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Business development combines sales, marketing, and strategy. Gain experience through education, internships, and sales roles. Look for non-traditional opportunities such as project management or volunteering.
While some companies use the term “business development” strictly to refer to high-revenue sales or sales, the field is generally considered to be a combination of sales, marketing, and strategy. To gain experience in business development, therefore, you will want to gain experience in each of these areas and learn how to combine them effectively. You can probably accomplish this most effectively through a combination of education and real-world experience, but keep in mind that you can also gain experience in a number of non-traditional ways.
Education and training programs show future employers that you’ve been exposed to a variety of business concepts and functions. They can also provide you with valuable business development experience. Work-study programs, internships, and even class projects associated with business schools can provide opportunities for you to learn more about business development in real-life environments. If you choose to attend a formal business school or training program, it may be wise to take every possible opportunity as you will learn a lot and the experience will help build your resume.
Upon graduation, or if you decide that formal education is not for you, you will want to gain experience in areas related to business development. Sales experience is often the easiest to obtain, as many of these positions are entry-level and require little or no experience. Remember, however, that most true business development jobs are in the business-to-business industry; so try to gain some experience selling to other companies if you can. When possible, look for sales roles that allow you to sell customized solutions based on a customer’s needs rather than an in-stock product. This allows you to learn and demonstrate strategic skills that are an essential part of the business development experience.
Marketing is also a critical part of the business development experience and is often based more on strategy than field sales. So try to take advantage of any opportunity you work with or in marketing. In many cases, sales positions work closely with the marketing department. Some companies also allow you to move from a sales role to a marketing role, or vice versa.
While education and traditional employment are the most common ways to gain business development experience, you should also be on the lookout for non-traditional opportunities. For example, project managers often work closely with existing customers and may be given the chance to sell additional products. If you can do this with a high-impact customer or a high-profit product, you can prove that you understand strategy, can form good relationships, and can sell – all important factors in business development. You can also gain experience volunteering to raise funds for a local charity, particularly in a role working with corporate sponsors.
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