Since the force is to generate new sales opportunities and contacts, a successful Business Development Manager is a highly appreciated asset for any company, and a bonus-pay means the financial rewards of this career may be large.
Day to day
Day to day
Your job as a business development manager is to identify sales leads, pitch goods or services to new clients and maintain a good working relationship with new contacts. Whatever business you work in your duties are likely to include:
- Following up new business opportunities and setting up meetings
- Planning and preparing presentations
- Communicating new product developments to prospective clients
- Overseeing the development of marketing literature
- Writing reports
- Providing management with feedback
Qualifications
Personal qualities such as great communication and sales skills count for more than formal qualifications in this job. However, employers will be looking at candidates educated to at least GCSE level as well as having sales and marketing experience. Those with a 2:1 degree, preferably in finance, marketing and business management, will be able to take advantage of the graduate programmes run by some companies. A valid driving license is also essential for this role. Business development managers can polish their skills by studying for qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) or the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) who offer a variety of courses in sales and marketing.
Salary expectation 
From business development manager you can progress to become a senior development manager, business development executive or marketing director. Or, with the selling, negotiating and project management skills you’ve gained, you can side-step into other areas of business.- Chartered Institute of Marketing: www.cim.co.uk
- Institute of Sales and Marketing Management: www.ismm.co.uk
Useful sites
Career progression
Those new to the role will start on a salary of around £18k per year while senior business development managers can earn £50k plus per annum. There are often bonus schemes and benefits such as a company car.