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.

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.

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.

When crafting your resume, it's vital to highlight specific skills that show you're a good fit for business growth roles. Here's how you can stand out:

• Market research to understand potential customer needs and industry trends
• Strategic planning to set viable goals for business expansion
• Sales forecasting to predict future sales and set targets
• Lead generation to attract new business opportunities
• CRM software proficiency to manage customer relationships effectively
• Financial modeling to create accurate business forecasts
• Data analysis skills to interpret market information
• Project management to oversee business initiatives
• Contract negotiation to secure favorable terms
• Competitor analysis to stay ahead in the market

Choose skills that match your experience and the job you want. Not every skill will fit, so focus on what makes you a strong candidate. Place these in a dedicated skills section for clarity. Remember, these keywords help with automated tracking systems (ATS) that companies use to filter resumes. So, including them can help your resume get noticed.

As a hiring manager, I look for candidates who can clearly show how their skills will help grow the business. Be sure to give examples of how you've used these skills in past roles, ideally in the experience section of your resume.

When you apply for roles in business growth, showing a track from team member to leader is important. You can do this by detailing your job progress and the added tasks you took on over time.

• Started as a sales associate, advanced to senior sales role within 2 years due to exemplary performance and team leadership.
• Lead a team of 5 in developing new client strategies, resulting in a 20% increase in partnerships.

Think about times when you guided others or were in charge of a project. Even if you were not a 'manager' in title, these experiences can show your ability to lead. For example:

• Chosen to head the quarterly business review team, presenting findings directly to senior management.
• Tasked with mentoring new hires, improving the onboarding process and team productivity.

When you write your resume, showing your impact with numbers can make a big difference. Numbers help hiring managers see the real value you add. Here's how you can do it:

• Include the percentage of sales growth you achieved for your company. If your work led to a 20% increase in sales, say so.
• State how many new partnerships you formed. If you brought in 15 new clients last year, that's a strong point.
• Mention any cost reductions you were responsible for. For example, if you negotiated deals that cut costs by 10%, highlight it.
• Detail the size of the deals you closed. If you closed a $1 million contract, it shows you can handle big accounts.
• Share how much you increased market share. If your territory grew by 5%, it's worth mentioning.
• Showcase customer retention rates. Keeping 90% of your clients year over year demonstrates your relationship skills.
• List any efficiency improvements you made. Maybe you shortened the sales cycle by 15 days.
• Include the number of leads generated. If your strategies brought in 200 leads per month, that's a key achievement.

Think about your past roles and the goals you met. If you're unsure about exact numbers, estimate them as best you can. Always be ready to explain how you came up with these figures during an interview.

Highlighting your path to leadership is crucial. Think about times you've taken the charge or moved up in your previous roles. This shows you are ready for responsibilities of a business development role.

Consider these points to show your leadership journey:

• Include titles and dates that display your promotion track, like 'from junior sales associate to senior sales lead in 2 years.'
• List leadership roles, even temporary or project-based, such as 'led a team of 5 in a successful client acquisition project.'

Remember, evidence of leadership isn't just titles. It's also the impact you made. Reflect on:

• Specific projects where you guided your team to meet targets, such as 'oversaw a product launch that resulted in a 20% revenue increase.'
• Initiatives you started that improved your team's work, like 'implemented a new CRM system leading to a 30% increase in team efficiency.'

As you aim to become a business development manager, showing your growth in leadership roles can set you apart. You've likely led projects or teams, or maybe you've been promoted. Think about times when you've guided others to success or when your responsibilities increased.

• Example: Led a sales team to exceed targets by 30% in Q1 2022, reflecting strong leadership and strategy skills.
• Example: Promoted from sales associate to senior business development role within 18 months due to exceptional performance and team management.

Even if you're not sure if you have leadership experience, consider times when you took the lead on a project or initiative. Think about how you can show these moments in your resume:

• Example: Spearheaded a cross-department initiative to streamline lead generation, resulting in a 20% uptick in qualified leads.
• Example: Appointed as the point of contact for key client accounts, demonstrating trust and leadership capability.