Business Development Representative Resume Example & Skills

A business development representative’s job is a highly versatile one: it involves a deep understanding of people and product, long-term strategic thinking, and a great deal of charm. 

How do you express all that in a resume? Read our article to learn how to write a business development representative resume strategically and map it out for success. Plus, you’ll get a sample and a list of key business development representative skills to get you inspired.

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Business Development Representative Resume Example

How to Write a Business Development Representative Resume

Follow these simple steps to write a business development representative resume that impresses:

1. Decide on the resume format. For candidates with experience, a reverse chronological resume is the best choice. Going with a functional format or a combination resume can help your application if you’re switching careers or just starting out.
   
   
2. Make it look polished. Choose a suitable resume font (10–12 pts), use bold type or italics, and create headings for structure and readability. Keep enough white space with 1–1.5 line spacing and even resume margins (1 inch). Align left. 
   
   
3. Map out the right resume sections. There are several obligatory ones (below), and you can also add some additional resume information for things like industry awards and achievements or continuing education, training, and even relevant hobbies and interests.
   
   
4. Start with a resume header. It has to inform the recruiter about who you are and which position you are applying for, plus provide your contact details in case they want to get back to you (and they will!).
   
   
5. Follow with a resume summary—probably the most important part of the resume. It has to contain a condensed description of your professional successes and qualifications. A resume with no experience calls for a resume objective.
   
   
6. Target your resume to the position. The work experience section that comes next has to rely not just on your background, but also on the requirements of the potential employer.
   
   
7. Mention your credentials. List the last stage of your education in the corresponding education section. For a new college graduate resume, add academic achievements to make up for the lack of experience.
   
   
8. Add professional skills to your resume. Make sure they correlate with the relevant experience you’ve included previously. 
   
   
9. Pick a resume template. This alternative will save you time and guarantee your resume will pass the ATS.
   
   
10. Proofread and save your resume in PDF. See if you can replace weak phrasing with power words or action verbs, and if everything looks good, prepare for sending!

If you’d like to learn more, we have an in-depth guide: How to Write a Resume for Any Job

Pro Tip: Remember that an application consisting of a business development rep resume only is incomplete—you’ll have to write a cover letter.

Key Skills to Add to Your Business Development Representative Resume 

Your main goal as a business development representative is to generate as much new business as possible, and your skill set should reflect that ability. Besides some necessary industry-specific hard skills (like CRM software or SEO tools), you’ll need a variety of core soft skills to persuade the recruiters you’re the right choice. We’ve compiled a list of resume skills examples to help you come up with ideas for your own business development rep resume. 

Here are the top 10 skills to put on a resume for business development representatives:

• Marketing skills + software (based on the job description)
• Excellent verbal and written communication (for cold calls and more)
• Interpersonal skills
• Efficient networking, building relationships
• Outreach
• Needs analysis
• Time management & organizational skills
• Strategic thinking
• Initiative
• Presentation skills

Pro Tip: Study the position description carefully to decide which hard and soft skills to put on your resume—don’t just list them randomly. A resume tailored to the job ad will always beat a generic one.  

Looking for Something Else? Have a Look at These Guides:

• Business Development Manager Resume
• Customer Service Representative Resume
• Customer Success Manager Resume
• Communications Specialist Resume
• Brand Manager Resume
• Sales Representative Resume
• Sales Manager Resume
• SEO Specialist Resume
• Marketing Resume 
• Big Data Resume

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Thanks for reading this article on how to write a resume for a business development representative. Did you find the tips helpful? Do you think we could add something? Feel free to start a conversation below.

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