Anyone looking for a Business Development Representative position should create the right resume! Find out what recruiters' expectations are.
The Business Development Representative (BDR) is a company's first contact level. The recruiter will be particularly attentive to his experience, his behavior but especially to the way he presents himself. It will be a person who will have to inspire trust and professionalism to its prospects. This introduction includes the candidate's CV and cover letter. And if the first impression is not always reliable, but it should not be overlooked.
For the record, a lot of Akimbers from Bootcamp start with this role!
What are the missions of a BDR?
- Understand the product, its market and its customer target
In order to better understand its mission and propose the best solutions, the BDR analyzes its internal and external environment. He never stops learning andadjust your offers according to market developments. To sell well, he has a perfect knowledge of the good or service offered by the company. At the same time, he Listen actively to the prospect interviewed to identify his needs and match the ideal offer for him.
- Develop a development plan
The BDR brings together all the information it has on thecompetitive environment And the customer feedback To build his action plan. Each commercial strategy is specific to the lead and to the situation encountered. The proposal is then adapted to the situation of the prospect. This proximity favors a better expertise and a relationship of trust. Its action is based on Leads Outbounds, individuals who have not yet been connected to the company and who do not really know these subjects.
- Create and execute prospecting sequences
The BDR sets up the negotiations in order to develop an interest for the product or service andestablish a good customer relationship. It is a expert in prospecting sequences (emails, cold calls, LinkedIn). It identifies opportunities and then builds an argument specific to each case to convert them into customers.
- Managing a portfolio of opportunities
To do this, the BDR's essential tool is The CRM (like SalesForce or HubSpot). CRM allows him to gain in efficiency and productivity. It is an interface of data management. The BDR has a large portfolio of dependent customers, this tool allows it to centralize your data, Automate your tasks and prioritize its missions. It optimizes its organizing And his times (taking notes, reminders etc...).
- Convert prospects into customers and make the switch to Account Executives/Sales
The aim for the BDR is to Transmit relevant qualified leads. That is, they are suitable for the company's offer and are ready to start negotiating the contract. Once converted into customers, the BDR forwards these contacts to Account Executives (AEs) who will take care of the negotiation until the closing. This task is no longer part of his missions but he can continue to intervene in theorganization of appointments and customer loyalty.
How to write a representative business development resume?
1. Apply to design and layout
A resume is a valuable document. It would be silly to erase your experiences and skills behind a bad presentation.
For a beautiful and effective design, you can use tools for the most part free suchlike Canva, Keynote, or Illustrator. Do unsophisticated, you can put a few colors but without too many frills.
Do not hesitate to inspire professional designs by typing “resume” on dribbble.com or Behance.net. They are graphic designer platforms that can provide you with the inspiration you need.
And especially for this task, use software that you master yourself, PowerPoint for example. Do not entrust this activity to a relationship ! The resume is a personal document. Who could know you better than you? You will then be in a position to have control of the information you provide, it will be easier to talk about it.
Print the final result on paper to catch the latest errors. Iron over it carefully and do it reread by at least 2 other people. They will be able to identify elements that you did not notice and will give an objective opinion on your work.
So you arrive prepared for your interview, armed with your complete and stylish CV. You have all the necessary background to please the recruiter, with simplicity but with style.
2. Writing an eye-catching BDR resume
Attracting attention is not a question of quantity but of quality. The resume is a reduced format which should nevertheless summarize years of experience. For facilitate reading and comprehension of your resume, certain “tips” are to be preferred.
In content and form, whether you are junior or senior, writing and layout work is required.
- Put numbers
The numbers are very evocative. Everything performance indicator or result obtained is absolutely worth highlighting. A score allows a comparison And a immediate assessment of your abilities. This gives an impressive self-assertive effect. If you are good, highlight your distinctions.
- Use bullet points
Bullet points are a good way to return clear and organized reading. However, be careful not to write titles. too short or on the contrary too long. Choose constructed headings that don't capture the point Too vague, it could cause him to lose all his interest. Use action verbs in English or words in French to start each bullet point, but be consistent.
- Be concrete and factual
Everyone has already developed their business in one way or another. Concretely, we don't care. What the recruiter wants is to know how you went about it. In what way are you more effective than others? Avoid general names and be content with the essentials. You will have plenty of time to build beautiful sentences in your cover letter.
The recruiter reads hundreds of resumes on a chain, be it hard-hitting. Pay particular attention to your syntax and give priority Business Development & Sales sector terms. In this way, you prove that you are in control of this environment and its mechanisms. You can also inspire BDR LinkedIn profiles that are sometimes available.
3. What skills and qualities should be valued?
Personal qualities
- Self-sacrifice, resilience, dynamism
The BDR is a salesperson who has a profile of Business hunter. These missions require determination And of the responsiveness. It must have a A taste for challenges and always looking for improve and to perfect your sales technique. Prospecting outgoing leads requires dynamism because they are not fully introduced into the company.
- Relational skills, listening, empathy
The BDR is constantly in contact with potential customers. He must demonstrateexcellent interpersonal skills. He takes the time to exchange and to listen the prospect. It does not emit No judgment as to the needs of the prospect. He is just trying to understand it in order to provide him with information relevant to his situation.
- Organization and rigor
The BDR is responsible for a large number of leads. He takes care of existing relationships and looks for new ones. For this, it must be organized in his time and in his work. Know master management and automation tools such as CRM or other supports such as Excel or LinkedIn are highly appreciated.
Professional experience
- Experiences where you created contacts
The human contact is an integral part of the daily life of a BDR. Les associative or sales experiences are elements that should be highlighted. This is even more relevant when it comes to relationships built from scratch, such as for Outbound operations.
- Experiences where you worked as a team
The BDR intervenes at the very beginning of the sales cycle but is still part of a sales team. Each job is segmented but they form a whole interdependent. Mutual assistance, support and communication are qualities that are applied in collective work. Some abilities of manager are also appreciated.
- Experiences where you had numerical goals
A BDR has objectives very precise to reach. Share a few challenging experiences can show the recruiter your ability to surpass yourself. Bring data And metrics of these performances bring credibility And in worthiness. This shows that you are capable of concluding the quotas requested by companies.
Qualifications and skills
- Go to the people
The BDR Initiate the contact with Outbound leads. He must show a certain fluency in speaking. Therefore, he must also know how to deal with theopposition And at refusals when some prospects are not responsive to proposals.
- Customer relationship, listening
The BDR is everything First intermediary between the company and the prospect. Its role is to develop a good customer relationship. He must be able to carry out a Active listening of his lead and to find the patience to talk with him.
- Prospecting, negotiation
The BDR creates and develops prospecting sequences. He should know communicate In order to build a negotiation pitch, but also the subdue.
4. Trainings and diplomas
To date, there is no specific classical training to become a BDR. Candidates for this type of position usually have a Business school diploma bac+3 to bac+5.
However, this does not form a discriminatory condition. Of profiles without special training can be interesting applications if they manage to demonstrate their skills and motivation.
Also, Akimbo offers commercial training that can support individuals who want to train for the BDR profession. There is the Full Time Bootcamp And the Part Time Bootcamp. They are short but intensive formats, accessible to everyone. The Sales Coaches supervise the workshop and provide all the keys to enter the world of Business Development & Sales.
In your resume, highlight any academic and formative experience that could differentiate you from another.
Also specify the places where you carried out your activity (e.g. Paris or even internationally), the multilateral dimension appeals.
In general, the job of BDR requires a lot of Soft Skills (organization, patience, empathy) that you may have acquired in some way atypical. The doors are never closed, put the odds in your favor and give it a try.
5. Our advice
- Be striking at first glance
Put on a 2 to 3 line headline to explain your professional project at the top of the resume. Cela contextualize the subject of your application and underscores your interest in employment.
- If you are applying to startups with more than 100 employees, write your resume in English
If not, it is not necessary but this detail may Making a difference. English is a prerequisite for many startups. La mastery of this language (and other languages if possible) can be a genuine Professional springboard.
- Connect with company people on LinkedIn at the same time
A resume, just like an interview, is being prepared.
Recruiting includes time to exchange with the resume as a medium but the discussion can go beyond the lines. The candidate must then have a good knowledge of the business. You can contact current employees or even Of the ancients. You can also consult the website And the Welcome To The Jungle profile of the company. You then arrive at the interview better prepared and more reassured.
Thanks to these few research elements, you will be able to guide the recruiter to what interests him: your motivation. You prove that your interest in this position exceeds the desire to have a permanent contract or any salary. This way, you are also sure that the framework is right for you and that you see yourself evolving in this environment. This insurance will be felt during the discussion.