

  • Quantifiable Impact Is Crucial: The best resumes show success through clear numbers. They might highlight revenue growth percentage, number of new partnerships formed, percentage increase in market share, or cost reductions achieved.

  • Match Skills With The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Popular ones are customer relationship management, market research, sales funnel management, proposal writing, and contract negotiation.

  • Industry Trends Matter: Show you know the latest trends. Add phrases like digital lead generation or social media outreach to show you're up-to-date with how business development is changing.

Education section ordering

If you are new to work or have recently graduated, put your education at the start of your resume. This shows your latest training and how it is fresh for the job. For a business development manager role, highlight your degree in business, marketing, or similar fields first to show your relevant background.

If you have been working for years, list your work experience before your education. Long-term work shows you are good at what you do and can take on a role in developing new business for a company.

Networking know-how

Show you can network well. In your resume, spotlight examples of when you have made new contacts or deals. It is special in business development to connect with clients and partners, so show how you have done this before.

Mention any leads or projects that grew from your networking. This is proof you are good at creating opportunities for business growth, which is a central part of being a business development manager.

Ideal length of resume

Try to keep your resume to one page. This is enough for most jobs if you have less than 10 years of experience. Use a good layout to fit your skills and jobs in.

If you are applying for a senior business development role and have many years of work, you can use two pages. Make sure all the details you put are about your work and how it relates to growing a business's client base and sales.

Understanding market trends

Point to your knowledge of the market. A resume for someone aiming to work in business expansion should have examples of when you saw a market trend and used it to your company's advantage.

It is also good if you can show how you helped make a product or service better for the market. This shows that you don't just understand the market, but you also act to help a business meet its goals.

Beat the resume screeners

As a hiring manager, I can tell you that your resume might first be read by a computer before a person sees it. These computers are called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). They look for keywords and phrases that match the job you want. For a business development manager role, it's important you get this right.

Here are some tips to help your resume pass through these systems:

  • Use words from the job description. For example, if 'market analysis' or 'client acquisition' are mentioned, make sure they are in your resume.
  • Show your wins in numbers. Instead of saying 'increased sales,' say 'increased sales by 20% in one year.' Numbers catch the eye of both the computer and the person reading your resume later.

Match your resume to the job

You need your resume to show you're right for business development. Think about what parts of your past work fit with this job. Use examples that prove you can help a company grow. This tells hiring managers you understand business growth and client relations well.

  • Understand the key tasks of a business development manager and match your past achievements to these areas. For example, if you have experience in 'growing sales by 20% in one quarter', put that on your resume.
  • Show how you've led teams and projects. Say you've 'managed a team of 10 sales professionals' to show your leadership skills.
  • If you're moving from a different career, show your relevant skills. If you've worked in a role that required 'identifying new market opportunities', mention it clearly.
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