How To Write a Business Development Manager Resume
To craft a strong business development manager resume, you must highlight your experience building strategic partnerships and relationships to drive new revenue opportunities. Showcase your ability to connect with client stakeholders, pitch value propositions, and grow accounts using tangible examples from your career. This guide provides valuable tips and insights to help you build an accomplishment-driven resume and secure your next job interview.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Begin your resume with a profile that sums up the most important information on your resume. Address key points from the employer’s job posting in the summary section and include your most relevant skills, education, and experience.
You can also use the summary section to let employers know how long you’ve worked in business development and why you want to work for them. Tailor the summary for each application. This ensures employers feel like you’re speaking directly to their needs.
Profile Example - #1
A Business Development Manager with five years of experience specializing in sales, marketing strategy, account management, and strategic partnerships. A proven track record of driving revenue growth and building channel partners across market verticals.
Profile Example - #2
A Business Development Manager with eight years of experience specializing in marketing, business strategy, sales management, and account management. A strong history of building strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities to maximize value for clients and stakeholders.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
As a business development manager, it’s important to incorporate monetary figures and metrics into your resume to enhance the impact of your career achievements. If your document lacks hard data, it’ll be far less likely to attract attention from prospective employers.
Provide tangible examples of you building strategic partnerships and enhancing revenue growth for your organizations. If you don’t have specific numbers, be as detailed as possible about your accomplishments for previous employers.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Business Development Manager, New England Brand Solutions, Boston, MA
May 2019 – Present
- Liaise with 10+ client accounts generating up to $200K in annual revenue and coordinate cross-functionally with marketing teams and stakeholders to identify brand solutions based on client goals and emerging market trends
- Lead a team of seven account executives and sales specialists, oversee all aspects of the sales process, and provide education on marketing services to prospects
Professional Experience - Example #2
Business Development Manager, IT Staffing Solutions Corp., San Diego, CA
May 2018 – Present
- Oversee 20+ accounts generating $100K-$400K in annual revenue, liaise with client partners to identify appropriate solutions for IT staffing needs, and coordinate with recruiters to ensure the selection of top talent for client stakeholders
- Improve account growth by 20%-45% YOY by identifying opportunities to deliver value-added services to client organizations, including corporate trainers
- Lead a team of eight business development managers and ten account executives, provide coaching and mentorship, and guide sales negotiations
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Many organizations require college degrees for management or sales leaders, including business development managers. Ensure your resume passes muster by including your education in a concise, scannable format.
In a competitive market, anything you can do to make your resume stand out is important. Certifications and additional education might differentiate you from other applicants. If you have credentials as a Certified Strategic Business Developer or even as a Project Management Professional, include them on your resume for good measure.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
Boston College, Boston, MA – September 2013 – May 2017
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Strategic Business Developer, 2019
4. List pertinent key skills
Most organizations rely on some form of applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for job openings by parsing resumes for specific keywords. If your document lacks a certain number of key terms, you may be rejected by the software algorithm before it reaches the hiring manager. Consequently, we have compiled a list of common skills you may encounter when applying for business development manager positions:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Account management | Business analysis |
| Business development | Business strategy |
| Channel sales | Client relations |
| Communication | Competitive analysis |
| Cross-functional leadership | Customer relationship management (CRM) |
| Go-to-market strategy | Leadership |
| Marketing | Relationship building |
| Revenue generation | Salesforce |
| Sales management | Sales negotiations |
| Stakeholder management | Strategic partnerships |
How To Pick the Best Business Development Manager Resume Template
Starting with a resume template helps ensure a professional format and allows you to concentrate on the details of your text. Choose a fairly simple template that includes plenty of white space and supports an easy-to-scan body. Hiring managers and recruiters may only have a few seconds to spare for each resume, so ensure yours is easy to read. Avoid templates that show off fancy designs and fonts. Instead, concentrate on options that convert easily to multiple digital formats.
Business Development Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Yaling Zhang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
A Business Development Manager with five years of experience specializing in sales, marketing strategy, account management, and strategic partnerships. A proven track record of driving revenue growth and building channel partners across market verticals.
Professional Experience
Business Development Manager, New England Brand Solutions, Boston, MA
May 2019 – Present
- Liaise with 10+ client accounts generating up to $200K in annual revenue and coordinate cross-functionally with marketing teams and stakeholders to identify brand solutions based on client goals and emerging market trends
- Lead a team of seven account executives and sales specialists, oversee all aspects of the sales process, and provide education on marketing services to prospects
Business Development Manager, Cadence Video Conferencing Inc., Boston, MA
May 2017 – May 2019
- Built and nurtured business relationships with prospects by cultivating strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities to create value for client organizations
- Increased account retention by 50% and improved revenue growth by $150K by securing a new business partner to drive market penetration in the healthcare space
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
Boston College, Boston, MA September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- Business Development
- Strategic Partnerships
- Market Analysis
- Client Relations
- Strategic Planning
Jasmine Brown
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345
Profile
A Business Development Manager with eight years of experience specializing in marketing, business strategy, sales management, and account management. A strong history of building strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities to maximize value for clients and stakeholders.
Professional Experience
Business Development Manager, IT Staffing Solutions Corp., San Diego, CA
May 2018 – Present
- Oversee 20+ accounts generating $100K-$400K in annual revenue, liaise with client partners to identify appropriate solutions for IT staffing needs, and coordinate with recruiters to ensure the selection of top talent for client stakeholders
- Improve account growth by 20%-45% YOY by identifying opportunities to deliver value-added services to client organizations, including corporate trainers
- Lead a team of eight business development managers and ten account executives, provide coaching and mentorship, and guide sales negotiations
Business Development Manager, HR Management Inc, San Diego, CA
May 2016– May 2018
- Served as the point of contact for 15 client accounts valued at $50K-$250K, built relationships with strategic partners, and drove a 30% increase in revenue growth
- Identified opportunities to provide new HR solutions and service offerings based on market trends, business intelligence, and client specifications
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA September 2014 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Business Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Account Management
- Revenue Growth
- Client Relations
Hideo Araki
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
A Business Development Manager with 10+ years of experience specializing in strategic selling, account management, channel sales, and go-to-market strategy. A proven track record of building channel partnerships and driving multi-million-dollar revenue growth.
Professional Experience
Business Development Manager, Ackerman Smartboards Inc., New York, NY
May 2016 – Present
- Manage 40+ accounts valued at $200K to $4M, lead initiatives to drive account growth, coordinate 180+ vendor relationships, and develop channel partner programs
- Oversee customer relationships for the introduction of a new product line generating over $3M in growth with existing customers and $1M from new accounts
- Secured a net new business partner to create a $2M revenue opportunity, identify and resolve pain points, and drive sales across the education market
Business Development Manager, TDM Network Services, New York, NY
May 2011– May 2016
- Managed a territory generating $3M in annual revenue and established relationships with business partners to drive sales opportunities for office network solutions
- Coordinated with stakeholders, educated clients on new product introductions, and collaborated with the business development team to drive positive business results
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Business Development
- Channel Sales
- Strategic Partnerships
- Relationship Building
- Account Management
Frequently Asked Questions: Business Development Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for business development manager resumes?+
Use action verbs on your resume to demonstrate the contributions you’ve made to past employer processes. This helps hiring managers view you as a candidate who will bring value to their organization.
Consider verbs that align with the industry you’re applying within or business development responsibilities. For example, you might state that you “grew new contract revenue by 15% quarter over quarter” or “expanded existing contract revenue by 10% year over year through upselling.”
The list below includes common action verbs for business development manager resumes that you can use.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Acquired |
| Built | Consulted |
| Developed | Established |
| Expanded | Generated |
| Grew | Implemented |
| Increased | Influenced |
| Led | Managed |
| Negotiated | Nurtured |
| Secured | Spearheaded |
| Strategized | Won |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Management jobs within the marketing and growth spaces are expected to grow by 6% through 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although long-term projections are bright, still align your resume with the job description to maximize your chances of landing the interview during your job hunt.
For example, if an organization seeks a business development manager who excels in client relations, provide tangible examples of you building strategic partnerships. If a company seeks a candidate with a strong sales background, provide hard data to showcase how you worked to maximize account growth. Hiring managers want to interview candidates who align with their organization’s needs. The best way to achieve this is by demonstrating these relevant skill sets using accomplishments from your work history.
What is the best business development manager resume format?+
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for business development manager resumes. This approach places your most recent and relevant work history towards the top of your document while displaying your career progression. Combination and functional resume formats should generally be avoided here; at the management level, your professional experience needs to be front and center on your resume.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Make a strong impression on hiring managers by including a well-written, compelling cover letter with your resume. Customize each cover letter you send with reasons you’re a good fit for the organization or specific career highlights. You can get some inspiration from our business resume cover letter example.
