You know how to spot opportunities, build strong relationships, and close important deals. Now it’s time to show all of that on your resume.
If you’re applying for a business development manager role, your resume needs to speak clearly about your impact, such as how you’ve helped companies grow, increased revenue, and led strategic efforts. Recruiters want to see results, not just responsibilities.
This guide will walk you through the most important parts of a strong business development resume. You’ll learn how to present your achievements in a way that makes hiring managers take notice—and how to tailor each section to match your goals and experience.
Business Development Manager Resume Examples
Below are business development manager resume examples crafted to showcase various levels of experience and specialties, including B2B sales, client relationship management, SaaS growth, and territory expansion. Reviewing a development manager resume example can serve as a model for structuring your own resume effectively.
These samples offer a clear blueprint to help you structure and personalize your resume for better results. Be sure to include tangible examples of your achievements to demonstrate your impact and stand out to hiring managers.
Business Development Manager Resume
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Business Development Executive Resume
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Business Development Director Resume
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Why a Strong Resume Matters for Business Development Professionals
Business development is a results-driven profession. Hiring managers and company executives are looking for professionals who don’t just talk strategy—but deliver. Your resume must immediately reflect your ability to identify opportunities, negotiate contracts, manage pipelines, and contribute to top-line growth. Be sure to highlight positive business results and your proven ability to drive revenue growth.
In competitive industries like tech, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, the resume is the first tool used to screen candidates for their strategic thinking and measurable impact, including business growth. A well-crafted business development manager resume positions you as a key player who can build relationships and generate ROI.
Key Sections That Make Up a Strong Business Development Manager Resume
Each part of your resume should tell a cohesive story about your capabilities, experience, and leadership potential. It’s essential to highlight relevant skills that match the job description, as this demonstrates your suitability for the role and helps your resume stand out. Below are the core components found in the most effective business development manager resume examples.
Contact Information That Reflects Professionalism
Keep it clean and easy to find. Include:
- Full name
- Professional email address (avoid personal nicknames)
- Phone number
- LinkedIn URL
- Optional: Personal website or portfolio
This section should demonstrate that you’re easily reachable and fully prepared for professional communication.
Powerful Professional Summary
In a high-stakes role like business development, your summary sets the tone. It should be short—3 to 4 lines—and emphasize achievements over job duties.
For example: “Results-driven Business Development Manager with 10+ years in B2B SaaS and enterprise sales. Proven track record of driving $12M+ in annual revenue through strategic partnerships and client acquisition. Skilled in pipeline management, contract negotiation, and market expansion.”
This is your elevator pitch. Strong resume examples for BDMs begin with a summary that positions them as a growth leader. Briefly mentioning your career progression in the resume summary can further highlight your business development manager qualifications and demonstrate your professional growth and leadership potential.
Targeted Skills Section
Business development requires a diverse set of competencies. Your skills section should include both hard and soft skills, aligned with the job you’re targeting. It is essential to highlight business development skills and project management as part of your hard skills, as these are highly valued by employers.
Hard Skills:
- CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho)
- Pipeline development
- Contract negotiation
- Market research and segmentation
- KPI tracking and reporting
- Sales forecasting
- Proposal writing
- Data analysis
- Business intelligence
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Market analysis
Soft Skills:
- Communication and persuasion
- Leadership and team collaboration
- Problem-solving and adaptability
- Strategic thinking
- Relationship building
- Cross functional teams
- Marketing strategy
Customize this section based on the employer’s needs and industry focus.
Impact-Driven Work Experience
The most critical part of your resume is your work history—and strong business development manager resume examples showcase results. Rather than listing responsibilities, focus on accomplishments. Showcasing your ability to identify business opportunities, implement growth strategies, and drive sales growth is essential for demonstrating your impact in business development roles.
Use this format:
- Job Title – Company Name, Location (Dates)
- Bullet points that describe key achievements and metrics
For example:
- Developed and executed a sales strategy that increased client acquisition by 35% within one year
- Expanded business into 3 new regional markets, contributing $4.2M in annual recurring revenue
- Negotiated and closed a multi-year deal with a Fortune 500 client worth $2.5M
- Built and nurtured strategic partnerships with key industry players, resulting in a 25% increase in qualified leads
- Led contract negotiations with enterprise clients, securing agreements valued at over $5M
- Strengthened client relations by implementing tailored solutions, improving client retention rates by 18%
- Analyzed market trends and industry trends to identify new business opportunities and inform business strategy
- Executed market penetration initiatives that increased the company’s market presence and expanded market share by 15%
- Implemented growth strategies focused on driving revenue growth, resulting in a 30% year-over-year increase in sales growth
- Developed and led business development strategies that drove business growth and positioned the company as a market leader
Numbers tell the story of your value. Always quantify achievements where possible.
Education and Certifications
While experience carries the most weight, education is still important—especially if you hold a business, business administration, or marketing degree. Be sure to include:
- Degree(s)
- University name and graduation year
- Relevant certifications (optional but helpful)
Certifications to list:
- Certified Professional in Business Development (CPBD)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Business Development Manager (CBDM)
- HubSpot Inbound Sales Certification
- Strategic Sales Management Certificate (Wharton, Coursera, etc.)
Awards, Projects, or Key Accounts
If you’ve worked on major accounts, received performance awards, or led notable initiatives, add a section to spotlight them.
For instance:
- Top Performer Award, Q3 2023 – ABC Corporation
- Key Account Lead – Managed multi-region rollout for international tech firm
- Special Project: Revamped sales proposal system, reducing average turnaround time by 40%
These distinctions help you stand out among other applicants with similar experience by providing evidence of positive business results.
What Other Supporting Sections Can You Include?
Beyond your work history and education, additional sections can help your resume stand out and tell a more complete story about who you are as a professional. These optional additions aren’t just filler—they can show depth, credibility, and qualities that go beyond sales metrics.
Languages
Fluency in multiple languages isn’t just a bonus—it can be a strategic advantage. If you’re targeting companies with global operations, diverse client bases, or roles that require international communication, this section can give you a competitive edge.
Tip: List each language along with your proficiency level (e.g., native, fluent, conversational). Be honest—employers appreciate accuracy here.
Example:
- Spanish – Fluent (used regularly in LATAM client communication)
- French – Conversational (basic sales calls and email correspondence)
Volunteer Work or Speaking Engagements
Don’t overlook your contributions outside of traditional job roles. If you’ve volunteered to mentor junior sales reps, led community business workshops, or spoken at conferences, include this. These experiences speak to your leadership skills, commitment to growth, and industry expertise.
What to Include:
- Name of the event or organization
- Your role (speaker, panelist, mentor, etc.)
- What you contributed or accomplished
Example:
- Speaker, “Modern Prospecting Tactics” – Tech Sales Conference 2024
- Volunteer Mentor, Sales Internship Program – Coached 5 interns on lead qualification strategies
Memberships
Professional memberships show that you’re not just doing the job—you’re invested in the profession. Being part of industry associations signals that you’re up to date with trends, tools, and networking opportunities that can give you (and your future employer) an edge.
Choose memberships that align with your goals or industry niche, such as:
- Sales Management Association – Ideal for leadership-focused BDMs
- National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP) – Offers certifications and learning resources
- Business Marketing Association – Great for BDMs involved in go-to-market strategy or brand partnerships
Bonus: If you’ve held leadership roles in any of these groups, like committee chair or event organizer, be sure to note it.
Must-Follow Tips to Make Your Resume Even More Effective
These strategies are effective not only for business development manager positions but also for related roles such as business development consultant, business development director, business development associate, and senior business development manager.
1. Tailor your resume to each job description
Don’t send out a generic resume. Study the job posting and align your experience and keywords accordingly. If the job emphasizes “strategic partnerships,” use that language throughout your resume where applicable.
2. Use action verbs and metrics
Strong resumes rely on verbs that show leadership and initiative:
- “Drove”
- “Secured”
- “Optimized”
- “Expanded”
- “Launched”
Pair these verbs with real results:
- “Drove 30% revenue growth in Q2 by onboarding 15 new accounts”
- “Secured long-term partnership with national retailer, adding $1.8M in yearly sales”
3. Highlight tools and technology proficiency
BDMs are expected to be tech-savvy, especially in digital sales environments. Mention relevant software you’ve used for sales automation, reporting, or client outreach.
For example:
- Salesforce: Forecasting, lead tracking
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Prospecting
- Excel: Pipeline reporting and trend analysis
- Outreach/Yesware: Automated follow-ups
4. Emphasize leadership and cross-functional collaboration
Business development managers don’t work in isolation. Mention your ability to work with marketing, sales, customer success, and product teams. Examples might include:
- Collaborated with product team to develop client-focused feature enhancements
- Worked closely with marketing to refine lead generation strategy
5. Show progression and career growth
Hiring managers look for professionals who are growing in their careers. Make it easy for them to see your career progression by highlighting how you’ve moved up, taken on more responsibility, or expanded your impact over time. Demonstrating career progression shows your professional growth and makes your profile more credible and relevant for management positions. Whether you’ve gone from sales associate to BDM or taken on larger regions or accounts, highlight that upward path.
For example:
- Promoted from Account Executive to Business Development Manager within 18 months
- Expanded role to oversee partnerships in Southeast Asia after initial success in local markets
6. Keep design clean and ATS-friendly
Even in high-level roles, simplicity wins. Use a clean font, consistent formatting, and bullet points. Save the file as a PDF unless instructed otherwise. Avoid images or graphics that might confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Need Help Crafting the Perfect Business Development Manager Resume?
Our expert resume writing services turn your business development manager resume into a clear and powerful story that highlights your key achievements, leadership skills, and real results. We create resumes that catch the eye of hiring managers and pass through applicant tracking systems, helping you stand out and get closer to your next great job.
Get started today and take the next step toward your dream business development manager role!
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Development Manager Resumes
Should I include my sales quota or targets in my resume?
Yes—if you’ve met or exceeded sales quotas, include them. They provide measurable proof of your success and are highly persuasive to hiring managers.
Can I apply for BDM roles if I’ve only been in sales or account management?
Absolutely. Many BDMs start as sales reps or account managers. Emphasize your strategic contributions, pipeline growth, and any cross-functional collaboration to make your case.
Are resume writing services helpful for business development professionals?
Yes. Resume writing services can help you highlight your accomplishments, frame metrics persuasively, and craft a resume tailored to leadership-level roles—all while optimizing for ATS.
Should I include all industries I’ve worked in, even if they’re unrelated?
Only if the skills are transferable. Focus on achievements and strategies that are relevant to the business development role you’re pursuing, regardless of the sector.
How long should my resume be as a BDM with 10+ years of experience?
Two pages are perfectly acceptable for senior roles. Just ensure everything you include is relevant and adds value to your application.
