How do interviews to become a Business Developer take place?

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Before the interview, prepare to send your application

Once you have found a job offer from Business Developer in the company of your dreams, it's time tosend your resume And your motivation letter (or application email). Keep in mind that the average time spent by a recruiter on your resume does not exceed A few seconds. It is therefore necessary to attract their attention very quickly (through keywords) and be extremely impacting. It's a challenge, except when you leave the Akimbo Bootcamp !

Your resume should be perfectly clean and structured. Here are some examples of profiles with accurate summaries - without being perfect:

• Geoffroy Cave
• Jade Amougou
• Alexia Rivier
• Ysam Methlouthi

Reread it 100x if needed. A position as a Business Developer, Sales or Account Manager is earned.

Also, don't forget to fine-tune your LinkedIn profile. The recruiter will pay as much attention to this as to your resume. Take a look at Bootcamp students on LinkedIn to inspire you.

You probably know it: for your application email, there is no need to send a generic message. 90% of candidates make this mistake but it is annoying for a recruiter. Personalize your application!

The telephone interview

Once your resume has been selected by the company for a Business Developer position, you will agree on a telephone interview.

This “HR” interview is primarily used to learn about:

• your ability to communicate well - the famous Soft Skills ;
• your genuine interest in the company and the position;
• your personality;
• your main skills in order to assess whether you are able to evolve as a team What if your State of mind is in line with the company's DNA.

The HR manager also wants to study your ability to integrate into the company, whether you have the potential to evolve and make others evolve, as well as whether your suitability with the conditions of employment. Above all, it's about showing your motivation to join the company, your knowledge on the latter: why this project specifically and why should we trust you?

Physical interviews

The first physical interview

It's the turn of the physical interviews! This part of the process varies widely from company to company, but generally involves at least two interviews. It can start with a new HR interview or directly with a Sales interview.

The first interview often starts in the same way as the HR interview: you must demonstrate your ability to present yourself well and your communication skills, your motivation and your consistency with the missions and values of the company.

During this interview, the recruiter will go into more detail than during the telephone interview.

Once again, it is essential to be well Fully informed about the company, the job you are applying for and the various missions that compose it. An operational manager will often join if the interview goes well to test you on more technical skills. It is therefore necessary to be well informed about the various missions concerned and the tools you will have to use. You need to be prepared for questions such as:

• Explain your background to us.
• Why did you change company/position?
• Why join this position as a Business Developer, Sales or Account Manager with us?
• What are your professional goals at 5 years?
• Why you rather than another candidate?
• How would your managers judge your qualities and faults?
• In what situations are you in trouble?
• What would you like to do once in office?
• What is the project you are the most proud/proud of?

The second physical interview

Following this first interview, you will often conduct an interview directly with operational staff (Sales Managers, Head of Sales, Business Developer), which will be segmented into several stages:

• One presentation brief of said operational managers, of their functions and their role in business. Additional information is also shared at this time;
• Your presentation, where you will detail your background, your personality and your interests (again);
• Questions about what you know about their business, Why are you interested by this one but also questions about your background and your choices. It is important that you are able toaccurately assess your past experiences with numerical examples;
• A game simulation during which you will be tested on your technical knowledge And your maintenance methods. The simulation takes place in the form of a role-playing game but can also take on a hidden appearance with questions related to your future function;
• To conclude, you will be able to Pose questions about the company or the position. No questions to ask = no job. No laughing. Take advantage of this moment to better understand your future responsibilities : questions the methods and tools used, the Sales organization, the Sales organization, the customers and interlocutors, the sales cycles, the corporate culture, the degree of maturity of the market, etc.

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The final interview

If you are selected for the next one, it is because you have done the hardest.

There is often still a “fit” interview with the team, and potentially a final round with the manager (s). This interview is more frequent in structures of >50 employees where you have not yet met the co-founders.

The interview with the team assesses your Ability to integrate you into the team, your dynamism, the way you organize yourself and the questions you will ask. They will illustrate your curiosity and your desire to do well. It can be spread over the time of lunch or a drink with your future colleagues.

Finally, you may be invited for a final interview with the company manager (s), in the form of a discussion. This interview is often subjective, take advantage of this opportunity to discover your future company in even more detail, the position you will occupy as well as the future vision and the various projects of the company. Often a founder will wait for you Express your determination and your motivation to exceed your future goals.

Pending the company's feedback on your selection, do not hesitate to send an email to the recruiter for the thank, summarize the points retained The most important, and remember your Want to join the company.

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