Business Development Manager Resume | Examples & Tips

In today's competitive job market, having a standout resume is critical. Studies show that hiring managers spend just 6 seconds reviewing each resume, making it crucial to create a visually appealing and content-rich resume that showcases your abilities clearly and concisely.

• As per Salary.com, the average salary for a BDM or Business Development Manager in the US is around $131,000 per annum.

Business Development Managers drive growth and revenue for your organization with a unique blend of strategy and execution.

Your resume is the first thing that the hiring manager sees and it must reflect your skills, experience, and achievements accurately.

This article consists of Business Development Manager Resume examples and expert tips to create a job-winning resume that will impress hiring managers and help you secure your dream job.

Instead of creating a resume from scratch, use our ATS-friendly resume examples to secure an interview.

This Business Development Resume sample has been crafted by professional resume writers that pass through applicant tracking systems.

How to make a Business Development Manager Resume?

While crafting your Business Development Manager resume, the aim is to make it ATS-friendly by highlighting your skills, experience, and achievements.

Craft your resume following these guidelines:

• Keep your resume format simple and clean with clear headings and bullet points.
• Use keywords related to the Business development manager role, such as "strategic planning," "revenue growth," and "team management."
• Customize the resume that matches the skills and requirements of the job yuo are applying.
• Emphasize your results-oriented achievements and quantifiable metrics, such as increased revenue or market share.

Tips for making a professional Business development resume:

• Highlight your skills in creating and executing business plans, driving revenue growth, and leading teams.
• Showcase interpersonal skills and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, customers, and partners.
• Demonstrate market research and analysis skills and how you've used them to identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Emphasize your success in sales and customer relationship management by highlighting your success in closing deals and increasing customer satisfaction.

Best Layout, Format, and Structure For BDM Resume

The ideal layout of the resume for Business Development Managers (BDM) resume should be well-organized, professional, and easy to read.

• Name and Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Skills
• Professional Experience
• Education
• Certification
• Languages

Follow these tips to enhance the layout of your resume:

• Utilize headings and bullet points to arrange the information.
• The font should be both readable and professional.
• Keep similar formatting throughout the resume.
• Don’t use graphics or images to avoid being left out by the applicant tracking systems.
• Make sure the resume is easily scannable and highlights the most crucial information.

As a business development manager, your resume structure must prioritize skills and accomplishments over work history, allowing the reader to quickly see the most essential business development skills.

Therefore, the best resume format for a Business development resume is a mixed format. It allows you to show your achievements and skills first and gives an overview of your previous work.

Chronological format lists work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job. This format is suitable for those with strong and consistent professional work experience.

On the other hand, the functional format focuses more on skills and achievements. This format is perfect for those with gaps in their prior work experience or those looking to switch careers.

Whereas, the mixed format combines both chronological and functional formats by showcasing both work experience and skills. It is ideal for those with a combination of thorough work experience and transferable skills.

How To Display Title and Contact Information On a Resume?

The header section displays your name, job title, phone number, and email address. Bold this section to highlight it from the rest.

Good Example

Olivia Grande

Business Development Manager

+1-452-785-8965

olivia.grande@example.com

www.linkedin.com/oliviagrande

This well-written header for a Business Development Manager's resume includes name, title, phone number, and email address in a professional and easy-to-read format.

Bad Example

Olivia

olivia.grande@example.com

A poorly written header may include an informal email address or omit the full name, which can detract from the overall professionalism of the resume.

Including a photo on the Business development resume is not a recommended practice as it does not bring any added value to the resume and may even lead to discrimination.

How To Write A Professional Resume Summary for Business Development Resume?

A Business Development Manager's professional summary is a short, impactful statement that showcases their relevant experience, abilities, and accomplishments. It is the opening section of a professional resume and plays a vital role in attracting the attention of potential employers and setting you apart from others applicants.

Follow these guidelines to write an effective resume summary:

Highlight your experience in business development, sales, and strategic planning. Mention your success in identifying sales leads, closing deals, and achieving sales goals.

Limit the summary to 2-3 sentences or bullet points, using language that is active and persuasive.

Include your expertise in market analysis, relationship building, and strategic planning.

By following these tips, you can create a professional summary that effectively communicates your value as a Business Development Manager.

Correct Example

Highly motivated Business Development professional with 7 years of experience in driving financial growth from $1 million to $5 million and executing the company’s strategic plans. Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and exceeding revenue generation targets through effective business planning. Strong communication and negotiation skills. Seeking an opportunity to utilize my strategic thinking and hands-on execution skills in a dynamic, growth-focused organization where I can contribute to revenue growth.

Incorrect Example

I am a Business Development Manager with years of experience. I am good at sales and negotiating. Looking to join your company.

Skills Section of Business Development Manager Resume

The Skills section plays an important role in showing the human resources and hiring managers how you can fulfill the duties of a Business Development Manager.

The following business development skills are commonly sought by hiring managers in a Business Development Manager:

• Negotiation Skills
• Customer Acquisition
• Contract Negotiation
• Marketing Strategy
• Sales Management
• Revenue Growth
• Analytics
• CRM software

• Revenue Growth
• Analytics
• CRM software
• Lead Generation
• Data analysis
• Market Intelligence
• Account Management

• Teamwork
• Client Management
• Customer Acquisition
• Project Management
• Sales Negotiations

How To Describe Your Professional Experience as a Business Development Manager?

The Professional Experience section is of vital importance as it displays your work history and accomplishments in previous job roles. This section must emphasize the impact you had and the results you achieved.

To list your professional experience, follow these guidelines:

• List your work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Demonstrate job responsibilities using headings and bullet points.
• List your achievements using numbers and statistics.
• Incorporate keywords relevant to the Business Development Manager position.
• Showcase your experience in building relationships, negotiating, and generating business.
• Avoid repeating information from your resume summary.
• Review your resume for grammatical errors.

What if there’s not much experience to describe as a business development manager?

You can display skills and traits that can be applied to a Business Development Manager role, even if you have acquired them in a different industry.

It’s advisable to showcase quantifiable achievements. Use numbers and statistics to exhibit the impact you made in prior positions.

Highlight your coursework and academic accomplishments that demonstrate your qualifications for the role.

How To Highlight the Education/Training Section on a Resume?

The Education/Training part of a resume highlights your educational background and any significant courses or training you have taken.

The examples provided above emphasize academic history and relevant training. It shows your dedication to advancing your knowledge and skills in business development. It's essential to keep this section concise and include only relevant information.

Additional Sections to Boost Your Resume

Having additional headings in a resume, in addition to the standard sections such as Professional Summary, Skills, Education/Training, and Work Experience, can enhance your resume.

Examples of extra headings that you can include as a Business Development Manager:

You can use this section to showcase specific achievements in business development, like successfully launching a new product line or surpassing sales goals.

List any professional organizations or associations you belong to. It displays your commitment to continued professional growth.

List any relevant certifications or licenses you have in the field of project management, process handling, time management, etc.

By incorporating these additional headings, you can offer a more extensive and well-rounded outline of your abilities, skills, and experience.

It’s crucial to include only relevant information and prioritize information that most strongly demonstrates your suitability for the desired role.

How To Showcase Languages on Resume?

To effectively showcase language proficiency on a resume, follow these steps:

• Create a section specifically for listing the languages you speak and your proficiency level.
• Don't exaggerate your proficiency level as it may harm your credibility.
• Use a recognized scale, such as the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), to accurately reflect your proficiency level.

Summarizing

Let’s summarize key points to remember while writing a perfect Business Development Manager Resume:

• When writing a Business Development Manager resume, it's essential to highlight relevant experience and achievements in the field.
• Use persuasive language to showcase your skills in business development, sales, and strategy.
• Emphasize your success in generating sales leads and closing deals, and mention your expertise in market analysis and relationship building.
• Include details about key achievements and relevant industry experience, as well as any professional memberships or certifications you have.
• Be honest about your language proficiency, and highlight any relevant languages you speak.
• Show that you have excellent communication skills, especially with diverse groups.

You can create a compelling Business Development Manager resume that showcases your qualifications and experience effectively using these guidelines.

Complement Your Resume with a Cover Letter

The cover letter is a vital part of the job application process. This letter serves as an introduction to the hiring manager even before they see your resume.

With this letter, you can showcase details in addition to the ones that are mentioned in your resume.

A well-written cover letter can make a huge difference. Rather than creating a resume and cover letter from scratch, use one of our premium resume templates and create an outstanding resume.