business development objectives examples for resume

Top 16 Business Development Manager Resume Objective Examples

Updated July 7, 2023 13 min read

A resume objective is a statement of your career goals as they relate to the position you are applying for. As a business development manager, your resume objective should communicate your ability to lead teams and build relationships with clients. When writing your resume objective, focus on the skills and experience that make you an ideal fit for the role. For example, emphasize any past success in developing new business or leading projects from conception to completion. Additionally, highlight any relevant training or certifications that demonstrate your knowledge of business development principles. Finally, emphasize any technical skills that could be useful in the position such as project management, customer service, or data analysis. By demonstrating how you are uniquely qualified for the role, you can help ensure that your resume stands out from other applicants.

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Top 16 Business Development Manager Resume Objective Samples

• To leverage my extensive experience in business development and sales to secure a Business Development Manager position with ABC Company.
• To utilize my strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to contribute to the success of ABC Company as a Business Development Manager.
• To apply my knowledge of the industry and proven track record of successful business development initiatives to drive growth for ABC Company.
• To bring my creative problem-solving abilities, strategic planning, and marketing expertise to ABC Company as a Business Development Manager.
• Seeking an opportunity to join ABC Company as a Business Development Manager and help the organization reach its goals through effective strategies.
• To use my experience in developing relationships with potential clients, negotiating contracts, and managing projects to benefit ABC Company as a Business Development Manager.
• Looking for an opportunity at ABC Company to demonstrate my ability to develop new business opportunities while maintaining existing customer relationships as a Business Development Manager.
• To help ABC Company achieve its objectives by utilizing my exceptional analytical skills and innovative ideas as a Business Development Manager.
• Aiming for a challenging role at ABC Company that will enable me to utilize my excellent leadership skills in business development management.
• Seeking an opportunity at ABC Company where I can employ my knowledge of market trends and competitive analysis techniques for successful business development activities.
• Applying for the position of Business Development Manager at ABC Company where I can contribute my expertise in strategic planning, customer service, and team building.
• Eager to join ABC Company as a Business Development Manager and make use of my extensive knowledge of sales processes, product positioning, and market research methods.
• Desiring an opportunity at ABC Company where I can apply my experience in developing client relationships, managing budgets, and achieving sales targets as a Business Development Manager.
• Motivated individual looking for an opportunity at ABC company where I can use my technical knowledge combined with strong communication skills in business development management roles.
• Applying for the position of Business Development Manager at ABC company where I can utilize my ability to identify new markets while developing existing ones through successful strategies.
• Seeking an opportunity at ABC company where I can maximize on existing resources while exploring new opportunities through innovative solutions as a Business Development Manager

How to Write a Business Development Manager Resume Objective

A business development manager resume objective is an important part of any job application. It provides the hiring manager with insight into your skills and qualifications, and can help you stand out from other applicants. Writing a strong resume objective requires careful thought and planning. Here are some steps to help you craft the perfect business development manager resume objective.

First, consider your career goals. What do you hope to accomplish in this role? Make sure that your resume objective reflects these ambitions, as it should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Think about what sets you apart from other candidates and use that knowledge to create an original statement that speaks directly to the position you’re interested in.

Next, focus on the skills and experiences that make you qualified for the role. Highlight any relevant work history or education, such as a degree in business management or experience developing sales strategies for a previous company. Also include key assets like strong communication abilities or familiarity with popular software programs used by businesses today. Be sure to include quantifiable evidence of your success whenever possible.

Finally, use language that conveys enthusiasm and confidence in your abilities. You want to show that you’re excited about the opportunity and eager to contribute right away. Avoid generic phrases like “seeking a challenging role” or “looking for new opportunities,” which won’t add anything meaningful to your application.

With these tips in mind, writing a powerful business development manager resume objective should be simpler than ever before! A well-written statement will give potential employers an impressive first impression of who you are and why they should invite you for an interview. Good luck!

Related : What does a Business Development Manager do?

Key Skills to Highlight in Your Business Development Manager Resume Objective

In the highly competitive field of business development management, your resume needs to stand out from the crowd. One effective way to do this is by highlighting key skills in your resume objective. This section provides potential employers with a snapshot of your abilities and expertise right at the beginning of your resume. The following are some crucial skills that you should consider featuring in your Business Development Manager Resume Objective, as they can significantly enhance your chances of landing the job you desire.

1. Salesforce

A Business Development Manager with Salesforce skills can efficiently manage customer relationships, track sales activities, and analyze data to improve business strategies. This skill is crucial for a resume objective as it demonstrates the ability to utilize a leading CRM tool to drive business growth and customer satisfaction. It shows potential employers that the candidate can effectively streamline business processes, increase sales productivity, and enhance team performance.

A Business Development Manager with HubSpot skills is highly desirable because HubSpot is a leading software platform for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. These skills demonstrate the ability to effectively manage and analyze customer relationships and data, create targeted marketing campaigns, track sales activity, and provide excellent customer service. This can lead to increased efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, and significant growth in business revenue. In a resume objective, this skill signifies a candidate's proficiency in leveraging technology to drive business development strategies.

A Business Development Manager needs the skill of Marketo to effectively manage and optimize marketing automation strategies. Marketo is a leading marketing automation software used by companies to streamline, automate, and measure marketing tasks and workflows. This skill is crucial for a resume objective as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to increase operational efficiency, grow revenue faster through lead management, create personalized customer experiences, and measure marketing ROI. Thus, proficiency in Marketo can make a candidate more attractive to potential employers in various industries.

Tableau is a data visualization tool that helps in simplifying raw data into an understandable format. As a Business Development Manager, having this skill can be beneficial in analyzing and interpreting complex business data to develop strategic plans and make informed decisions. It can also help in presenting data-driven insights in a clear and effective manner to stakeholders, which can drive business growth and profitability. This skill demonstrates technical proficiency, analytical thinking, and the ability to make data-driven decisions - all of which are valuable in a business development role.

5. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps manage and analyze customer interactions and data. A Business Development Manager with Pipedrive skills can efficiently track, organize, and nurture leads, which are crucial aspects of business growth and expansion. This skill demonstrates the ability to leverage technology in managing client relationships and driving sales, making it a valuable addition to a resume objective.

6. Zoho CRM

A Business Development Manager is often responsible for managing and optimizing customer relationships. Zoho CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a tool that helps streamline this process by organizing and automating various aspects of customer relationship management. Having proficiency in Zoho CRM indicates that the candidate has the technical skills to effectively manage client relationships, track sales, and analyze customer interactions and data to improve business relationships. This can lead to increased sales growth, better customer service, and improved profitability - all key objectives in business development roles.

7. LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a crucial skill for a Business Development Manager as it allows them to effectively identify and engage with potential leads and clients. This tool enables advanced search, provides insights on companies and individuals, and helps in building relationships. Having this skill shows that the candidate is capable of leveraging social media platforms for business growth, which is an essential aspect of business development. It also demonstrates their ability to stay updated with modern sales techniques and technology tools.

8. Google Analytics

A Business Development Manager is often responsible for analyzing and tracking business growth, identifying new market opportunities, and developing strategies to increase company sales. Google Analytics is a tool that allows users to measure the results of individual campaigns in real time, compare data to previous periods, and much more. This skill is needed for a resume objective as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to effectively use data-driven insights to make strategic decisions, track website traffic, understand customer behavior, and optimize all aspects of their marketing efforts. This can lead to improved business performance and increased profitability.

Asana is a project management tool that helps teams organize, track, and manage their work. A Business Development Manager with proficiency in Asana can effectively oversee multiple projects, streamline workflows, and improve team collaboration. This skill demonstrates the ability to leverage technology for better productivity and efficiency, which is crucial in driving business growth and success. It also shows potential employers that the candidate is adept at using modern tools for project management, which is essential for planning and executing business development strategies.

A Business Development Manager needs to have proficiency in Trello as it is a project management tool widely used for planning, organizing and prioritizing tasks. It helps in managing projects effectively, tracking progress, and ensuring timely completion of tasks. This skill is crucial for a resume objective as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, collaborate with teams, and enhance productivity.

In conclusion, tailoring your resume objective to highlight your key skills is crucial in capturing the attention of potential employers. It's important to focus on those abilities that align with the specific requirements of the business development manager role you're applying for. Remember, this section of your resume serves as a snapshot of what you bring to the table. Therefore, it should be concise, compelling and reflective of your professional prowess in business development. By effectively showcasing your key skills in your resume objective, you can position yourself as an ideal candidate and increase your chances of landing the job.

Related : Business Development Manager Skills: Definition and Examples

Common Mistakes When Writing a Business Development Manager Resume Objective

When writing a resume objective for a business development manager, there are several common mistakes to avoid. The most important mistake is to make the objective too generic. Many jobseekers write an objective that could be applied to any job in any field, such as “seeking a challenging role in an organization where I can use my experience and skills to contribute to its success.” This type of generic statement does not give potential employers enough information about your qualifications and goals.

Another common mistake is to list too many unrelated skills and interests in the objective statement. For example, stating that you are looking for a position where you can use your “extensive marketing experience, analytical thinking, and passion for travel” could be confusing for employers who are looking for someone with specific business development-related skills.

A third mistake is not tailoring the objective statement to the specific job opening. Jobseekers should research the company and position before writing their resume objective so they can create an objective that speaks directly to what the employer is looking for in a business development manager.

Finally, it is important not to include irrelevant or outdated information in your resume objective. For example, if you have been out of work for some time or have held numerous jobs over a short period of time, it may be better not to mention this information unless it is relevant to the position you are applying for.

By avoiding these common mistakes when writing a resume objective for a business development manager position, jobseekers will give themselves the best chance of creating an effective resume that stands out from other applicants and demonstrates their qualifications and suitability for the role.

Related : Business Development Manager Resume Examples

A right resume objective for a business development manager would focus on areas such as expanding customer base, growing sales, and increasing market share; whereas a wrong resume objective for the same role might include irrelevant details such as wanting to learn more about the industry.

Editorial staff

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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14 Business Development Resume Examples for 2024

• Business Development Resume
• Business Development Resumes by Experience
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Writing Your Business Development Resume

Erwin Stevens felt a spark of enthusiasm at advancing to a new business development role: Ideally another managerial position like he’d worked since 2018, but with opportunities for fresh connections and networking within the industry. He sat at his laptop, realizing he’d need to update his resume.

Erwin knew good cover letter writing was essential to a lasting impression, too—especially at at managerial level. But he also knew some added research would pay off, and it definitely did once he found our time-tested resume tips ! He felt accomplished as he updated his experience section with more recent achievements and checked out our business development resume examples, looking forward to his next job already.

If you want to make waves of your own as a business development professional—whether you have managerial experience or you’re entry-level—try our resources yourself to find success like Erwin!

Business Development Manager Resume

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Why this resume works

• Once you have several years of experience, use a reverse-chronological format. That way, hiring managers can see your most recent experience first.
• You can make your resume easier to read by using numbers. Luckily, as a biz dev professional, you can point to a whole host of different metrics to demonstrate your impact (sales, up-sells, conversion rate, and retention).
• We’d also recommend striking a balance between hard skills (Salesforce, Excel, LinkedIn) and soft skills (strategic planning, negotiation, communication).

Business Development Intern Resume

• What does it tell the potential employer, you ask? It could point to a proactive candidate who strives for continuous learning and is able to immerse themselves in the sector to understand intricate market trends—all invaluable skills that can stir up a storm in business development.

Entry-Level Business Development Resume

• Typically we recommend including three to six bullet points per work experience (with two to four total work experiences listed). Still, it’s okay to use eight to ten bullet points when you have only one job or internship. 
• You can title this section “hobbies” or “activities,” and be sure to include things that will impress the hiring manager. For example, if you founded a club or played a sport for many years, that will indicate dedication and good collaboration abilities.

Senior Business Development Manager Resume

• If you want to include four or more work experience entries, make sure you’re concentrating the bulk of your bullet points on your most recent/relevant jobs. 
• You can also try using a different  resume template ; you’d be surprised at the difference a template can make when it comes to fitting content on your page. 
• Try to make each bullet point no more than 200 characters.  If you go over the character count, consider breaking it down into multiple points. 

VP Business Development Resume

• Take note of how Stella lights up her piece with anecdotes of boosting sales by $1.2m at AWeber by penetrating three international markets and driving a total of $870K in new business at Wawa Inc., thanks to her prospecting prowess.

Business Development Assistant Resume

• In this case, working as a coffee barista ties in nicely with the hospitality industry for which you’re applying. Make the connection for recruiters in a career objective statement at the top of your resume.

Business Development Analyst Resume

• Highlighting that you’re a Certified Business Development Professional (CBDP) can be the qualification that bumps your name over the edge to land an interview.

Director of Business Development Resume

• How exactly do you do that? By  formatting your resume  in reverse-chronological format! It shows your career journey, starting with your most recent experience, and showcases how you’ve taken on more responsibilities in your recent years.
• Again, numbers speak louder than words here. Did your team improve their performance as a result of coaching? Did your team allow for expansion into new territories? Try to quantify this impact on your director of business development resume .

Business Development Representative Resume

• Objectives are only two to three sentences long, so you might need some practice making yours concise. We’d recommend looking at objective examples to help
• For example, if you worked in retail, you’ve likely had to help customers find the best product for their needs. This is directly applicable to business development, so include it somehow on your business development representative resume.

Business Development Associate Resume

• Try including numbers like your ROI, reviews, client base, client retention, reduction of client attrition, and other KPI metrics. 
• So, before you hit submit, put yourself in their shoes: set a six-second timer and scan your business development associate resume .
• Take a moment and analyze what stood out to you. Was there anything you’d do differently to get their attention? Take this time to make last-minute changes; you’ll be glad you did!

Business Development Strategist Resume

• Adding some style and creative flair will actually ease readability, provided you don’t go overboard.
• Use at least two contrasting fonts for your headers and body text, and don’t be afraid to experiment with a little bit of color at the top of your page.
• We recommend taking a day or two away from your resume so you can come back with fresh eyes. A cup of coffee before your final review couldn’t hurt, either!

Digital Coordinator Business Development Resume

• We’d recommend using reverse-chronological order to put your most recent experience at the top of the page. That way, hiring managers immediately see what’s important!
• Including an activity like a foreign language demonstrates your drive and dedication to self-improvement. Mentorship activities highlight your interpersonal skills, leadership, and team-building skills. 

Business Development Executive Resume

• The layout of your resume can make or break the flow of your recruiter’s reading experience. So when you’re  formatting your resume , try out a variety of  resume templates  until you find one that spotlights your greatest selling points.
• Include impressive numerical metrics such as team headcounts, portfolio sizes, and client lead generation percentages whenever possible.

International Business Development Manager Resume

• In addition to having metrics in your work experience, let your talents shine in the  skills section of your resume . Include mostly technical skills to really ‘wow’ the recruiter or hiring manager.
• For example, how many accounts did you manage? How many new customers did you bring on within a certain time frame? Did you win any awards? Your achievements are likely more numerous and impressive than you think!

Related resume guides

• Program Manager
• Business Owner
• Account Executive

Formatting your business development resume correctly is more important than you might think. Good formatting ensures your resume is readable, logical, and complete. When your resume isn’t formatted well, it can be difficult for hiring managers to read, hard for ATS to understand, and just not visually appealing. Let’s start by reviewing the key elements of resume formatting, including: 

• Your resume formatting options

Your contact header information

How to ensure the ats and recruiters read your resume.

Your resume format options

Applicants’ preferences for formatting change over time. in 2024, the most popular  resume formats  are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid.  

Specific pros and cons for each type of format:

• Reverse-chronological format:  This format highlights your career growth by placing your most recent work experience at the top, leaving your oldest work experience (and likely, least relevant) at the bottom.
• Functional format:  This format is all about highlighting your skills. It’s typically chosen by applicants with employment history gaps.
• Combination/Hybrid format:  This format includes a reverse-chronological structure with equal weight between work experience and skills. 

For business development resumes, we always recommend the use of reverse-chronological formatting. Although the combination format might seem like the best choice, it’s not common, so it can become confusing. Reverse-chronological is the preferred format for hiring managers due to its popularity, readability, and logical flow. 

You should list your name at the top of your resume in the header. Make sure to center it, and use the largest font (around 24-point). Right below your header, include the job title you’re seeking in a slightly smaller font (around 20-point font). Your header is also a great place to have some color, whether it’s for your font or as a pretty background. 

On the right or left side of your resume, somewhere just below the header, you’ll want to include the following in a list using standard font size: 

• Phone number
• City/state (optional)
• Professional links, such as LinkedIn (optional)

It can be hard to visualize what this will look like on your resume, so check out the visual below, or check out other  resume examples  for inspiration on achieving a professional yet visually appealing header. 

It’s not uncommon for a single business developer job posting to receive more than 200 applicants. Hiring teams couldn’t possibly give each applicant careful consideration, so they use ATS, aka applicant tracking systems. This software was created to help hiring teams during the explosion of online job applications.

Hiring managers use ATS to track keywords in your resume and match them to pre-selected words that the hiring team is seeking. If ATS doesn’t think an applicant is a good fit for the job, their resume can be thrown out before any person has a chance to read it.  

Use the following techniques to ensure both ATS and recruiters can read your resume:

• Margins : Use standard one-half to one-inch margins. 
• Fonts:  Keep to the basic professional fonts; no cursive or hard-to-read script! 
• Font size:  Use about 24-point font for your name, 20-point font for your job title, and 10-12 point font everywhere else on your resume. 
• Header names : Keep your font size the same for section headers and body text, but use bold lettering to make your headers stand out. You can also try using all caps to make your section headers easier to see. 
• Skills:  Ensure your skills are highly specialized to the business development job you’re seeking. Always check the  business development job description  to ensure you’ll have enough matching keywords (but never plagiarize). 
• Logical order:  Use reverse-chronological order because it’s the format ATS operates best with, and hiring managers tend to prefer it. 
• One page:  Ensure your resume is exactly one page.

Make the changes above while you’re  building your resume  to help you format your resume correctly for the ATS!

How to Write an Effective Business Developer Resume

We know that  writing an effective resume  can feel like a daunting task. However, it’s not that bad if you go section by section, which is what we’ll help you with in this guide.

We’d recommend having this article open in one tab and your resume in another, so you can go back and forth while making revisions. Now, let’s get into the bulk of actually writing your resume: 

• Using a resume objective or summary statement

How to include your work experience

• Choosing the right skills
• Education and certificates 
• Customizations
• Proofreading your resume

Clearing the confusion: an objective or summary?

Many prospective business developers are rightfully confused by the resume objective and summary . What are they, why are they important, and when should you use one?

This section will answer all of those questions and give you some examples of both resume objectives and summary statements. 

An  objective  is essentially an opening paragraph for your resume. It includes the job title you’re seeking, your years of experience, specific skills that make you a good candidate, and which company you’re applying for. Although objectives aren’t required, it’s a good idea to include an objective if you have limited work experience or are going through a significant career change. 

On the other hand, a summary is a short synopsis of your work experience. The summary emphasizes your skills and how they were used at previous jobs successfully (using metrics). A summary is best-suited for applicants with at least 10+ years of experience in business development. 

Let’s review a few examples of both strong and weak objectives and summaries:

• Analysis: This objective does include years of experience, which is good, but it’s entirely too vague. Make sure you mention a specific job title, several particular skills, and the company’s name. 
• Analysis: This objective is pretty good! It contains a specific job title, years of experience, job-specific skills, and a company name. Hiring managers would be instantly intrigued by this job candidate. 
• Analysis: If your summary is this vague, leave it out entirely and add more work experience instead. 
• Analysis: This summary is specific and demonstrates the applicant’s value through relevant metrics and skills. 

Focus on including two to four job experiences on your business developer resume. We know it can be tempting to include every work experience you’ve ever had. Still, including irrelevant jobs from your teenage years isn’t useful when you have many years of relevant work experience. When you’ve held several job titles,  be choosy about which two to four you include on your resume . 

How to write your work experience descriptions

Make your work experience examples professional, interesting, and impressive. Use action verbs such as “spearheaded,” “orchestrated,” or “developed” to start each of your bullet points, and use active voice throughout (rather than passive). This will ensure that you take ownership of your resume and display confidence. 

You also want to avoid personal pronouns, such as “me” or “I,” in your work experience. The hiring manager knows you’re writing about yourself, so avoid taking up the extra space and dooming your resume to the “unprofessional” pile. You’ll also need to decide on punctuation. You can either end all of your bullet points with periods or leave them off. It’s up to you; just be consistent. Finally, pay special attention to using consistent verb tenses. All of your past experience needs to be in the past tense, and you can choose whether you want to include your current experience in the past or present tense. 

Here are some examples of good business developer resume bullet points that incorporate all of the above advice: 

• Prospected and qualified potential customers with targeted advertising, improving conversion rate by over 20%
• Conducted multi-channel outreach to prospects by leveraging 3 forms of CRM management tools
• Developed marketing campaign featuring educational business material, resulting in $200K net profit

How to quantify your impact as a business developer

One of the most important things you include on your business development resume is metrics. Numbers showcase your job impact in a way that words alone cannot.

Aim to have metrics on at least 50 percent of your bullet points, but don’t be afraid to add more if you can. Here are some of the best ways to leverage metrics when you’re discussing your previous business development roles: 

• Increased revenue:  Arguably, increased revenue is the most important job of a business developer. Highlight how much you’ve increased gross company revenue during your tenure. 
• Conversion rates:  Have customer conversion rates gone up as you’ve adopted new systems for reaching customers? Did you use targeted advertising, answer questions within minutes or hours, or did you use multi-channel outreach to increase conversion rates? 
• Leads:  It’s not just important to tell hiring managers that you increased revenue. Tell them  how  you did it. Perhaps you reached 25 percent more leads through the CRM processes you’ve developed? Maybe you initiated a successful referral program? Or perhaps you’ve collaborated on building social media campaigns? 
• Data analysis:  It’s important to discuss how you’ve utilized data from CRM and related software to get results. Make sure you don’t neglect to mention how your data analysis has improved the ROI for acquisition at your company. 

Using these types of metrics, we created work experience bullet points that could fit any strong business development resume: 

• Crafted a holistic paid acquisition strategy, leading to a 38% ROI for every dollar spent 
• Initiated data analysis processes that enabled a deeper understanding of consumer trends, contributing to the creation of 3 unique metrics to track consumer habits 
• Launched Requests for Proposals (RFPs), collaborating with 19 contractors while meeting 97% of profitability targets and ROIs

How to choose skills for your business developer resume

You must choose the right  skills on your resume  if you want it to be seen by a hiring manager. A successful business development skills section provides insight into your areas of expertise and ensures ATS can find matching keywords on your resume. 

Here are some of the best skills to include on your business development resume:

• ROI and Data Analysis 
• Lead Conversion
• Sales Pitches
• Presentations
• Lead Qualification
• Relationship Building
• Tactful Communication
• Campaigns 
• CRM Salesforce

We’d recommend mostly including hard skills, like “CRM” and “Sales Pitches,” because they’re job-specific, easy to quantify, and focus more on learned abilities. These are the types of skills that demonstrate a clear understanding of the job, and hiring managers actively seek these applicants. These resume skills are some of the best, most sought-after in the business development industry.

Soft skills, such as “time management,” “organization,” and “collaboration,” can play a supporting role in your skills section. They’re important, but harder to quantify and demonstrate, so you should include a few (but not too many) soft skills on your business development resume.

What to know about education, certs, and more

In the field of business development, there are no standardized job qualifications. However, many hiring managers will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business, management, or marketing. Some jobs may require applicants to hold an MBA or other graduate degrees, but that’s not the norm. 

On the other hand, certifications are incredible inclusions on your resume. Though they’re often not required, Certified Marketing Professional, Blockchain and Digital Marketing Professional, Digital Marketing Specialist, and other credentials as shown in the example below can give you an extra edge with hiring managers. 

We typically don’t advise business developers to include  interests and hobbies on their resumes , but there are some times when it may be appropriate.

A few pointers for when interests and hobbies may be appropriate for your resume:

• Consider including this section if you have minimal work experience. Interests, hobbies, and projects can stand in for work experience! 
• Include unique interests and hobbies if your potential employer values individuality. (For example, a creative company like Nintendo would value knowing you like to sketch in your free time.
• Think about whether your interests, hobbies, or activities demonstrate a high level of commitment and focus. For example, hobbies such as Olympic Powerlifting prove that you’re a results-driven, focused, and dedicated person. 

This candidate hints at soft skills with spot-on activities.

Make your business development resume unique to the job

Remember to tailor your business development resume for every job to which you apply.  It will help ATS recognize keywords and show the employer that you’re genuinely interested in the job. Pay special attention to customizing your resume objective or summary with a specific job title and company name.

Your skills section should also be customized, which you can do by carefully reading the job description. Finally, every bullet point you include should be carefully edited to highlight the most important skills and job duties listed in the job posting. Hopefully, you won’t have to make too many edits, but even if that is the case, this step is essential!

Edit and proofread your resume

You may be tempted to submit your business development resume the second you finish writing it, but stop for a second!

Give yourself a day or two to rest your eyes and brain so that you can proofread your resume with fresh eyes. Send it off to friends and family for edits before  checking your resume  for one final time. You may be surprised to realize you misspelled a few words or used inconsistent punctuation! 

Well on Your Way to Your Next Business Development Job

You should be proud of yourself for reading through this entire resume guide! The hardest part of working on your resume is getting started, and now you’re ready to put in the work and  get your dream business development job in 2024 . Use our  resume checker  to upload your completed resume and check it against our AI-powered tips. On the other hand, if you haven’t started on your resume or want to begin from scratch, use our  resume builder,  which has built-in AI-powered tips and proper formatting to help set you in the right direction. 

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15 Business Development Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

If you’re interested in helping businesses act on lucrative opportunities, look no further than the field of business development. with a number of new products and markets constantly emerging, business development specialists are in steady demand. find out what you should include in your business development resume as we discuss six examples and go over key skills and action verbs that hiring managers are looking for..

Businesses in industries of all types are looking to restructure and expand into new markets as a result of the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. This is where business development specialists come in, enabling businesses to act on viable opportunities and operate with optimal flexibility. Business development specialists are in high demand. Per Zippia, the field is growing by eight percent a year and the average salary is over $92,000. Business development can encompass a variety of roles, meaning that the skills you’ll need will vary depending on the position you’re applying for. Some business development specialists are dedicated to client management, while others may be more focused on assessing the departments and operations of a business to determine what type of marketing campaign can be run with the resources available. Generally, though, having a background in business, sales, or finance will come in handy. While the type of resume you craft will be dependent on your personal experience and the particular job listing, this guide will cover six example templates of business development specialists that you can use to base your resume on. Additionally, we’ll discuss the most common types of skills hiring managers will be looking for, and finish up with some tips that are helpful to keep in mind as you craft your own business development resume.

Business Development Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Business Development Representative
• Business Development Manager
• Business Development Executive
• Business Development Associate
• Entry Level Business Development Manager
• Director of Business Development
• Vice President of Business Development
• Sales Development Representative
• Business Development Intern

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Business Development Resumes

Business Development Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Bullet Points on Business Development Resumes
• Related Sales Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 15: Business Development Representative Resume Example

A business development representative (commonly referred to as BDR) is an entry level sales role. Business development representatives are responsible for driving new business by finding potential clients and building relationships with them. The BDR is usually responsible for booking meetings between new prospects and mid-level salespeople. Typically, business development representatives carry a quota and must book a certain number of new meetings per month. To become a business development representative, a bachelor's degree is typically necessary, though the field can vary. A degree in business, marketing, or communications is preferable. Experience often weighs more heavily than education for this role. Hiring managers will be looking for someone with customer-facing experiences, such as experience as an inside sales associate or retail associate. Hiring managers will look for someone who is extroverted, creative, and extremely self-motivated.

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Tips to help you write your Business Development Representative resume in 2024

   showcase your competitive nature.

A competitive nature is a sought-after trait for many sales roles. As a business development representative, you will be measured on your numbers and must be willing to compete with peers to meet your numbers. Showing your competitive nature will show hiring managers you have the right mindset for the role. You can highlight competitive athletics you’ve been involved in, or highlight previous experience in quota-carrying roles.

   Get comfortable and proficient with cold calling

Cold calling is absolutely necessary for this role. Many companies will ask candidates to perform a mock-cold call during the interview process. It’s important to list cold calling as a skill on your resume and to actually practice the act of cold calling in order to build confidence in this area.

Skills you can include on your Business Development Representative resume

Template 2 of 15: business development representative resume example.

Business development representatives are more involved in handling client relationships, and this resume reflects that. If you have a similar background across sales, client management, or product-related analysis for clients, you should emphasize your associated skills and accomplishments. Tying them to numerical values will further solidify your case.

   Well-rounded and related accomplishments to business development specialists

Rather than repeating similar accomplishments across their positions, this applicant has included a variety of accomplishments that all fall under the business development umbrella. For example, they reference their ability to generate leads through cold calling, their skills at managing customer relationships, and assisting in training representatives. If you have a similar breadth of skills, you should do the same to indicate your overall capabilities in the position.

   Use numbers when describing your business development accomplishments

Businesses are driven by their results, and the best way to demonstrate that you have experience with improving a business’s bottom line is by including numerical values with every accomplishment you list. If you can list values such as “qualified 250+ opportunities”, “answered 200+ customers’ questions”, or “generated 100 new clients”, it will lend to your credibility.

Template 3 of 15: Business Development Manager Resume Example

As a Business Development Manager, you'll be focusing on driving sales and generating new clients for the company. Your resume should showcase your ability to build professional relationships and skills in market research, sales strategy, and negotiation. It's essential to demonstrate how you've contributed to the growth of previous organizations by generating leads and closing deals. Tailor your resume to highlight your achievements in sales, negotiation, and market expansion, as well as any industry-specific expertise you possess. Stay up-to-date on industry trends and company developments to make your resume stand out. Being knowledgeable about recent changes in the business landscape and how they may affect the company you're applying to will show your potential employer that you're proactive and well-prepared. Highlight any relevant certifications, training, or prior experience that demonstrates your ability to adapt to new technologies and market conditions.

Tips to help you write your Business Development Manager resume in 2024

   showcase quantifiable achievements.

Use specific figures, percentages, or statistics to highlight your accomplishments in sales and business development. This helps employers quickly understand the impact you've had in previous roles and better visualize the potential value you could bring to their company.

   Highlight relevant industry experience

If you have experience in the industry the company operates in, make sure to emphasize that in your resume. This knowledge, combined with your business development skills, will demonstrate your ability to understand the unique challenges and opportunities that the company faces.

Skills you can include on your Business Development Manager resume

Template 4 of 15: business development manager resume example.

A skilled or experienced business development manager can be the defining asset of a business due to the responsibilities encompassed by the position, and hiring managers are looking for applicants who have risen to the challenge. If you have a significant background in business development management, you should similarly emphasize the most impactful accomplishments at your most recent position.

   Show increasing levels of positive impact and responsibilities

Growing in the capacity of business development manager should naturally equate to producing increasingly positive results. This applicant demonstrates that by showing a sequential progression in their accomplishments across the positions they’ve held. At their first listed position, for example, they successfully ran 20 trades shows, while at their most recent position, they increased the number of customers by 20 percent through Adwords.

   Includes and exemplifies business development techniques

At the bottom of the resume, the applicant lists the techniques they are familiar with (such as “business strategy” and “resource planning”). These words can help get past applicant tracking systems and hiring managers - and they are especially effective when they are backed up by the listed accomplishments.

Template 5 of 15: Business Development Executive Resume Example

As a Business Development Executive, you'll be responsible for driving sales, expanding client relationships, and forging new partnerships. In recent years, this role has evolved to include a strong understanding of digital marketing and analytics. When crafting your resume, it's essential to showcase not only your sales and negotiation skills but also your knowledge of digital tools and trends. In the second paragraph, focus on tailoring your experience to the unique needs of the companies you're targeting. Business development can vary across different industries and company sizes, so do your research and emphasize your adaptability and ability to thrive in diverse environments.

Tips to help you write your Business Development Executive resume in 2024

   highlight digital marketing expertise.

It's vital to showcase your proficiency in digital marketing and analytics, as these skills are increasingly important in business development roles. Use your resume to highlight specific tools, platforms, and campaigns you've managed, along with any relevant certifications.

   Showcase strategic thinking

Business Development Executives are expected to think strategically and identify growth opportunities. In your resume, emphasize instances where you've successfully identified new markets, devised innovative partnership strategies, or launched new products that contributed to business growth.

Skills you can include on your Business Development Executive resume

Template 6 of 15: business development executive resume example.

As a business development executive, you’ll be expected to take the reins of a business’s growth. When applying for this position, you should aim to include a broad range of relevant accomplishments that show your ability to manage personnel and departments, increase the client base, or improve sales through meeting senior clients.

   Good usage of business development skills and action verbs

Each bullet point on this resume contains a relevant business development skill. From the foundational ability to “increase profitability and productivity” to meeting and exceeding sales goals for four years, this applicant goes on to include “growing territory” and establishing CRM, all of which speaks to a high level of capacity in the position.

   Wide breadth of relevant BD accomplishments

This applicant touches on a number of accomplishments that are each relevant to the business development field, from their work managing servicing for a sales app to writing policies that directly improved sales. If you have been similarly involved in multiple aspects of a business’s front end and back end sales operations, you should include a similarly full perspective.

Template 7 of 15: Business Development Associate Resume Example

A business development associate is an entry level role with varying responsibilities relating to sales and marketing. Broadly, a business development associate is responsible for helping to drive new business for the company. They may do this in a number of ways, including following up with sales leads, setting up for and attending trade shows, preparing marketing materials and direct mail campaigns, and more. This role typically works closely with sales and marketing to help them reach business goals. To become a business development associate, an educational background in marketing, business or communications will be preferred. However, a certain skill set is more important than education for this role. Hiring managers will be looking for someone with relevant experience like prior roles as a sales rep or retail associate. Additionally, it’s important that business development associates are outgoing and skilled communicators.

Tips to help you write your Business Development Associate resume in 2024

   highlight any experience you have in event planning.

At many companies, the business development associate is responsible for driving new leads at in person events and conferences. As such, it’s important to highlight your experience with planning for and attending events. Even if it’s in a different industry, any experience with the logistics of event planning should help you stand out.

   Showcase your experience with customer service

Often, business development associates own all inbound phone calls and will need to solve issues current customers are having. They may be the first line of defense before a disgruntled customer reaches management. On your resume, you should showcase customer service skills such as de-escalation, negotiation, and intentional listening.

Skills you can include on your Business Development Associate resume

Template 8 of 15: business development associate resume example.

Business development associates can be expected to have familiarity with maintaining client relationships and increasing the number of customers at the same time as being familiar with the inner workings of companies. This resume shows that they have worked with both outside sales teams as well as internal departments.

   Shows affinity for teamwork

Teamwork can go a long way toward improving business performance, and indicating that you have some experience with it is a good way to go. This applicant does so by including that they worked with product and tech teams and helped coordinate social events for the firm, along with similar accomplishments.

   Includes projects to show BD experience

One of the highlights of this resume is the short list of projects in the lower right corner. If you have similar projects or related business development accomplishments for clients or other departments, you should include them to support your overall competency.

Template 9 of 15: Entry Level Business Development Manager Resume Example

The business development manager typically oversees employees and tasks that relate to business development and outbound sales. Most typically, the business development manager will be responsible for overseeing entry level sales staff, such as business development representatives. They also oversee the creation of outbound sales strategy and procedure. They may write email campaigns, teach calling talk tracks, help with online ad campaigns, and other tasks that all relate to revenue generation. In order to become a business development manager, you’ll need some specific experience. Since this is an entry level role, hiring managers will be looking for one or two years of sales experience. Those with prior experience as a sales associate, lead business development representative, or business development associate are more likely to land this role. Ideal candidates for this role will have a minimum of an associates degree in a related field.. Moreover, candidates for this role should have strong leadership skills and sales knowledge.

Tips to help you write your Entry Level Business Development Manager resume in 2024

   showcase leadership skills on your resume.

Since this position is usually responsible for overseeing a team of junior-level sales staff, it’s important to showcase your ability to guide others on your resume. Any experience you have training, mentoring, or managing others should be clearly outlined on your resume.

   Highlight your outbound sales experience

Since this role is usually responsible for overseeing the outbound sales strategy, it’s important to showcase experiences that involve launching sales campaigns or effective outbound prospecting. Any experience you have with email campaigns, cold calling, and digital marketing should be highlighted on your resume.

Skills you can include on your Entry Level Business Development Manager resume

Template 10 of 15: entry-level business development manager resume example.

Entry level business development managers can make a big impression even with less experience in the field. This applicant showcases their ability to come up with strategies, find opportunities, and produce new business throughout their application by using strong action verbs. As a result, creativity and innovation are both soft skills that come across well without being directly mentioned.

Tips to help you write your Entry-Level Business Development Manager resume in 2024

   quantify your accomplishments, even if you're just starting out.

Even though the accomplishments of an entry level business development manager may not be as robust as an experienced one, they should still be quantified to give the best impression to hiring managers. This applicant does that at every bullet point (at one point even noting the number of states they increased new business in).

   Use action verbs that indicate sales and management capability

Like the executive resume template, this resume utilizes strong action verbs to make each accomplishment impactful. You should aim to include similar verbs (such as “generated”, “landed”, “cut”, and “persuaded”) to impart your proficiency with sales and management.

Skills you can include on your Entry-Level Business Development Manager resume

Template 11 of 15: director of business development resume example.

Ah, the Director of Business Development. A title that brings with it immense responsibility. This role is a significant one that focuses on creating long-term value for a company from customers, markets, and relationships. In recent years, the focus has shifted from traditional methods of business development to more innovative strategies. It's no longer just about sales and marketing. Now, innovation, strategizing, restructuring operations, and developing partnerships have become essential. So, when crafting your resume, it's key to highlight your ability to innovate, strategize and build relationships, on top of your sales and marketing skills. Moreover, soft skills like leadership, communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking are highly sought after in this role. Prospective employers are seeking individuals who can not only identify new business opportunities but also lead teams to leverage these opportunities. Therefore, when writing your resume, emphasize your leadership qualities and your accomplishes in relation to growing businesses and leading teams.

Tips to help you write your Director of Business Development resume in 2024

   highlight your strategic initiatives.

Instead of just listing your job duties, focus on the strategic initiatives you have taken. Show how you have innovated strategies, built partnerships, and restructured operations to drive business growth.

   Show Your Leadership Skills

Show how you have built, led and grown business development teams. Include examples of your leadership during times of change, how you inspired your team, and the results you achieved together.

Skills you can include on your Director of Business Development resume

Template 12 of 15: director of business development resume example.

At the high end of business development is the director, often responsible for one or more departments dedicated to business growth. Directors require the ability to see the overview of a business and assess its place within the industry. This resume encapsulates that by including foundational positions and skills crowned by impactful, businesswide accomplishments.

   Demonstrate increasing responsibilities and promotions

Like the second resume we looked at, this resume does a great job at showing growth over time. From a starting point as an associate that generated “50+ leads a week” to most recently being responsible for “increasing lead generation by 40%” in one year, the progression of responsibility is clear. You should clearly emphasize your increasing responsibilities and promotions, especially when applying for senior roles.

   Shows broad vision and attention to detail

This applicant shows both their ability to pay attention to detail (such as by being in the top 3 percent of the company when using Salesforce to track sales) and their capacity to look at a business holistically (by completing a SWOT). You should aim to include contrasting accomplishments to indicate your versatility.

Template 13 of 15: Vice President of Business Development Resume Example

This is an executive-level position, where you will be tasked with ensuring that the company is hitting its growth goals. You will partake in developing sales and marketing targets and will work with your department to reach those targets. This position requires excellent leadership and communication skills as well as a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, and years of successful sales experience.

Tips to help you write your Vice President of Business Development resume in 2024

   show career progression in sales..

It is imperative that you have a strong sales background. Recruiters will be looking for this in your resume so ensure you focus on including your sales experience and show progression up the sales department ladder.

   Mention your type of leadership.

Different companies have different cultures of leadership. If you have a specific type of leadership like Agile leadership, include that in your skills section. If you know the company you are applying to uses Agile leadership a lot, include that qualification in your introduction section.

Skills you can include on your Vice President of Business Development resume

Template 14 of 15: sales development representative resume example.

These professionals are an important part of the sales cycle. In this position, your job is to create as many leads as possible and assess if their needs are a good fit for your company. You can then pass it on to colleagues whose job it is to close deals. You must be very knowledgeable about your company’s products and must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to thrive in this position. Aside from these qualities, recruiters will be looking at your resume to see a strong background in sales and particularly, lead generation.

Tips to help you write your Sales Development Representative resume in 2024

   emphasis on your ability to effectively talk to clients..

A central part of your job is talking to clients, finding out their needs, and going beyond their initial ‘no’ to convince them to explore what your company can do for them. Your resume needs to show your ability to effectively speak with clients so including a history of talking to clients and working on scripts for calls would be useful.

   Include your most impressive sales metrics in the introduction.

Start your resume strong by including the most impressive sales metrics you have. This applicant includes the amount they exceeded the sales target by, and the impressive profits they've been able to bring as a result.

Skills you can include on your Sales Development Representative resume

Template 15 of 15: business development intern resume example.

As an intern in this profession, you will get to experience many parts of the sales cycle. You may be involved in product development, strategy development, lead mining, speaking to leads, and might even try your hand at closing deals. Work hard and learn as much as possible to impress your superiors and potentially secure yourself a full-time job. Here is a successful resume sample for this position.

Tips to help you write your Business Development Intern resume in 2024

   get certifications in place of experience..

You may not have a lot of relevant experience to show your dedication and experience in the field. To make up for this, consider getting as many related certifications as possible. Certifications in sales or marketing would be particularly relevant.

   Show a variety of tasks in the experience section.

Because you are bound to do a variety of tasks in this position, show recruiters that you have done many of those tasks in your experience section. So include experience not only in sales but also in product development, marketing, and more.

Skills you can include on your Business Development Intern resume

We spoke with hiring managers from top companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce to gather their best tips for creating a winning Business Development resume. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, these tips will help you showcase your skills and stand out to potential employers.

   Highlight your sales and revenue growth achievements

Employers want to see how you've directly contributed to a company's bottom line. Showcase your success in generating revenue and closing deals with specific metrics.

• Closed $500K in new business within first 6 months, exceeding quota by 25%
• Grew territory revenue from $2M to $5M in 2 years through strategic account management

Avoid vague statements that don't provide concrete evidence of your impact:

• Responsible for sales growth and business development
• Helped increase revenue

   Showcase your industry expertise and network

Demonstrate your deep understanding of the industry and your ability to leverage relationships to drive business growth.

• Built and maintained relationships with key decision makers at Fortune 500 companies
• Established partnerships with industry influencers, resulting in 50% increase in brand awareness
• Recognized as thought leader, regularly invited to speak at industry conferences

Don't just list the industries you've worked in without providing context:

• Experience in tech, healthcare, and finance industries

   Emphasize your ability to identify and pursue new opportunities

Employers value individuals who can proactively seek out and capitalize on new business opportunities. Highlight instances where you've identified untapped markets or created new revenue streams.

• Spearheaded entry into new vertical market, securing $1M in contracts within first year
• Identified cross-selling opportunities across product lines, increasing average deal size by 30%

Avoid generic statements that could apply to any business development professional:

• Constantly looking for new business opportunities
• Skilled in identifying new markets

   Demonstrate your strong communication and presentation skills

Success in business development often hinges on your ability to effectively communicate and persuade. Provide examples of how you've used your communication skills to win over clients and close deals.

• Delivered compelling presentations to C-level executives, securing $10M in new contracts
• Negotiated complex deals with procurement teams, achieving 20% higher pricing than standard

Charismatic presenter and negotiator with proven ability to influence decision makers and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Don't simply claim to have strong communication skills without backing it up:

• Excellent communicator
• Strong presentation abilities

   Quantify your impact on sales cycle and conversion rates

Employers want to understand how you've improved key sales metrics. Use numbers to illustrate your impact on the sales process and your ability to drive conversions.

• Reduced average sales cycle from 6 months to 3 months through targeted outreach and persistent follow-up
• Improved lead-to-opportunity conversion rate from 10% to 25% by qualifying leads more effectively

Avoid making claims without providing specific numbers to back them up:

• Helped shorten the sales cycle
• Improved conversion rates

   Highlight successful collaborations with other teams

Business development often requires close collaboration with marketing, product, and other teams. Showcase how you've worked cross-functionally to achieve common goals.

• Partnered with product team to develop new offering, resulting in $5M in incremental revenue
• Collaborated with marketing to create targeted campaigns, generating 50% more qualified leads

Don't overlook the importance of teamwork and collaboration:

• Worked with other teams on various projects

As indicated by the variety of resumes we looked at above, business development specialists can focus on a variety of skills and accomplishments. With that in mind, you should focus your resume on matching the requirements outlined (or even hinted at) by the job listing you’re applying for.

   Use the job listing as a guide

If the job listing mentions client relationships, that’s a good indicator that you should be including your past accomplishments working with clients. That means referencing the number of clients you’ve worked with, how many clients you’ve signed on, how well you’ve improved a company’s close rate, and any similar statistics you can provide that demonstrate your familiarity with client relations. Businesses may be looking to hire a business development specialist to help them assess and restructure their departments to improve their marketing capacity. If the listing mentions analyzing, assessing, restructuring, or similar terminology, you should include accomplishments and skills related to data or finance management. As another example, the business may be looking for a business development specialist with marketing skills. If the listing includes product management, marketing, advertising, or branding, emphasize your relevant background.

   Focus on your business development skills

Business development professionals can come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and it may be tempting to include career experience from multiple positions, departments, or industries. Ultimately, though, hiring managers are looking for a somewhat specific skill set in business development professionals (outlined above), and it is important to keep those skills prominent in your resume. In the event that you have had a career change or a significant gap in your employment, you should still focus on the most relevant business development skills in your job experience or extracurricular or volunteer activities. As an example, while you may have worked in Human Resources in the past, the number of employees you assisted, any improvements to the business’s retention rate, and any savings you helped generate for the business could all be helpful to include.

Writing Your Business Development Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name on the first line.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your header, making it easy for hiring managers to remember who you are. Put your full name on its own line at the top of your header.

Here's an example of how to format your name:

Avoid adding labels or titles next to your name that could distract from it, like this:

• John Smith, Business Development Manager
• John Smith, MBA

2. Include key contact details

After your name, add your key contact details so employers can easily get in touch with you. Essential details to include are:

• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location (City, State)
• LinkedIn profile URL

You can put these details on one line, separated by dividers. For example:

John Smith 555-123-4567 | [email protected] | New York, NY | linkedin.com/in/john-smith

Avoid including personal details like your full mailing address or unprofessional email handles. Keep your header concise and relevant.

3. Optionally include your job title

If you're an experienced business development professional, you may want to include your current or target job title in your resume header. This can help frame your experience right from the start. Some examples:

• John Smith Business Development Manager 555-123-4567 | [email protected] | New York, NY | linkedin.com/in/john-smith
• Jane Doe Director of Business Development 555-987-6543 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe

However, if you are applying for business development roles in different industries or at varying levels, it may be best to leave your title out to avoid pigeonholing yourself. Let your experience speak for itself instead.

  Summary

A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or career summary, is an optional section that sits at the top of your resume. It provides a brief overview of your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements, tailored to the specific job you're applying for.

While a summary can be beneficial for experienced professionals or those making a career change, it's not always necessary. Your resume itself should already highlight your key qualifications. Additionally, avoid using an objective statement, as it focuses on your goals rather than how you can contribute to the company.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Business Development resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Business Development Resume Summary Examples , or Business Development Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the business development role

When crafting your summary for a business development position, focus on the specific skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. Consider what the employer is looking for and how you can demonstrate your ability to meet those needs.

Business development professional with 5+ years of experience in identifying and securing strategic partnerships. Proven track record of increasing revenue by 20% through targeted outreach and relationship building. Skilled in market analysis, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Avoid generic statements that could apply to any job, such as:

• Experienced professional seeking a challenging position
• Hardworking individual with a strong work ethic

2. Highlight your key achievements with metrics

Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to provide concrete evidence of your impact in previous roles. Use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to showcase your success in driving business growth, increasing revenue, or expanding market share.

• Secured $500K in new business through targeted outreach and relationship building
• Expanded client base by 30% in key markets through strategic partnerships

Avoid vague or unsubstantiated claims, such as:

• Excellent business development skills
• Proven track record of success

3. Showcase your industry knowledge and expertise

Demonstrate your understanding of the industry and market trends relevant to the business development role. Highlight your expertise in specific areas, such as market analysis, competitive intelligence, or strategic partnerships.

• Deep knowledge of SaaS market trends and competitive landscape
• Expertise in developing strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies

Avoid using buzzwords or jargon that may not resonate with the employer, such as:

• Thought leader

  Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you showcase your career and the impact you've had. Hiring managers and recruiters want to see your career trajectory, key accomplishments, and how you've grown in your roles.

In this section, we'll cover what to focus on in your work experience to make it stand out for business development roles.

1. Focus on business growth and revenue impact

In business development roles, driving growth and increasing revenue is key. Highlight experiences and accomplishments that show your impact in these areas, such as:

• Landed $500K deal with XYZ Corp, expanding into new market vertical
• Grew revenue 25% YoY by implementing new lead gen strategy and sales playbook
• Secured partnerships with 3 Fortune 500 firms, adding $2M+ in pipeline

Quantify your impact where possible. Use real numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to give scale to your achievements.

2. Showcase your full sales cycle experience

Business development roles often involve working across the full sales cycle, from prospecting to closing. Highlight experiences across different stages to show your full skill set. Avoid just listing job duties.

Weak, duties-based descriptions will fail to impress, like:

• Responsible for finding new leads
• Collaborated with marketing on events
• Negotiated contracts with clients

Instead, showcase your abilities with strong, results-oriented bullet points:

• Built prospect list of 250+ target accounts, generating 50+ new opps in 1 year
• Partnered with demand gen to execute 10 ABM campaigns, sourcing $1M in pipeline
• Negotiated and closed 5 six-figure deals at 25% above target price

3. Highlight sales tools and technical expertise

Modern business development is powered by sales tools and tech stacks. Showcase your experience with common tools used in your industry, such as:

• CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Prospecting tools (ZoomInfo, Outreach, Sales Nav)
• Sales enablement and intelligence (Gong, Clari, Seismic)
• Productivity tools (Google Workspace, Office365, Slack)

Technical proficiency is also valued, especially in industries like SaaS, tech, and professional services. Mention technical concepts you're well-versed in that are relevant to your field, such as API integrations, cloud computing, cybersecurity, etc.

Leveraged Salesforce to analyze sales data and identify 3 underperforming segments, leading to new GTM strategy that increased ASP 15% and win rates 10% QoQ.

4. Show progression and increased responsibility

Hiring managers like to see growth and progression in your career. If you've been promoted, managed teams, or taken on stretch assignments, call that out. For example:

• Promoted to Senior BDR in 12 months after exceeding quota 8 quarters straight
• Selected for President's Club 2 years in a row and asked to mentor new reps
• Managed 5-person inside sales team, coaching them to exceed goal by 30%

You can also show progression by highlighting how you've taken on more complex work, even without a formal promotion. Maybe you started out working SMB deals and progressed to enterprise clients, or expanded your role to include partner channels. Emphasize these areas of growth.

  Education

Your education section is a key part of your business development resume. It shows hiring managers your relevant academic background and training. Let's break down how to write a strong education section step-by-step.

1. Put education at the top if you're a recent grad

If you graduated from college in the last 1-3 years, place your education section above your work experience. Your degree is likely your strongest qualification at this stage in your career.

Include your degree, major, university name, and graduation year:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Marketing University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Graduated: May 2022

You can also include relevant coursework, academic honors, and extracurriculars if you have space. These help demonstrate skills useful for business development roles.

2. For experienced hires, keep education brief

Once you have a few years of work experience, move your education to the bottom of your resume. At this stage, your professional accomplishments carry more weight than academics.

Senior business development professionals can keep education to 1-2 lines:

• MBA, Harvard University
• BS in Finance, New York University

In contrast, avoid listing graduation dates or taking up too much space:

Master of Business Administration, 2005-2007 Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Thesis: "Marketing Strategies for SaaS Products" GPA: 3.8

3. Include relevant certifications and training

In addition to your university degrees, add any substantial certifications or training you've completed that relate to business development. For example:

• Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing, Google

Leave off minor online courses, workshops, or non-relevant certifications. Focus on those that developed skills directly applicable to landing business development jobs.

You can list these in your education section or in a separate "Certifications" section, depending on how much other material you have.

Action Verbs For Business Development Resumes

Action verbs for business development specialists should generally indicate growth, improvement, and change, as the position relies on being able to generate and pursue new opportunities for businesses. We’ve included a list of strong action verbs to include on the left. As an example of this in practice, the business development executive that we looked at above (the third template we reviewed) included a selection of relevant action verbs at each bullet point. We noted earlier how they described “growing territory”, but it’s also worth mentioning that they increased the customer base by 50 percent, boosted the BBB rating status, and “revamped” their recruiting process. The verbs you choose to describe your accomplishments should be similarly dynamic (rather than flat or static). Put another way, business development specialists aren’t meant to maintain a status quo, but to elevate a business’s potential.

• Recommended
• Prioritized
• Facilitated
• Accelerated
• Transformed

For more related action verbs, visit Sales Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Business Development Resumes

Skills for business development resumes.

Not every business development specialist comes from a similar background. However, hiring managers and applicant tracking systems will be looking for specific skills that indicate that you have the ability to help the business via marketing, client management, or revenue growth. On the left, we’ve identified the most common business development skills that hiring managers want to see. After you’ve matched either your background or the position you’re applying for with a template similar to one of the ones we’ve looked at, you should determine what skills are most relevant to your experiences. The list of skills can help you determine the accomplishments you should include, and these should be listed in bullet point form under every position (or in a break out “Projects” section as in the fourth resume we looked at earlier). Additionally, you should include your hard skills and the techniques you have learned (such as “Business Strategy” in the second resume template) in a skills bank at either the bottom or the right side of your resume.

• Business Development
• Business Strategy
• Sales Management
• Strategic Planning
• Business Planning
• Marketing Strategy
• Project Management
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Project Planning
• Account Management
• Customer Service
• Market Research
• Microsoft Access
• Product Management
• Business-to-Business (B2B)
• International Sales
• Product Development
• Solution Selling
• Market Analysis

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Business Development Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Business Development Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Business Development job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Resume bullet points from business development resumes.

You should use bullet points to describe your achievements in your Business Development resume. Here are sample bullet points to help you get started:

Strengthened relationships with 6 strategic partners (including Expedia, Skyscanner and Airbnb) through follow-up meetings with C-suite executives

Generated 50+ project requests through cold call sales and systematic email outreach; completed due diligence to qualify leads based on credit, industry and location

Developed dashboards containing performance metrics to global and local senior management teams; dashboards used by 30+ executives

Conducted due diligence to assess and value potential acquisitions in childcare industry; assessed 30+ companies and recommendation was acquired by company

Developed and executed customer referral program, leading to 50% increase in referral business and $2MM of incremental revenue

For more sample bullet points and details on how to write effective bullet points, see our articles on resume bullet points , how to quantify your resume and resume accomplishments .

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• Sales manager
• Business development manager objectives and summaries

Business development manager Objectives & summaries

5 Business development manager objectives and summaries found

A well-written objective or summary on your resume can be the difference between getting rejected, or getting invited for an interview. Copy any of these Business development manager objective or summary examples, and use it as inspiration for your own resume. All examples are written by certified resume experts, and free for personal use.

Learn more about: objective vs. summary

Business development manager resume summaries

Customer-focused and personable business development professional with knowledge in cold calling, project management, and data retrieval. Adept in recruiting and maintaining long-term customers for enrolling in services. Works well as a team player for producing consistent profits and maintaining key accounts.

Process-oriented and versatile business developer with 6 years of experience in establishing long-term partnerships and recruiting new affiliates. Exceptional negotiating, persuading, cold calling, and multitasking skills with adequate understanding of implementing technology into long-term planning. Keeps informed of the latest trends in business.

Prescient and consummate development manager with over two decades of experience in planning, implementing, and forecasting strategies and innovations. Excellent communication and leadership skills with knowledge in accounting, marketing, and information technology. Adapts to a fast-paced work environment quickly and seamlessly.

Business development manager resume objectives

Results-driven and organized development professional with 7 years of experience in business management is seeking a position with a retail company for creating new profit strategies.

D etail-oriented and perceptive business manager with 10 years of experience in developing innovative methods for company growth looking for opportunity to assist customers in consumer decision making.

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• • Spearheaded the expansion of IT service sales into 3 new international markets, resulting in a 30% increase in leads generated.
• • Developed and executed innovative market research strategies, identifying potential growth areas leading to a 20% increase in market share.
• • Cultivated and maintained relationships with key accounts, contributing to a 25% uplift in repeat business year-on-year.
• • Managed a team of 5 sales professionals, providing training on up-to-date web technologies, enhancing team's proposals and presentations.
• • Oversaw the creation of business documents and proposals that secured 15 major contracts within a fiscal year, increasing company revenue by 18%.
• • Implemented a streamlined lead generation process through targeted calls and emails, improving lead quality by 40%.
• • Achieved a sales target of 120% in the 2020 financial year by effectively selling IT services in international markets.
• • Expanded the company’s client base by 50 new enterprise accounts through strategic data mining and market research.
• • Initiated and negotiated high-value contracts, averaging $500,000 in revenue per agreement.
• • Enhanced customer satisfaction by delivering tailored IT product presentations, resulting in a 95% client retention rate.
• • Conducted thorough market research on latest web technologies to stay ahead of competitors, influencing product development direction.
• • Drove the IT service lead increase by 35% through data mining and crafting tailored marketing strategies.
• • Successfully generated an average of 100 qualified leads per month through persistent calling and emailing tactics.
• • Authored detailed business proposals that secured 10+ new clients within the first year.
• • Provided key market insights that shaped the sales strategies for new software products.

5 Business Development Executive Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your business development executive resume must clearly demonstrate a proven track record of sales growth. Highlight your ability to establish and maintain key client relationships. In addition, your resume should showcase your strategic planning capabilities and experience in market analysis. Make sure to quantify your achievements to illustrate your impact on business expansion.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

Resume Format Tips

Resume Experience

Skills on Resume

Education & Certifications

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

As a business development executive, effectively showcasing your ability to drive revenue growth and build strategic relationships can often be a resume challenge. Our comprehensive guide is designed to help you articulate these complex achievements with clarity, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.

• Find different business development executive resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
• How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
• How to create the experience section to tell your story.
• Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.

If the business development executive resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:

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The importance of format and layout in your business development executive resume

Achieve this balance by:

• Listing your experience, beginning with the most recent and relevant , in reverse chronological order;
• Ensuring your header contains essential information, such as contact details , a headline, and a portfolio link. Include a professional photo in the business development executive resume header if you have one;
• Including only the most important and relevant resume sections to showcase your expertise and stand out from other candidates;
• Editing your business development executive resume to be no longer than two pages if you have extensive relevant experience. Use your limited resume space judiciously.

Also, remember that your business development executive resume might initially be scanned by an Applicant Tracker System (ATS).

When it comes to ATS:

• Opt for simple and legible fonts like Raleway, Rubik, Lato, etc., making your experience easy for the ATS to scan;
• Use serif and sans-serif fonts, both of which are ATS-friendly;
• Avoid overused options like Arial and Times New Roman, which, while suitable, may lack personality.

Contrary to a common myth, our recent study shows that the ATS can effectively process both one-column and two-column resumes. Learn more about this in the ATS myths guide .

Finally, when submitting your business development executive resume, always export it as a PDF to ensure all information remains intact, making the document easier to print, read, and scan.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.

Business Development Executive resume sections to answer recruiters' checklists:

• Header to help recruiters quickly allocate your contact details and have a glimpse over your most recent portfolio of work
• Summary or objective to provide an overview of your career highlights, dreams, and goals
• Experience to align with job requirements and showcase your measurable impact and accomplishments
• Skills section/-s to pinpoint your full breadth of expertise and talents as a candidate for the Business Development Executive role
• Education and certifications sections to potentially fill in any gaps in your experience and show your commitment to the industry

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Proven track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities leading to revenue growth.
• Strong relationship-building skills evidencing the ability to establish and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders and clients.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing strategic plans to reach sales targets and expand the customer base.
• Expertise in conducting market analysis to identify industry trends and client needs for properly positioning the business offerings.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a knack for persuasively presenting products or services to executive decision-makers.

Adding your relevant experience to your business development executive resume

If you're looking for a way to show recruiters that your expertise is credible, look no further than the resume experience section.

Your business development executive resume experience can be best curated in a structured, bulleted list detailing the particulars of your career:

• Always integrate metrics of success - what did you actually achieve in the role?
• Scan the business development executive advert for your dream role in search of keywords in the job requirements - feature those all through your past/current experience;
• Dedicate a bullet (or two) to spotlight your technical capabilities and how you're able to use the particular software/technology in your day-to-day roles;
• Write simple by including your responsibility, a job advert keyword or skill, and a tangible outcome of your success;
• Use the experience section to also define the unique value of working with you in the form of soft skills, relevant feedback, and the company culture you best thrive in.

Industry leaders always ensure that their resume experience section offers an enticing glimpse at their expertise, while telling a career narrative. Explore these sample business development executive resumes on how to best create your resume experience section.

• Identified and captured new business opportunities in the pharmaceuticals sector, increasing client base by 35% over two years.
• Led cross-functional teams on project 'AlphaMax', which resulted in a 24% revenue increase for our biotech product line through strategic partnerships.
• Negotiated and closed deals with five Fortune 500 companies, introducing advanced analytics platforms that tailored business solutions and enhanced client satisfaction.
• Orchestrated the expansion into three new international markets, boosting company's global presence and increasing market share by 18%.
• Implemented a robust CRM system that improved lead generation processes by 40% and enhanced sales team productivity.
• Managed a portfolio of key accounts worth over $50M, consistently achieving top-ranked sales performance in the company.
• Spearheaded the entry into a new service line that contributed to a 22% increase in overall service revenues within the first year of launch.
• Designed and executed successful strategic business initiatives that resulted in a 25% growth in the company's major account portfolio.
• Managed a successful turnaround strategy for underperforming product categories, achieving a profit margin increase of 15% within 12 months.
• Instrumental in landing a landmark contract worth $30M with a key player in the mobile computing space, contributing directly to the company's 20% YOY growth.
• Executed market analysis to identify emerging technology trends, leading to the development of new product offerings that captured a 10% share of the niche market within a year.
• Developed and maintained strategic partnerships with software vendors, enhancing product integration and solutions package for end users.
• Executed a complete overhaul of sales strategy, focusing on high-growth industries which led to an increase in qualified leads by 50%.
• Established a new benchmark for project delivery timelines, reducing average project rollout from 6 to 4 months, positively impacting client satisfaction rates.
• Leveraged expertise in market analysis to forecast trends, guiding the executive team in making data-driven decisions for long-term business planning.
• Collaborated with marketing team to design and execute a lead generation campaign that exceeded target KPIs by 120%, directly contributing to the sales pipeline.
• Played a key role in developing client proposals that secured three high-value contracts, resulting in a revenue increase of $15M over two fiscal years.
• Supported senior sales executives by conducting competitive analysis reports that led to more informed and strategic business decisions.
• Pioneered a digital transformation initiative that expanded the company's online sales channels, realizing a revenue uptick of 28% from e-commerce platforms.
• Crafted and implemented digital marketing strategies that enhanced brand visibility and improved organic search results by 70%.
• Collaborated with IT to integrate AI-powered analytics tools into the sales process, enabling a more personalized customer journey and driving a customer retention rate of 85%.
• Engaged and negotiated strategic alliances with suppliers to diversify product lines, which added an estimated $5M in additional yearly revenue.
• Implemented a client referral program that saw a 30% increase in referred business, strengthening brand loyalty and community engagement.
• Optimized sales funnel management, which directly decreased customer acquisition costs by 20% while maintaining conversion rates.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Specify the percentage increase in sales revenue you achieved through new partnerships or initiatives.
• Quantify the number of new strategic partnerships you established and their financial impact on the business.
• Detail the exact figures in cost savings generated through process improvements or negotiations.
• State the growth in market share by providing concrete percentage increases within specific timeframes.
• Highlight the number of new market entries you led and the subsequent revenue contributions.
• Document the scale of projects outsourced by detailing the worth of contracts secured.
• Provide the number of leads generated through marketing campaigns and the conversion rate improvements.
• Indicate the size of client portfolios managed and the resulting up-sell or cross-sell numbers.

Action verbs for your business development executive resume

What to do if you don't have any experience

It's quite often that candidates without relevant work experience apply for a more entry-level role - and they end up getting hired.

Candidate resumes without experience have these four elements in common:

• Instead of listing their experience in reverse-chronological format (starting with the latest), they've selected a functional-skill-based format. In that way, business development executive resumes become more focused on strengths and skills
• Transferrable skills - or ones obtained thanks to work and life experience - have become the core of the resume
• Within the objective, you'd find career achievements, the reason behind the application, and the unique value the candidate brings about to the specific role
• Candidate skills are selected to cover basic requirements, but also show any niche expertise.

Recommended reads:

• How to List GPA on Your Resume
• When Should You Include Your High School on Your Resume?

If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your business development executive resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.

The heart and soul of your business development executive resume: hard skills and soft skills

If you read between the lines of the business development executive role you're applying for, you'll discover that all requirements are linked with candidates' hard skills and soft skills.

What do those skills have to do with your application?

Hard or technical skills are the ones that hint at your aptitude with particular technologies. They are easy to quantify via your professional experience or various certifications.

Meanwhile, your soft skills are more difficult to assess as they are personality traits, you've gained thanks to working in different environments/teams/organizations.

Your business development executive resume skills section is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on both types of skills by:

• Dedicating a technical skills section to list up to six technologies you're apt at.
• Focusing a strengths section on your achievements, thanks to using particular people skills or technologies.
• Including a healthy balance of hard and soft skills in the skills section to answer key job requirements.
• Creating a language skills section with your proficiency level - to hint at an abundance of soft skills you've obtained, thanks to your dedication to learning a particular language.

Within the next section of this guide, stay tuned for some of the most trending hard skills and soft skills across the industry.

Top skills for your business development executive resume:

Market research

Sales strategy development

Lead generation

Customer relationship management (CRM)

Financial modeling

Data analysis

Project management

Negotiation

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Collaboration

Time management

Creative thinking

Emotional intelligence

Listing your education and certifications on your business development executive resume

Don't underestimate the importance of your resume education section . As it may hint at various skills (and experience) that are relevant to the job. When writing your education section:

• Include only higher education degrees with information about the institution and start/end dates
• If you're in the process of obtaining your degree, include your expected graduation date
• Consider leaving off degrees that aren't relevant to the job or industry
• Write a description of your education if it presents you with an opportunity to further showcase your achievements in a more research-focused environment

When describing your certifications on your resume, always consider their relevancy to the role. Use the same format to describe them as you would for your education. If you're wondering what the best certificates out there are for business development executive roles, check out the list below.

The top 5 certifications for your business development executive resume:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Certified Business Development Professional (CBDE) - Business Development Institute International (BDII)
• Certified Sales Professional (CSP) - National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
• Chartered Business Development Professional (CBDP) - Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) - Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

If you happen to have plenty of certificates, select the ones that are most applicable and sought-after across the industry. Organize them by relevance to the role you're applying for.

• Should You Include Eagle Scout On Your Resume?

Writing the business development executive resume summary or objective: achievements, keywords, dreams, and more

Deciding on whether to include a resume summary or resume objective should entirely depend on your career situation.

If you have:

• Plenty of relevant achievements you'd like to bring recruiters' focus to, make use of the resume summary. Ensure each of your achievements is quantified with concrete proof (e.g. % of cases solved).
• Less applicable experience, utilize the resume objective. Within the objective include a few noteworthy, past successes, followed up by your professional dreams.

As a bonus, you could define in either your business development executive resume summary or objective what makes you the perfect candidate for the role.

Think about your unique hard and soft skills that would make your expertise even more important to the job.

These business development executive professionals have completely covered the formula for the ideal resume introduction:

Resume summaries for a business development executive job

• Dynamic Business Development Executive with a robust 10-year track record of driving revenue growth in the competitive SaaS sector through strategic partnerships and market penetration. Expert in leveraging data analytics to identify profitable opportunities and skilled in deploying CRM solutions. Spearheaded a cross-border expansion project that resulted in a 60% increase in market share.
• Strategist and leader with 8 years of expertise in the FMCG sector. Adept at crafting and executing business expansion plans, managing key account relationships, and delivering multimillion-dollar revenue increases. Instrumental in launching a new product line that captured a 25% market share within the first year of introduction.
• Accomplished Finance Manager transitioning into Business Development, offering a comprehensive 15-year background in portfolio management and capital investment strategies. Eager to apply financial acumen to drive business growth objectives and excel in a new marketplace. Notable achievement includes a 200% ROI on strategic foreign investments.
• Seasoned Professional in Healthcare Administration aiming to leverage a 12-year tenure into a business development trajectory. Exceptional at relationship building, operational management, and fostering collaborative team environments. Successfully implemented cost-reduction initiatives saving the organization over $1 million annually.
• Eager to embark on a career in Business Development with a specialty in fostering strategic partnerships and nurturing client relationships. With a strong foundation in economics and a passion for market research, I aim to contribute fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to a forward-thinking team while developing practical skills in deal negotiation and business growth strategy.
• Dedicated entry-level candidate with a strong academic background in global commerce and a keen interest in market dynamics seeking to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Committed to learning the ropes of business development, discovering opportunities for innovation, and contributing to successful initiatives that influence organizational expansion and client satisfaction.

Bonus sections for your business development executive resume

Looking to show more personality on your business development executive resume? Then consider including a couple of extra sections.

They'd benefit your application by highlighting your most prominent:

• Industry recognitions ;
• Community efforts ;

Key takeaways

• Impactful business development executive resumes have an easy-to-read format that tells your career narrative with highlights;
• Select a resume summary or objective, depending on what sort of impression you'd like to leave and if your accomplishments are relevant to the job;
• If you don't happen to have much industry expertise, curate additional gigs you've had, like contracts and internships, to answer how your experience aligns with the business development executive job;
• Be specific about the hard and soft skills you list on your resume to define your niche expertise and outcomes of using those particular skills;
• Always tailor your resume for each business development executive application to ensure you meet all job requirements.

Looking to build your own Business Development Executive resume?

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75+ Real-Life Resume Objective Examples [+How-to Guide]

You’re looking to enter the workforce and find the perfect first job in your chosen field. As you’re scrolling through job boards, mindlessly browsing through countless irrelevant ads, you come across an interesting posting.

There it is—the perfect job!

This is what you’ve been looking for all along.

It’s the job that will ease your student loans, cover your crippling debt, help you figure out the meaning of life, and even get your crush to notice you. 

There’s just one small problem, though.

You’re not sure how to convince the hiring manager that you’re a good fit for the job.

This is where the resume objective comes in.

Done right, a resume objective can win over the hiring manager and show them that you make up for your lack of relevant experience with passion and enthusiasm.

In this article, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about resume objectives, including:

• What a Resume Objective Is (And Why It Matters!)
• How to Write the Perfect Resume Objective
• Real-Life Resume Objective Examples for Every Field

Let’s dive right in.

This guide is part of our larger resume series. If you want to start at the beginning, take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to make a resume .

What is a Resume Objective?

A resume objective is an eye-catching statement of your career intent that’s placed at the top of your resume. Its goal is to pique the hiring manager’s curiosity and get them to read the rest of your application.

The resume objective provides a two to three-sentence snapshot of your professional experience, skills, and achievements and aims to explain why they make you the right candidate for the job.

Here’s an example:

When Should You Use a Resume Objective?

Resume objectives aren’t that common. If you’re an experienced professional, you’re much better off sticking to a resume summary to describe your top skills and experiences.

That said, there are a few cases when you should stick to a resume objective instead, including:

• Searching for your first job. Whether you’re a fresh graduate looking for your very first job or a student signing up for your first internship, a resume objective will show the hiring manager that you have the drive to develop your skill set and grow within the company.
• Making a career change. If you worked as an engineer in an app development company for the past three years and you’re now applying for a marketing job in a start-up, a resume summary just won’t do. A well-written resume objective, on the other hand, can highlight how your current skills are relevant to the position and how enthusiastic you are for this next step in your career.

How to Write a Convincing Resume Objective

Your resume objective can tip the scales in your favor during your job search .

Resume objectives are structured in three main parts:

• Who you are. You can mention what your level of experience is and why it’s relevant. (E.g.: Recent Finance graduate, looking to kickstart my career in accounting. )
• What you offer the company. This is where you can highlight skills that would make you a good fit for the job. (E.g.: Proficient in MS Excel, Word, and Mathematics. )
• How you’ll help the company accomplish its goals. Mention what your goal within the company is. (E .g.: Eager to contribute to Business X’s growth by reducing costs. )

Not too hard, right?

To make things even easier, you can just follow our tried-and-tested resume objective template:

In a nutshell, a resume objective is a great way to draw attention away from your lack of relevant work experience and, instead, show the hiring manager what essential skills and other experiences you have and how they can help you succeed in the company.

(1) [SKILL/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION RELEVANT TO THE JOB WITH JOB TITLE] . Looking to apply my (2) [years/months of EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION] at [COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING TO] , to help (3) [TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES YOU WILL HELP OUT WITH SUCCESSFULLY] . 

In practice, it looks something like this:

• CPA-certified forensic accountant with demonstrated experience in financial record examination. Looking to apply my 3 years of experience at Company X to help the team at ABC Inc. improve their activity-based accounting techniques in the role of a managerial accountant.

So, basically,  a badly written resume objective is overly generic and doesn’t say anything new about the candidate. But when done right, a resume objective can help your application stand out.

5 Tips for Writing an Awesome Resume Objective

If you follow the formatting we laid out for you, then you’re already 90% ready with your resume objective.

Now, all you have to do is take it to the next level by following these tips:

#1. Tailor Your Resume Objective to the Job

Make sure to tailor your resume objective to the specific position or organization you are applying to. After all, a vague “ engineer looking for an engineering job ” doesn’t impress anyone.

A tailored resume objective shows the employer that you've taken the time to research the company and the position and that you've carefully thought about how your goals align with the company.

Start by thoroughly reading the job description and picking out the key skills, work experience , and qualifications that the employer is looking for. You can also check their website to learn more about their mission statement or company culture. Then, think about how your background makes you a good match for them.

For example, if you're applying for a marketing position at a company that promotes sustainability, your objective might be:

• Aspiring Marketing Coordinator seeking a role at EcoTextile Innovations. Strong foundation in communication and ethical business practices, aimed at promoting fair-trade textiles. Ready to drive innovative marketing strategies in a dynamic team environment with a deep commitment to sustainability.

When you match your resume objective to the employer’s needs, it shows you're not just looking for any job—you want this job. As such, tailoring your resume objective like this can make a strong impression and convey your genuine interest in the role.

#2. Include Relevant Skills

Your resume objective should include skills, knowledge, and abilities that you know will help the company achieve its goals.

This paragraph isn’t just about yourself or your career—it’s about how you’re going to help the company, which is what the hiring manager is looking to find out.

So, even when you’re professionally inexperienced, you might have skills that you’ve acquired in other ways, such as through internships, volunteer work, or any relevant coursework . What you need to do is focus on listing those in your resume objective instead of traditional work experience, and show that you’re prepared to add value from day one. Just go through the job description and reflect on what your transferable skills are and how you match the job requirements.

Always be specific and use concrete examples of where you gained those skills. For example, if you are applying for a human resources position, your resume objective could be:

• Psychology graduate seeking an entry-level Human Resources Assistant role at Bright Futures Inc. Eager to apply strong organizational and communication skills honed through academic projects and volunteer work. Aimed at contributing to team management and enhancing employee satisfaction within a dynamic corporate environment.

This shows that you have plenty of the knowledge and soft skills that the job needs and that you can bring value to the team.

#3. Stick to the Facts

It might be tempting to use grand statements to impress your potential employer, but bragging and vague language have no place in your resume objective.

So, instead of making yourself sound cool with vast words and declarations, use as many facts and numbers as possible to back up your experience. Say, for example, that you’re going from Marketing to Advertising. It’s one thing to say “Expert at Advertising” and another to say “Experienced in managing 5-figure advertising spend from my previous position as a Facebook Marketer.”

Sticking to the facts gives you a lot more credibility. When you back up your skills and experiences with hard data, you're not just telling the employer what you can do; you're proving it.

So, how do you put this into practice? Just dig into your professional and academic history. Think about when and how you made a difference.

Did you increase sales, cut costs, or improve efficiency? Maybe you did something during an internship, any of your courses, or while working a part-time job? Quantify any of those impressive achievements you want to add to your resume objective, and you’re good to go.

Focusing on the facts shows that you know your stuff, and it demonstrates a level of professionalism and attention to detail that employers love. It’s exactly those details that can tell your story and make your resume stand out from the crowd.

#4. Relate Your Goals to the Company

If you have a resume with no work experience , you can include a career goal in your resume objective. Just make sure it’s something related to the company you’re applying to. 

Your focus should always be on showing the hiring manager how your goals support the company’s needs. For example, if you’re applying for a customer support representative position, your resume objective should relate to customer service excellence, not your dream to eventually become a professor.

For example, if you’re applying to a tech firm for a customer support role, here’s what your resume objective can be:

• IT graduate Looking to join Company XYZ as a Customer Support Representative. Eager to use my interpersonal skills and understanding of technology to improve customer satisfaction and contribute to the company’s tech advancements.

Framing your career goals to reflect the company’s objectives shows the hiring manager that you understand the role and that you’re ready to contribute right from the start.

#5. Keep It Simple

There’s no need to use complex words in your resume objective.

Using complicated language and words to make yourself sound smart usually leaves a bad impression and makes you come off as arrogant.

For example, instead of "contemplate,” just say "think." Instead of using "undertake,” use "do.” They both mean the same thing anyway, and you want your achievements to speak louder than the fancy words you use.

This makes your resume objective much more straightforward to understand and serves as a subtle hint that shows you can communicate clearly . After all, your resume objective aims to make you shine as a candidate, not show off your vocabulary.

Good Example VS Bad Example

Let’s drive the point home by showing you the difference between a resume objective that follows our tips and one that doesn’t.

XYZ Inc. is looking for a sales representative manager for its German branch . Minimum of 3 years of working experience in management. Daily duties: planning, directing, and overseeing the sales representative team.

And here is a no-no kind of resume objective:

• I am looking to appertain my exceptional skills in management by being part of a groundbreaking and innovative company for a few years, then eventually switching to a job in AI.

This is what makes the above a bad resume objective:

• “Exceptional” is subjective. The hiring manager has no way of knowing whether this bold statement is true. 
• The language needs to be simplified. Why use “appertain” when you can just say “apply”? 
• Giving the company empty flattery doesn’t leave a great impression. Most companies think of themselves as “groundbreaking” or "innovative," so you’re not showing the company why you’re interested in them.
• The entire resume objective sounds more focused on you than on the company, and yet it doesn’t tell them anything relevant about you as a candidate.
• Your career goal tells them you won’t be sticking with them for too long. That’s a major red flag for any employer, so you’re not getting a call.

On the other hand, here is a great resume objective: 

• Sales manager trained in Berlin. Looking to apply my BA in Business Management and acquired skills at XYZ Inc. by making sure the sales representative team is staffed and follows quality standards, helping XYZ increase revenue and market share in the process.

Here’s why this resume objective is good:

• The professional experience is summarized and backed up with concrete facts.
• It mentions abilities that make you stand out and match the job requirements, like being trained in Germany.
• The resume objective shows that you understand the role and responsibilities the position requires, and you describe how you’ll do them successfully.
• It also includes the skills and experience relevant to the management position.
• The overall language is simple, down-to-earth, and objective, and it’s tailored to show that you genuinely care about the overall goals of the company.

3 Most Common Cases for a Resume Objective

By now, you have all the information you need to write an amazing resume objective.

So, let’s look at the three most common cases when you’ll need to write one.

#1. Recent Graduate Resume Objective

The most common situation where you’d need a resume objective is when you don’t have any work experience and need a way to stand out from the rest of the applicants.

So, if you’re a recent graduate looking for a job , your resume objective should focus more on your education, internships, and extracurricular activities , if applicable. Here’s an example:

• Motivated Liberal Arts graduate eager to join ABC Inc. as a junior graphic designer. Looking forward to applying skills in Photoshop and Canva to create eye-catching visuals that captivate audiences.

You can also write an eye-catching resume objective that will grab the hiring manager’s attention, even if you’re a job-seeker without a relevant degree in the field. You just have to focus on your best personal traits, skills, and motivation instead of work experience or education.

• Organized and hard-working professional looking to join XYZ Inc. as a marketing assistant. Looking to take advantage of my copywriting and editing skills to help XYZ Inc. with their marketing efforts.

#2. Internship Resume Objective

If you’re looking to land an internship, writing a great resume objective can be just as beneficial.

It’s your best bet at piquing the hiring manager’s attention, getting them to read the rest of your resume, and getting that internship .

In this case, you want to focus on:

• Your educational background and achievements
• Your most relevant hard and soft skills
• Any other relevant experience, such as personal projects or volunteering experience

And here’s a practical example:

• Recent graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration, looking to start a career in Finance through an internship at XYZ Inc. Experienced in analyzing financial statements and annual reports for several university projects. Seeking to further develop my theoretical know-how with strong mentorship at XYZ Inc.

#3. Career Change Resume Objective

The next most common situation where you’d use a resume objective is if you’re going for a career change . 

A resume objective helps the hiring manager understand how your skillset from a previous field helps translate into the job you’re applying for.

Here, you can mention:

• Relevant skills for the job you’re applying for
• Previous work experience
• How your background will help you excel at the job

Here’s how this looks in practice:

• Customer Support Representative with 3+ years of experience in over-the-phone technical support looking to leverage communication skills as a Sales Representative at XYZ Inc. Excellent track record in delivering quality support service, having maintained a 4.6+ star “Helpful” rating over the past 2 years.

75+ Resume Objective Examples

Now, you’re ready to write your resume objective!

But before you get started, though, you might need some inspiration.

So let’s go through our list of 75+ resume objective examples for different professions!

Sales and Customer Service Resume Objective Examples

#1. sales associate resume objective.

“Charismatic, communicative worker seeking an entry-level sales job at XYX Inc. Tech-savvy, who can pick up product knowledge quickly. Previous experience as a Sales Clerk at Random Retail Store X.”

Read the full sales associate resume example here.

#2. Account Manager Resume Objective

“Diligent graduate with a B.A. in Business Management at University Y seeking to provide excellent client service at XYZ Inc. as an Account Manager. Strong communication skills from my job as a Sales Manager at Company X. Outstanding project management skills, having worked on over a dozen business projects in university.”

#3. Technical Support Specialist Resume Objective

“IT student seeking a part-time role as a Technical Support Specialist at XYZ Inc. Experienced using help desks and CRM systems. Skilled in written communication with intermediate knowledge in the IT-sphere.”

#4. Customer Service Representative Resume Objective

“Multi-lingual communicator looking to help XYZ Inc. provide stellar customer experience. Strong communication skills. Fluent in English, French, and Russian. Basic knowledge of CRM systems.”

Read the full customer service resume example here.

#5. Cashier Resume Objective

“Enthusiastic, courteous waiter seeking the role of a Cashier at XYZ Inc. Currently working part-time at Restaurant ABC, looking to fill up the rest of my time. Strong communication skills and a genuine love for working with people. Good at carrying out mathematical calculations.”

Read the full cashier resume example here.

#6. Retail Manager Resume Objective

“Experienced retail worker looking for a job as a Retail Manager at XYZ Inc. Skilled in inventory management, having worked as a warehouse manager in two separate organizations. Dependable math skills from working as a cashier at Company X.”

Read the full retail manager resume example here.

#7. Barista Resume Objective

“Customer-focused individual with a passion for creating delightful coffee experiences, looking for a position as a barista at Coffee House X. Strong communication and teamwork skills, dedication to ensuring customer satisfaction, and a positive attitude.”

Read the full barista resume example here.

#8. Server Resume Objective

"Aspiring Server with years of restaurant experience as an expo and host. Demonstrated ability to maintain a clean and efficient dining environment, combined with a strong commitment to exceptional customer service. Eager to leverage my restaurant expertise to enhance the dining experience at Fine Dining Bistro."

Read the full server resume example here.

#9. Waiter Resume Objective

“Experienced service industry worker seeking to apply for the position of Waiter at XYZ Restaurant. Experience includes working as a bartender, busser, and line cook. Thrives in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.”

Read the full waiter resume example here.

#10. Front Desk Agent Resume Objective

“3rd-year Medical Student looking for a summer job as a Front Desk Agent at XYZ Hotel. Experience in working face-to-face with customers, having worked part-time jobs as a cashier and waitress. Social, positive, and hard-working.”

#11. Housekeeper Resume Objective

“Seasonal worker seeking a housekeeping job at XYZ Hotel. Diligent and organized, having spent the past 3 summers working in Nantucket. Previous roles include bussing at Restaurant Y and prep cooking at Local Restaurant X.”

#12. Line Cook Resume Objective

“Recent graduate from Houston Culinary Arts School seeking a position as a line cook at Fancy Restaurant XYZ. Looking to further develop cooking skills learned at school. Previous experience working in a high-stress environment as a part-time Sandwich Maker at Fast Food Place X.”

#13. Food and Beverage Management Resume Objective

“Seasoned Server with 10+ years of hospitality industry experience looking to help Restaurant XYZ take its business to the next level. During my time as a server, I helped 3+ restaurants with hiring and training new staff, as well as coming up with promotional strategies for specific foods and drinks.”

Read the full bar manager resume example here.

Administrative and HR Resume Objective Examples

#14. receptionist resume objective.

"Friendly and efficient multitasker with a knack for creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, seeking a role as a Receptionist at ABC Office Solutions. Strong organizational and communication skills and dedication to providing exceptional service in a professional setting."

Read the full receptionist resume example here.

#15. Recruiter Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, equipped with a solid academic foundation and a passion for connecting talent with opportunities. Hands-on experience in conducting interviews, strong communication skills, and a commitment to finding the best candidates. Eager to launch a career as a Recruiter at XYZ Talent Solutions, where I can contribute to building exceptional teams."

Read the full recruiter resume example here.

#16. Human Resources Specialist Resume Objective

“Psychology graduate looking for a position as a Human Resources Specialist at XYZ Inc. Completed an internship at Company X. Looking to further develop my experience in the field and help XYZ Inc. go above and beyond with satisfying their employees’ needs.”

Read the full human resources resume example here.

#17. Office Manager Resume Objective

“Experienced Office Manager seeking to help XYZ Inc. provide a stellar customer experience and take the Portsmouth branch to the next level. Experienced in managing teams of 15+ in several different restaurants, such as Restaurant A and Restaurant B. Handled every aspect of the business, from hiring new staff to managing marketing initiatives.”

Read the full office manager resume example here.

#18. Secretary Resume Objective

“Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of Secretary at XYZ Inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involves coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information.”

#19. Executive Assistant Resume Objective

“Freelance Virtual Assistant looking to switch to the position of an Executive Assistant. Worked with 5+ online businesses, helping with everything from data entry to customer support. Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills. Proficient in Excel, and Photoshop. Intermediate copywriting skills.”

Read the full executive assistant resume example here.

#20. Administrative Assistant Resume Objective

“Organized and hardworking professional looking to work at XYZ Inc. as an Administrative Assistant. Previous experience in several related fields, such as working as a Secretary for 3 years, in addition to being an Executive Assistant for 1 year. Strong organizational skills, as well as a keen eye for detail.”

Read the full administrative assistant resume example here.

#21. Data Entry Resume Objective

“Meticulous graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration looking to fill the Data Entry Clerk position at company XYZ Inc. Skilful typer with an average typing speed of 85 WPM. Possessing 2+ years of experience using typing tools such as MS Word and MS Excel for task tracking and automation.”

Read the full data entry resume example here.

Finance Resume Objective Examples

#22. accountant resume objective.

“Graduate with an M.A. in Accounting and Finance seeking the position of a Junior Accountant at XYZ Inc. Highest grades in relevant courses, including Intermediate Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Advanced Finance, and more.”

Read the full accountant resume example here.

#23. Financial Analyst Resume Objective

“Finance student with 3.92 GPA seeking an entry-level Financial Analyst position at XYZ Inc. Skilled in financial data analysis, reading financial sheets, with excellent knowledge of accounting and tax legislation.”

Read the full financial analyst resume example here.

#24. Bank Teller Resume Objective

“Customer Support Representative with 2+ years working client-facing roles seeking a job as a Bank Teller at XYZ Inc. Experienced in working with customers over the phone as well as by email. Excellent math skills, having graduated high school with a specialization in mathematics.”

Read the full bank teller resume example here.

#25. Banker Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Finance, equipped with strong analytical and mathematical skills. Eager to launch my career in banking at XYZ Bank, where I can apply my knowledge gained through coursework and internships to help clients achieve their financial goals."

Read the full banker resume example here.

Business Resume Objective Examples

#26. business analyst resume objective.

“Business Student at University X seeking a summer internship as a Business Analyst at XYZ Inc. Strong business know-how, with a focus on analyzing and interpreting data. Completed 10+ real-life business consulting case studies as university projects. Skilled in financial and managerial accounting.”

Read the full business analyst resume example here.

#27. Business Development Manager Resume Objective

"Experienced Project Manager skilled in overseeing complex initiatives and achieving project goals. Seeking a role as a Business Development Manager to utilize my expertise in project planning, client relations, and market analysis for driving growth and expansion at XYZ Company.”

Read the full business development manager resume example here.

#28. Project Manager Resume Objective

“Detail-oriented software engineer with 5+ years of experience in Node.js and React looking to transition into the role of an IT-focused Project Manager. Practical experience conducting daily scrum meetings and following agile project management methodologies.”

Read the full project manager resume example here.

Marketing and Advertising Resume Objective Examples

#29. marketing executive resume objective.

"Experienced Sales Lead with a background in driving revenue growth and customer engagement. Looking to put my skills into a Marketing Executive role at XYZ Inc. Proven success in building and managing teams and a solid understanding of consumer behavior to help craft effective marketing strategies."

Read the full marketing executive resume example here.

#30. Marketing Manager Resume Objective

“Recent graduate with an M.A. in Marketing Strategy looking to further my career in advertising at XYZ Inc. Strong skills in copywriting and graphic design, coupled with a creative mind. Practical experience in creating social media ads (Facebook, Instagram) as a marketing intern.”

Read the full marketing manager resume example here.

#31. Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Objective

“Enthusiastic Marketing graduate with a passion for all things digital seeking a Social Media Marketing position at Digital XYZ Inc. Skilled in copywriting and basic graphic design. Personally started and grew a Facebook page to 5,000+ likes, and an Instagram page to 8,000+ followers. Looking to help Digital XYZ’s clients improve their social media marketing and establish an online presence.”

#32. Content Creator Resume Objective

“Articulate graduate with a B.A. in Media and Mass Communication seeking a Content Creator position at XYZ Startup. Experienced in writing articles for local newspapers and online magazines. Hoping to apply my journalistic writing abilities to improve XYZ Startup’s blog on ABC Industry/Category.”

#33. SEO Specialist Resume Objective

“Detail-oriented graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration looking to apply for a Junior SEO Specialist position at Digital XYZ Inc. Theoretical knowledge of SEO, including some practical experience in using Google Analytics. Seeking to further develop my online marketing skills as part of the Digital XYZ team.”

Read the full digital marketing resume here.

#34. PPC Specialist Resume Objective

“Result-driven SEO specialist with 3+ years of experience designing and implementing SEO campaigns for e-commerce companies. Looking for a PPC Specialist position at XYZ Agency to leverage strong knack for web analytics and SEM to drive traffic and increase sales.”

IT and Software Development Resume Objective Examples

#35. it specialist resume objective.

“Competent Support Specialist with 3+ years of experience in AWS storage cloud services. Maintained a constant customer satisfaction rate of 98% while working at XYZ Agency. Currently looking for a position as an IT Specialist with a focus on cloud services at ABC Inc.”

Read the full IT resume example here.

#36. Software Engineer Resume Objective

“Result-oriented QA Engineer with 5+ years of experience in the banking and finance sector looking for a Junior Software Engineer job at XYZ Bank. Strong understanding of software engineering paradigms and testing frameworks for C++, Java, .NET (C#).”

Read the full software engineer resume example here.

#37. Cyber Security Resume Objective

"Computer Science student with an interest in cyber security, seeking an internship at XYZ Tech. Strong analytical skills and a foundational understanding of network security, gained through academic coursework and personal projects. Committed to skills in a practical setting and contributing to XYZ Tech's cyber security initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in the field."

#38. Web Developer Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Bachelor's in Computer Science, focusing on web development. Engaged in university projects and freelance work, developing proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and responsive design. Excited to bring technical skills and creative problem-solving to ABC Web Solutions."

Read the full web developer resume example here.

#39. Computer Scientist Resume Objective

“Graduate with an M.Sc. in Computer Science and Information Systems seeking a position as a Research Assistant in the computer science department of XYZ University. 2+ years of experience in designing and implementing deep convolutional neural networks with TensorFlow and Scala. Enthusiastic about furthering research conducted on the study of artificial intelligence.”

Read the full computer scientist resume example here.

#40. Data Scientist Resume Objective

“Diligent Computer Science and Mathematics student with a 3.98 GPA looking for an internship at XYZ Inc. as a Junior Data Scientist. Specialized in statistical analysis, experienced with packages such as R, SQL, STATA, and Python.”

Read the full data scientist resume example here.

#41. Data Analyst Resume Objective

“Enthusiastic recent graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration and Mathematics seeking a Data Analyst position at Company XYZ. Competent in mathematical statistics and possessing a certification in business analysis from ABC Institute. Hoping to apply my extensive knowledge of SQL databases and SQL as a querying language to help Data Analysis Co. fulfill its goals.”

Read the full data analyst resume example here.

#42. DevOps Engineer Resume Objective

"Experienced IT professional looking for a DevOps Engineer role. Proven expertise in software development and system administration, including skills in automation, continuous integration, and cloud technologies. Looking to bring a comprehensive technical background to XYZ Company's DevOps team, driving efficiency and innovation."

Read the full DevOps engineer resume example here.

#43. AI Engineer Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Master's in IT and a minor in Artificial Intelligence. Solid foundation in machine learning, neural networks, and data analysis through academic projects and research. Eager to apply this knowledge at ABC Tech Company and contribute to cutting-edge AI solutions and advancements."

Read the full AI engineer resume example here.

#44. Java Developer Resume Objective

"BA Software Engineering student seeking an internship at XYZ Company. Hands-on experience with Java-based projects and collaborative coding initiatives, now eager to enhance real-world development skills and contribute to Java-based solutions."

Read the full Java developer resume example here.

Health and Medicine Resume Objective Examples

#45. nurse resume objective.

“Recent RN graduate seeking to help Hospital XYZ provide an excellent level of patient care. Experienced in working in high-stress environments. An excellent team player who thrives under pressure. Passionate about helping people and making an impact.”

Read the full nurse resume example here.

#46. Medical Assistant Resume Objective

“Certified, energetic medical professional with volunteer experience for XYZ Hospital looking for a position as a Medical Assistant at ABC Clinic. Dedicated team player with the ability to work both day and night shifts.”

Read the full medical assistant resume example here.

#47. Dental Assistant Resume Objective

“Licensed and enthusiastic dental practitioner with 1+ years of experience working at a private Dental Practice ABC seeking a Dental Assistant position at XYZ Dental Inc. Highly meticulous at carrying out dental procedures and assisting during surgeries.”

#48. Dentist Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, skilled in various dental procedures and patient care. Participated in multiple clinical rotations, gaining hands-on experience in preventive and restorative dentistry. Keen to apply this expertise at ABC Dental Clinic, delivering quality dental care and contributing to patient wellness."

Read the full dentist resume example here.

#49. Pharmacist Resume Objective

"Pharmacy student in the final year of study, with a focus on clinical pharmacology and patient care. Engaged in practical training through internships and university-led clinics, developing skills in medication management and patient counseling. Seeking a position at XYZ Pharmacy to further enhance practical knowledge and community healthcare."

Read the full pharmacist resume example here.

Creative Resume Objective Examples

#50. graphic designer resume objective.

"Fine Art student with a focus on graphic arts, skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and digital illustration. Proven skills through various class projects and freelance assignments. Seeking an internship at XYZ Design Agency to contribute to innovative design projects and gain professional experience."

Read the full graphic designer resume example here.

#51. Game Designer Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a degree in Game Design, equipped with knowledge of in-game mechanics and storytelling. Collaborated on university-led game projects, showcasing creativity and teamwork. Eager to join XYZ Game Studio to create engaging player experiences."

Read the full game designer resume example here.

#52. Animator Resume Objective

"Experienced Concept Artist moving towards an Animator role. Solid background in storyboarding and character design, with recent training in animation techniques. Looking to apply a unique artistic perspective and animation skills at XYZ Animations."

Read the full animator resume example here.

#53. Illustrator Resume Objective

"Aspiring Illustrator with a portfolio of freelance and personal projects. Proficient in various illustration techniques and mediums, both traditional and digital. Committed to bringing creative ideas to life at XYZ Company."

Read the full illustrator resume example here.

#54. Photographer Resume Objective

"Former model with a keen eye for composition and detail, shifting focus to professional photography. Hands-on experience behind the camera in various freelance projects. Ready to capture unique perspectives and contribute to the team at Photography Agency ABC."

Read the full photographer resume example here.

#55. Actor Resume Objective

"Drama and Theater Arts graduate, with a strong stage presence and versatility in various roles. Participated in several university theater productions, honing acting and improvisation skills. Excited to bring dramatic flair and dedication to the ensemble at XYZ Theater."

Read the full actor resume example here.

#56. Writer Resume Objective

"Aspiring Writer with a talent for storytelling and content creation honed through personal blogs and freelance assignments. Skilled in research, editing, and creative writing. Aiming to bring fresh ideas and narrative skills to the content team at XYZ Company."

Read the full writer resume here.

#57. Editor Resume Objective

"English Literature student with a minor in Translation Studies, with a passion for languages and a keen eye for detail. Experienced in proofreading and editing university publications, which further honed my understanding of grammar, style, and text clarity. Seeking an internship at XYZ Publishing to refine editing skills and contribute to high-quality publications."

Read the full editor resume example here.

Education Resume Objective Examples

#58. professor resume objective.

"Best-selling author with a rich background in contemporary literature, now aspiring to educate and inspire as a Professor of English Literature. Deep understanding of literary analysis and creative writing, eager to share knowledge and foster a love for literature at ABC University."

Read the full academic CV example here.

#59. Teacher Resume Objective

“B.Sc. in Education from University XYZ with a concentration in Chemistry seeking to start my career as a teacher at XYZ High School. Passionate about teaching, both in and out of the classroom.” 

Read the full teacher resume example here.

#60. Tutor Resume Objective

“Skilled Mathematics graduate looking to apply for the position of Math Tutor at XYZ School. Worked as a part-time Linear Algebra tutor during my time at University X. Strong knowledge of Advanced Linear Algebra, Calculus I-IV, Mathematical Statistics, and Trigonometry.”

#61. College Student Resume Objective

"College Freshman majoring in Sociology, seeking an internship to apply academic learning in a practical environment. Strong analytical skills and a passion for social research and mutual aid, aiming to contribute to meaningful projects at XYZ Nonprofit Organization."

Read the full college freshman resume example here.

#62. High School Student Resume Objective

"High school student with excellent time-management and navigational skills, looking for a part-time position as a pizza delivery driver at Delicious Pizzeria X. Responsible, reliable, and committed to providing prompt, friendly service."

Read the full high school resume example here.

Other Resume Objective Examples

#63. architect resume objective.

"Recent Architecture graduate with a strong portfolio of academic and personal design projects. Skilled in CAD software and sustainable design principles, ready to contribute innovative ideas to XYZ Architecture Firm."

Read the full architect resume example here.

#64. Electrical Engineer Resume Resume Objective

"Engineering student with a focus on mechanical and electrical systems, seeking an internship at Company X. Practical experience from university labs and team projects, aiming to apply technical skills in a professional engineering setting."

Read the full electrical engineer resume example here.

#65. Interior Designer Resume Objective

"Interior Designer with a Bachelor's in Design and a successful Instagram page showcasing personal projects. Innovative, trend-aware, and skilled in client-focused design solutions, eager to bring a unique aesthetic to Design Studio Q."

Read the full interior designer resume example here.

#67. Construction Project Manager Resume Objective

"Experienced Logistics Manager now aiming to apply organizational and leadership skills as a Construction Project Manager. Proven ability in managing resources and coordinating complex projects, ready to ensure efficiency and quality at MNO Construction."

Read the full construction project manager resume example here.

#68. Operations Manager Resume Objective

"MBA student with a focus on operations management, seeking an internship at XYZ Corp. Strong background in business analytics and process optimization, looking to apply and enhance these skills in a real-world business environment."

Read the full operations manager resume example here.

#69. Event Planner Resume Objective

"Experienced professional seeking to leverage my extensive professional background in logistics and project management to excel in the field of event planning. Proven track record of coordinating complex projects and ensuring smooth operations. Excited to contribute my skills to the dynamic world of event management at DEF Event Solutions, where precision and creativity intersect to deliver extraordinary events."

Read the full event planner resume example here.

#70. Warehouse Worker Resume Objective

“Retail worker seeking the position of a Warehouse Worker at XYZ Supermarket. Previous experience doing several retail jobs, including working as a stocker for produce and groceries at XYZ Family Market. Skilled in stocking, inventory replenishment, tracking and processing relevant paperwork, and using pallet jacks.”

Read the full warehouse worker resume example here.

#71. Welder Resume Objective

"Diligent individual skilled in various welding techniques, seeking a position as a Welder at ABC Metalworks. Proven ability in MIG and TIG welding from personal projects and vocational training. Committed to safety, precision, and high-quality craftsmanship."

Read the full welder resume example here.

#72. Real Estate Agent Resume Objective

"Former Sales Professional now pursuing a career as a Real Estate Agent. Extensive experience in client relations, negotiation, and market analysis. Ready to leverage these skills at XYZ Realty to deliver exceptional service and successful property transactions."

Read the full real estate agent resume example here.

#73. Flight Attendant Resume Objective

"Hospitality graduate with a passion for travel and customer service, aspiring to be a Flight Attendant at AirGlobal. Trained in emergency procedures and customer care, enthusiastic about ensuring passenger comfort and safety."

Read the full flight attendant resume example here.

#74. Paralegal Resume Objective

"Law student with a strong foundation in legal research and documentation, seeking a paralegal internship at XYZ Law Firm. Experience in drafting legal documents and assisting in case preparation through academic projects and volunteer work."

Read the full paralegal resume example here.

#75. Social Worker Resume Objective

"Recent graduate with a Master's in Childhood Development and Psychology, equipped with knowledge in case management, counseling, and community resources. Internship experience in child and family services, eager to contribute to the team at ABC Community Services."

Read the full social worker resume example here.

Key Takeaways

That’s a wrap on resume objectives!

We’re sure you’re ready to conquer that new career on the horizon.

But before you go, let’s go over what we mentioned so far:

• Resume objectives are a great choice for candidates who are switching careers or don’t have enough work experience to write a resume summary.
• The three most common cases when you’d need a resume objective are at the very beginning of your career when you have no work experience, when applying for an internship, or during a career change.
• A good resume objective can sway the hiring manager to give you a chance if you do it right. Start by tailoring it to the job description, matching your career goals with the company’s, and focusing on your most relevant skills.
• If you’re having trouble thinking up a resume objective, you can just scroll back up for some inspiration! Check out the examples we gave for different professions and get inspired.

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Business Objectives: Definition and Examples

Clear, concrete business objectives are vital to a company’s strategic planning process and support the accomplishment of larger, overarching corporate goals. Becoming familiar with sample business objectives can enhance your current work experience or help you prepare for a future career in business. This article defines what business objectives are and provides several examples, organized into common objective types.

What are business objectives?

Business objectives are concrete targets that a company will monitor to evaluate its performance towards a broader goal. As compared to a more subjective or values-oriented goal, business objectives have an exact numeric value attached to them. For example, if a company’s goal is to increase its presence in the international sneaker market, their objective might be to sell one million dollars worth of sneakers in Europe and Asia over a two-year period.

Example guidelines for business objectives: 

• Time-sensitive

Examples of additional guidelines for maximizing the effectiveness of business objectives:

• Identify who is responsible for accomplishing the objectives
• Determine when progress will be monitored 
• Determine by what system the company will evaluate success 
• Use the objectives to develop the company’s strategic plan 
• Limit the number of objectives to an average of three to five, with smaller performance indicators or sub-goals for each

Keeping the number of objectives small allows companies to maintain a clear focus and allocate time and personnel resources accordingly. Whether in your current organization or one you are applying to, consider asking what the organization’s objectives are. This can provide context for your specific role and help you understand how your job duties support one or more of the company’s core priorities.

Examples of common business objectives

Here are some common business objectives, with example objectives for each category:

Revenue refers to a company’s total income generated, before subtracting operational or production costs. Revenue objectives may be written in terms of the number of units sold or the total value of units sold. An example of this distinction would be 400 cars sold vs. car sales totaling 16 million dollars. 

Examples of revenue objectives:

• Reach 20 million dollars of sales from the product line in the first two years of production
• Increase revenue by two million dollars per quarter for four consecutive quarters through an expansion of the e-commerce system
• Increase ticket sales to 85% of stadium capacity for all home games for the 2020 football season

Many companies aim to reduce their operating, production and sales costs in an effort to increase their net revenue. Cost objectives may relate to personnel, manufacturing and/or distribution, marketing and advertising or something else. 

Examples of cost objectives:

• Reduce high-speed motorcycle production costs by 30% over two years through the implementation of an automated production system
• Reduce personnel expenses by 20% in the year 2021 by offering healthcare and dental benefits to full-time employees only
• Reduce office supply costs by 15% each quarter by shifting to exclusively electronic communications for company messaging distributed to all staff

Operational efficiency

Operational efficiency has potential benefits for employee and customer satisfaction, product expansion, production costs, total sales and various other indicators. As a result, companies often set operational targets to track their progress towards those broader goals. 

Examples of operations objectives:

• Deliver 100% of customer orders on time without manufacturing defects
• Complete 90% of major projects on time and on budget by implementing project management software with fidelity
• Complete new employee onboarding procedures in 14 days or less, as tracked in the electronic human resources portal

Many businesses set compliance targets to avoid associated penalties and because compliance targets are often also connected with success on related outcome metrics. For example, retail companies that meet all compliance requirements for equitable access for individuals with disabilities are likely to have higher customer satisfaction scores and possibly higher sales as well. 

Examples of compliance-related objectives:

• Submit 100% of financial reports on or before the deadline, consistent with local and/or national guidelines
• 100% compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations for parking spaces, entrances, dressing rooms and checkout spaces by the end of 2020
• 100% of eligible new hire candidates complete fingerprinting and background check requirements before receiving a written offer letter

Customer satisfaction

To increase sales and revenue, to expand their business and to maintain a steady client base, companies invest significant time, energy and money in customer satisfaction. Although it varies across companies, this is often assessed through customer surveys, social media monitoring, sales history and other methods. 

Examples of customer satisfaction objectives:

• Maintain an average of three stars or higher on all website product reviews and independent company rating sites
• Ensure that 80% or more of customer surveys indicate customers are likely or very likely to recommend the organization to a friend
• Increase customer retention rate to 80% by the end of 2021 through execution of targeted marketing and advertising systems

Sometimes described in technical terms of market expansion, diversification or market penetration, a company may set growth objectives that refer to the growth of their sales, customer base or brand recognition within a particular industry. Market expansion and diversification refer to the breadth of services offered and market penetration refers to the percentage of a company’s target client base that purchases its products.

Examples of business growth objectives:

• Expand distribution of weekend newspapers to reach 80% market penetration by the end of 2021
• Use a social media marketing campaign to increase target market product recognition to 75% by Fall 2020
• Add 10 new sports bars to the existing franchise within two years

11 min read

The success of any organization relies on its ability to attract, retain and develop top talent.  Talent acquisition  refers to the ongoing strategy and process an organization and its HR department uses to source, attract, evaluate, hire and retain the highly qualified new employees it needs to grow.

A well-crafted talent acquisition strategy has become a critical component for organizations seeking to secure a competitive edge. Beyond simply filling open roles, a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy encompasses a holistic approach to  talent management , from identifying organizational needs to nurturing relationships with potential candidates.

By recognizing the importance of a strategic and proactive talent acquisition approach, companies can position themselves as employers of choice. This approach can foster a culture that not only attracts the right candidates but also cultivates long-term success and sustainability.  

A talent acquisition strategy is a comprehensive plan that an organization develops to optimize its talent acquisition—the identification, attraction and retention of the right talent. It includes a series of interconnected processes and initiatives designed to align the organization’s talent needs with its business objectives. The strategy outlines the methods and processes for sourcing, screening and selecting candidates, while also focusing on employee retention and long-term development.

Talent acquisition strategy involves the use of various recruitment methods, technologies and practices. It enables HR professionals and the organization to build a strong employer brand, create a positive candidate experience and foster an effective, diverse and inclusive workforce. An effective talent acquisition strategy continually adapts to changes in industry trends and candidate preferences. It ensures that the organization’s talent acquisition efforts remain competitive and resilient.

An effective talent acquisition strategy includes elements designed to effectively attract, asses, identify and retain the best talent for the organization’s current and future hiring needs. The creation of a successful strategy should include these steps:

A compelling employer brand can set an organization apart, making it an attractive destination for skilled professionals. Many steps can be taken to build and enhance an employer brand, including:

• Define the employer value proposition (EVP):  Clearly articulate what sets the company apart as an employer—what it stands for and the kind of working environment it offers. Highlight the unique benefits, opportunities and culture.
• Create a compelling careers page:  Build an organized and informative careers page on the company website. Describe the application process. Use engaging content, images and videos to showcase the work environment.
• Collect and share employee success stories: Let employees describe their experiences working at the company, including career growth, work-life balance and company culture.
• Use social media:  Promote the employer brand on social media by sharing company news, employee stories and industry insights. Engage with potential candidates and encourage a sense of community.
• Offer competitive compensation and benefits:  Meet or exceed industry standards for pay and benefits packages and clearly communicate these offerings to potential candidates.
• Foster employee engagement and growth:  Create a supportive work environment that encourages employee engagement, professional development and career advancement.
• Initiate employee advocacy:  Encourage employees to become brand advocates. Provide them with tools to share positive experiences on their personal social media accounts and professional networks.
• Promote diversity and inclusion:  Widen the pool of top candidates by highlighting initiatives that demonstrate the organization’s commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Provide a positive candidate experience:  Streamline the recruitment process to ensure a seamless and positive experience for all candidates. Communicate with transparency.
• Highlight work-life balance:  Showcase any flexible work arrangements, wellness programs or other initiatives that prioritize the health and happiness of employees.
• Attend industry events:  Participate in conferences, webinars, speaking engagements, award competitions and other events to establish a presence and engage with potential candidates.
• Monitor online reviews:  Respond to reviews, whether positive or negative, to demonstrate a commitment to improving and addressing concerns.
• Measure impact:  Use analytics and metrics to assess the effectiveness of branding efforts. Monitor website traffic, application rates and employee referrals to gauge their success.
• Seek feedback and continuously improve:  A positive candidate experience can contribute to a favorable employer brand. Gather feedback from candidates who go through the hiring process.

Conduct a thorough assessment of current and future talent that the organization requires to achieve its business objectives.

• Conduct an organizational analysis:  Identify key areas where new talent is needed to support the company’s current and projected business goals and growth plans.
• Determine short- and long-term talent needs:  Distinguish between immediate hiring needs and future requirements. Prioritize roles that require immediate attention.
• Develop candidate profiles:  Create personas for ideal candidates and write detailed job descriptions for each role based on the skills and qualifications necessary for success.
• Evaluate internal talent:  Encourage employee retention by identifying suitable internal candidates for open positions and evaluate existing employees to determine if they can be upskilled or reassigned to fulfill upcoming roles.

A diverse range of sourcing channels can effectively connect with a wider pool of potential candidates. Key sourcing channels include:

• Company website:  Maintain an updated careers page on the company website that provides comprehensive information about the organization, job openings and the application process.
• Job boards:  Post openings on popular job boards and career websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Monster to reach active job seekers.
• Recruitment agencies:  Collaborate with reputable recruitment agencies and staffing firms that specialize in the same industry to gain access to their talent pool and sourcing expertise.
• Social media platforms:  Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok to promote job openings, share company culture and engage with potential candidates.
• Employee referrals:  Encourage current employees to refer potential candidates from their professional networks. Implement an employee referral program to incentivize employees to recommend qualified candidates.
• Networking events:  Attend industry-specific networking events and job fairs to establish connections with potential candidates and build relationships within the industry.
• Professional associations:  Engage with relevant professional associations and groups to reach candidates who are actively involved in the same field.
• Employee alumni networks:  Reconnect with former employees who may be interested in returning or referring other qualified candidates.
• Online forums and communities:  Participate in online communities and industry-specific groups where professionals discuss relevant topics and raise awareness about job opportunities.
• Talent marketplaces:  Explore online talent marketplaces and freelance platforms to connect with freelancers and independent contractors for short-term vacancies or special project roles.
• Direct outreach:  Reach out to potential candidates through emails, messages on professional networking platforms or phone calls to introduce the company and discuss relevant opportunities. 

Implementing a structured and comprehensive screening process can help assess candidates’ skill sets, qualifications and cultural fit. To develop an effective screening process:

• Review resumes and cover letters:  Assess their qualifications, relevant experience and alignment with the job requirements. Look for key achievements, skills and career progression that match the position.
• Conduct phone screenings: Assess candidates’ communication skills, professional demeanor and overall fit for the role.
• Administer skills assessments: Administer tests or assignments to evaluate candidates’ technical skills, problem-solving abilities and job-related competencies.
• Conduct multiple or panel interviews:  Gather diverse perspectives on each candidate’s fit for the role by arranging separate or panel interviews with key stakeholders.
• Include behavioral interviews:  Use behavioral interviews to understand candidates past behavior and assess how they might respond to specific situations in the workplace.
• Assess cultural fit : During the interview process, evaluate candidates’ alignment with the company’s culture and values. Ask questions that assess their work style and preferred work environment.
• Check references:  Reach out to the provided references to verify the accuracy of candidates’ work history, skills and achievements.
• Conduct background checks:  Include employment verification, education verification and criminal record checks. This validation of candidates’ qualifications ensures they meet the necessary requirements.
• Assess soft skills:  Evaluate candidates’ soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, adaptability and leadership potential, during the interview process.

Here are some effective ways to improve the candidate experience:

• Provide clear communication:  Ensure that candidates are informed about the next steps and the expected timeline throughout the hiring process.
• Streamline the application process:  Minimize the number of steps required and optimize the application platform for user-friendliness.
• Create transparent job descriptions:  Include the role’s responsibilities, qualifications and expectations and provide insights into the company culture and values.
• Conduct engaging and respectful interviews:  Ensure that interviews are well-organized, respectful and engaging, with interviewers who are well-prepared, ask relevant questions.
• Personalize candidate engagement:  Tailor candidate interactions to create a personalized and meaningful experience.
• Offer constructive feedback:  Provide specific insights into their strengths and areas for development to help them understand how they can improve and grow professionally.
• Ensure consistent employer branding:  Ensure that the candidate experience aligns with the employer brand. Maintain consistency in messaging, communication style and overall candidate engagement.
• Provide responsive and accessible support:  Make it easy for candidates to contact the hiring team or recruitment professionals for guidance and support.
• Follow up:  Express appreciation and provide closure on their application status, whether they are selected or not. Encourage them to stay connected with the company for future opportunities.
• Gather feedback:  Implement satisfaction surveys to gather feedback on the overall hiring process. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement in the candidate experience.

By leveraging data-driven insights, organizations can make informed decisions, optimize the recruitment processes and improve the overall quality of hires. Here are several ways in which data and analytics can be used in a talent acquisition strategy:

• Forecast talent demand:  Analyze historical data and job market trends to forecast future talent demands. This helps anticipate hiring needs and proactively source and attract the best candidates in advance.
• Sourcing channel performance analysis:  Track and study the performance of different sourcing channels such as job boards, social media and recruitment agencies.
• Candidate journey assessment:  Identify potential bottlenecks or areas for improvement at each stage of the recruitment process. This helps create a smoother and more efficient experience.
• Application and hiring metrics:  Use metrics such as application completion rates, time-to-hire, cost-per-hire and quality of hire to measure the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy.
• Candidate assessment and selection:  Implement data-driven assessment tools and techniques to objectively evaluate candidates based on skills, competencies and cultural fit.
• Employer brand perception analysis:  Monitor and analyze online reviews, social media mentions and candidate feedback to gauge the perception of the employer brand.
• Diversity and inclusion:  Analyze data on candidate demographics, hiring outcomes and employee retention to identify opportunities for fostering a more inclusive environment.
• Return on investment (ROI) analysis:  Evaluate the ROI of different recruitment initiatives and strategies to assess their effectiveness in attracting and retaining top talent. Analyze the cost and benefits associated with each.
• Predictive analytics for talent management:  Use predictive analytics to identify potential high-performing candidates, forecast employee retention rates and  develop talent management strategies .

Technology can play a pivotal role in enhancing various aspects of a talent acquisition strategy. It can enable organizations to streamline recruitment processes, improve candidate experience and make data-driven hiring decisions. Here are several ways technology can be leveraged as part of a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy:

• Applicant tracking systems (ATS):  Implementing an ATS can help automate and streamline the recruitment process, from job postings to managing candidate applications. ATS platforms enable recruiters to track candidate progress, schedule interviews and communicate with applicants efficiently, creating a more organized and efficient hiring process.
• AI-powered sourcing and screening:  AI can help analyze resumes, assess candidate fit and even conduct initial screenings, allowing recruiters to identify top talent more effectively.
• Video interviews:  Save time and resources and get a more comprehensive understanding of candidates’ communication skills and demeanor by using video interviewing platforms.
• Employee referral software:  Enable employees to refer potential candidates and track the status of their referrals. This technology can streamline the employee referral process.
• Virtual events and career fairs:  Host virtual career fairs and events using online platforms to connect with a broader pool of candidates and showcase the employer brand.
• Data analytics and reporting tools:  Data-driven insights can help recruiters make informed decisions, identify bottlenecks in the recruitment process and optimize hiring strategies.
• Mobile recruitment applications:  Develop mobile-friendly recruitment applications and platforms that allow candidates to conveniently apply for jobs, submit resumes and engage with recruiters.
• Candidate relationship management (CRM) systems:  CRM systems help recruiters maintain a database of potential candidates, nurture relationships over time and provide a personalized and engaging experience for each candidate.

Incorporating diversity and inclusion initiatives into recruitment can yield numerous benefits: improved innovation, enhanced employee morale and a positive employer brand. Here are more reasons why diversity and inclusion are essential to a talent acquisition strategy:

• Enhanced innovation and creativity:  A diverse workforce brings together individuals with unique perspectives, experiences and backgrounds. This diversity fosters innovation, creativity and new ideas.
• Improved employee performance:  Inclusive workplaces that value diversity often experience improved employee morale, engagement and overall job satisfaction.
• Broader talent pool:  A commitment to diversity and inclusion in the talent acquisition process expands the candidate pool, allowing organizations to attract and retain an array of top talent.
• Better understanding of customer needs:  Employees from different backgrounds can enable organizations to develop products and services that better meet the demands of a diverse market.
• Positive employer branding:  Companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion are often viewed as progressive, inclusive and socially responsible, making them more attractive to job seekers.
• Legal and ethical compliance:  Emphasizing diversity and inclusion ensures that organizations comply with antidiscrimination laws and promote fairness and equity in the workplace.
• Adaptability to changing demographics:  Diverse and inclusive work environments are better equipped to navigate cultural differences, adapt to changing demographics and effectively engage with a diverse customer base.

Integrating diversity and inclusion into the talent acquisition strategy requires a comprehensive approach. It involves creating inclusive job descriptions, implementing bias-free recruitment practices, providing diversity training and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, organizations build a more dynamic, innovative and resilient workforce reflective of the diverse society in which they operate.

Building a talent pipeline involves proactively identifying and nurturing relationships with potential candidates even if there are no immediate job openings. Here’s why building a talent pipeline is an important part of a talent acquisition strategy:

• Proactive recruitment:  By cultivating relationships with potential candidates in advance, companies can reduce the time and resources required to fill future job openings when they arise.
• Shortened time-to-hire:  With a prequalified pool of candidates readily available, organizations can quickly engage and evaluate, leading to faster decision-making and onboarding processes.
• Strategic succession planning:  A well-developed talent pipeline enables organizations to identify and groom internal talent for future leadership roles and key positions.
• Reduced recruitment costs:  By continuously engaging with potential candidates over time, organizations can reduce their reliance on external recruiters, job boards and other sourcing channels.
• Enhanced candidate quality:  Nurturing relationships with candidates over time allows organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their skills, experiences and cultural fit.
• Improved employer branding:  Maintaining a talent pipeline demonstrates an organization’s commitment to  talent development  and recruitment, enhancing the employer brand.
• Increased agility and flexibility:  Having access to a pool of qualified candidates enables organizations to adapt swiftly to emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Long-term relationship building:  Regular engagement with these candidates creates a positive candidate experience, even if they are not immediately selected for a role.

Regular evaluation allows organizations to identify areas for improvement, make necessary adjustments and align the talent acquisition strategy with the changing needs of the business. Here are several ways that an organization can assess its talent acquisition strategy:

• Key performance indicators (KPIs):  Establish and monitor specific KPIs related to the talent acquisition process such as time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, quality of hire and candidate satisfaction. Regularly tracking these metrics provides insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment process and helps identify areas for improvement.
• Candidate feedback and surveys:  Gather feedback from candidates who have gone through the recruitment process to understand their experience, perception of the brand and overall satisfaction, as well as to identify opportunities for enhancing the candidate experience.
• Data analysis and reporting: Assess the performance of different sourcing channels, the quality of candidates sourced and the success rates of various recruitment initiatives.
• Continuous process improvement:  Solicit feedback from recruiters, hiring managers and other stakeholders involved in the talent acquisition process to identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows and implement best practices.
• Talent market analysis:  Conduct regular analyses of the talent market to understand emerging skill requirements, industry trends, shifts in the labor market and adjust the talent acquisition strategy accordingly.
• Internal stakeholder engagement:  Engage with internal stakeholders, including senior leadership, human resource management and hiring managers, to gather insights into the effectiveness of the talent acquisition strategy.

While attracting top talent is essential, retaining and developing existing employees is equally crucial for the long-term success and sustainability of an organization. Investing in employee development and creating growth opportunities within the organization can increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates. This saves the organization time and resources associated with recruiting and training new hires.

Enhanced employee engagement, employee experience, succession planning and the cultivation of a learning culture provides several benefits, including: clear career paths for employees help avoid leadership gaps, and contribute to the organization’s overall growth and competitiveness. All of this attracts job seekers drawn to companies that prioritize employee growth, learning and career advancement.

Still, the cornerstone of organizational success remains a forward-thinking talent acquisition strategy—driving growth, fostering resilience and positioning companies for sustained excellence in the years to come.

As a leading talent acquisition and skills development consultancy, IBM Consulting® works closely with clients to tailor solutions specific to their recruiting and skilling needs. Whether you are looking to address high turnover, enhance the recruiting technology stack, improve work force productivity, address skills shortages, or create an effective learning experience for a diverse workforce, IBM can provide customized strategies and tools across consulting, technology and managed services.

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7 Employee Development Plan Examples to Help Your Team Succeed

Why do you need employee development plans, let alone employee development plan examples? No employee can ever (or would ever want to) stand still. There is almost always room for improvement, ways in which you can apply learning and development concepts to build new skills and help your employees meet their career goals.

But that process doesn’t happen magically. You need a strategic employee development program to achieve professional growth and optimize your performance management.

According to a 2022 Society of Human Resources Management report, 48% of employees call training opportunities a significant factor in choosing their job. Meanwhile, more than three-quarters are more likely to stay in their current role and organization if they get that opportunity.

But building strategic development opportunities can still be a struggle. Sure, you can put a mentoring program in place. But ultimately, modern L&D needs to be customized to each employee to truly build their competency.

Getting there means building roadmaps for your employee training program. Those roadmaps, in turn, are exactly why you need an employee development plan.

What is a professional development plan?

As we’ll highlight in this article, employee development plan examples can diverge quite heavily from one another. But they all tend to fall under a general definition we can use to get us started:

A professional or employee development plan is a written document that outlines how your employees, both individually and as a team, can meet their professional goals. It pulls from and builds toward performance reviews, making them more relevant and actionable to help team members improve and meet both short-term and long-term goals.

5 key features that the best employee development plan examples tend to share

Not all professional development plans are created equal. Some may focus on leadership skills, while others are designed for onboarding. Some lead to formal certifications, while others are closer connected to more informal mentorship programs. But all of them tend to share a few key features designed to make them effective:

• Time-bound. While some employee development plan examples focus on it more than others, all plans should have at least some specific time frame attached to evaluate initiatives after their completion.
• Milestones. In addition to an ending time, regular milestones help employees and supervisors check in on their progress and ensure a higher chance of success.
• Evaluation of current skills. Establishing a baseline of your employees’ skills allows you to perform a skills gap analysis and makes it easier to measure the growth in your employees’ skill sets.
• Action-oriented. Any effective employee development plan should have actionable steps specifically designed to build that above-mentioned roadmap. Those steps help to create a more intentional training plan.
• Measurable. Whether they’re designed for career growth or to help achieve company goals, development plans should be specific and include the right metrics to easily measure learning effectiveness .

The employee development plan examples shared below all include these components. As you build your own development plans and templates, keep these factors in mind to maximize your chances of success.

How does the right plan help you meet your business goals?

Put simply, a development plan makes the process of development initiatives more concrete. By outlining exactly what should be achieved and how it can be achieved, this type of growth plan can go a long way in helping your individual employees and your team meet crucial development goals.

Just as importantly, the right plan can also drive employee engagement . Especially when focusing on skill development related to an employee’s career or leadership development, telling your team members how they can get there and providing the support to do so has a significant impact on job satisfaction and employee retention.

Seven employee development plan examples you can implement right now

That’s it for the generalities. Now, it’s time to jump into the employee development plan examples specifically designed to nurture more high-performing employees.

1. Time-based individual development plan

As its name suggests, this plan orients itself around a timeline on which to achieve crucial employee goals. It’s typically based around a twelve-month calendar to align with annual employee performance reviews.

This type of plan can be built on individual goals or skills to be developed as the core variable. It should define an outcome for either of those variables, along with the timeframe at which it can be achieved. That ties the goals of the plan directly to the timeline, shown in a calendar view or Gantt chart to keep a visual overview.

2. Team-based action plan for development

Employee development plan examples don’t have to be limited to individual team members. This option creates an action plan for the entire team, helping to build core competencies as you look to improve performance and cohesion across the operation.

This plan starts with an assessment, often in the form of a SWOT analysis of where the team currently is. The insights gained help create a roadmap to fix weaknesses and build on strengths. In addition to overarching team goals, each team member should also have specific goals and objectives to achieve that lead to those larger goals.

3. Career development plan for team members

It’s time to think broadly. Ultimately, a successful career is as beneficial for the company as it is for the employee in question. It’s why career development is a leading factor not just for employee engagement but also for improving the productivity of your workforce.

A career development plan should begin with an outline of the employee’s career goals. These goals are then compared to current skills via skill gap analysis. The outcome of that analysis, in turn, can lead to a more specific plan on what skills to prioritize and develop.

Unlike some of the other employee development plan examples on this list, a career development plan can stretch over multiple years. Still, attaching specific timelines—like a three-year or five-year time frame—can help employees and managers alike keep track of their success.

4. Skills-based development plan for new employees

Training is a core piece of onboarding, and the right plan can help you make sure that every new employee is well-prepared for success. This type of plan helps your newest team members develop soft skills like communication skills, connecting typical onboarding lessons and seminars to a results-oriented plan for productivity.

Any skills-based development plan begins with establishing exactly what skills should be addressed. From there, it’s about establishing the employees’ current level of proficiency in the skill set and a timeline for how they can close the gap.

The best part about this type of plan is that it can easily be standardized. Because every new hire must go through the same steps, you can easily build a new employee development plan template that applies each time someone starts working in a given team.

5. Succession planning and development plan

In an ideal organizational flow, junior employees strategically learn the skills needed to move into more responsibility and ultimately into leadership roles. A strategic succession plan can help you get there.

Similar to the above onboarding plan, this version outlines the key skills needed to succeed in leadership. It then establishes exactly how proficient junior, manager, and senior leadership employees should be in those specific skills. That outline then establishes a roadmap you can easily apply to more specific, time-based plans for each employee.

6. Professional development and upskilling plan

Professional development, of course, can also go beyond specific succession or career planning. Upskilling remains one of the most underinvested types of L&D, and this type of plan can help you prioritize it.

The core idea is building a development plan based on skills your employees can benefit from. Think of it less as career growth and more as internal growth. For instance, any employee can benefit from better communication or organizational skills, regardless of their specific roles or career paths.

7. Self-evaluation and development plan

Finally, don’t underestimate the potential power of engaged employees looking to evaluate and track their own progress. Especially for self-motivated employees, this can become an important part of employee growth. For your organization, supporting these self-starter employees can lead to significant benefits.

This is the least structured of the employee development plan examples mentioned in this guide. It should provide general guidelines to your employees, like a suggested timeline or fields to enter goals and skills to be developed. Other than that, it’s up to your employees to complete, which makes it a powerful plan, especially in combination with some of the more structured options above.

From examples to implementation: How to get started

Regardless of the exact type(s) you implement, employee development plans can be invaluable to successful L&D. They structure the entire process, helping managers and employees understand exactly where to focus, what to work toward, and how to evaluate success.

But, of course, a plan is just the beginning. You also need the means to implement it, which is where the right LMS system comes into play.

How are your employees training their skills? How can you ensure that the plan’s implementation goes as well as its planning? Why not turn to the #1 global learning platform? Book your demo with Docebo today to learn how you can make the most out of your employee and team development plans.

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8 Graphic Design Resume Examples to Land Your Next Job

Published: May 15, 2024

If you're a graphic designer, I have to give you praise because, without your creativity and your keen eye for design, it would be a struggle for marketing to create campaigns that catch their audience's attention.

And what better way to show my appreciation to graphic designers than to write a post with helpful graphic design resume examples and tips that can help you land your next job?

You've come to the right place if you're a graphic designer looking for your next gig or want to refine your resume. Let's dive in!

Graphic Design Resume Best Practices

Graphic design resume examples, graphic design student resume examples.

Before I discuss the graphic design resume examples below, I'll outline some best practices for putting your resume together.

Use a clean layout.

Graphic design is a field that naturally attracts creative people like yourself, so you might be tempted to create a colorful, unique layout that shows off your eye for design.

However, your resume should have a clean layout that is easy to read and won't confuse any applicant tracking systems (ATS) your potential employers use.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
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You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

In her YouTube video, "The Resume That Got Me Hired As A Designer," graphic designer Victoria Gillerlain says a clean layout is the way to go.

"If your resume is hard to read, hard to look at, overly contrasted, or just makes people [wince] when they look at it because it's so overwhelming — that's not good," she explains. "[Recruiters] are probably not going to even bother to look into the content itself, and you want them to look at it!"

Gillerlain uses her own resume as an example of what to do, and she notes the absence of color in her document.

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"The reason behind that is that your resume is a professional document, and although you're in a creative field, using this as a creative document—not everyone who is looking at your resume is going to necessarily be in a creative field," she says. "Lots of times, there are going to be HR managers or recruiters who are looking at your resume and have nothing to do with the creative field."

Gillerlain says those people may look at an overly colorful resume and think, "Why does it have so many colors and graphics?"

"On top of that, if you're going to be in an on-site role at all, a lot of times people will print out your resume … there's a chance that none of that is going to actually print, and they might just print it in black and white — so it might now look as you intended it," she says.

Include links to your portfolio.

Even the most well-put-together resume in the world can't replace a glowing portfolio.

So, make sure your resume includes links to your work. Graphic design is a creative and visual industry, and including links to your portfolio will allow recruiters to see your experience and qualifications in action.

Tailor your resume for every application.

This is golden advice for any industry. You should always tweak and tailor your resume for each job you're applying for. This means incorporating keywords from the job posting and highlighting relevant experiences and skills.

One graphic design job opportunity may require a skill that isn't as relevant in other opportunities in the industry, and you don't want your resume to leave out that key detail.

So, read the job description closely and tailor your resume so that it applies and sets you up for success.

Mention your education.

"If you have a degree, even if it's unrelated, list it," Gillerlain says. "Having a degree shows that you're credible and committed, and a lot of places like to see that you have one nowadays."

Gillerlain suggests listing your degree, your minor ("If you want," she says), where you got it, and when.

To learn more general resume best practices, regardless of industry, check you my colleague Martina Bretous's post about resume tips that will help you get hired.

1. Victoria Gillerlain's Graphic Design Resume

I mentioned this resume earlier, but I want to dig a little deeper. Notice how the resume is simple, easy to follow, and to the point.

It's not very colorful but still includes small, unique design elements (like the large V logo in the corner) that help it stand out without being distracting.

Gilerlain also includes a link to her website portfolio, so recruiters can find her work without having to do any additional digging.

Pro-Tip: It's okay to add unique elements to your resume to show your creativity, but keep those elements simple, like in the example above.

Cool-toned colors for headlines and a simple logo can be just enough to separate you from other applicants without overshading the contents of the document.

2. Anna Chen's Graphic Design Resume

The above resume features a minimalist design that keeps the recruiter's focus squarely on the applicant's experience, qualifications, skills, and work history.

Pro Tip: While I like this resume for its simple design, I notice it doesn't include a space for Chen's education history, such as if she has a degree or is actively working toward one.

A simple design is excellent for resumes, but you should still include space for your education credentials.

Also, notice the most recent work experience is not bulleted. Applicants should include bullet points to make their resume more readable.

3. Charles Bloomberg's Graphic Design Resume

This resume is excellent because it's clean and includes all relevant information. I especially love how the applicant made sure to include his education and relevant certifications.

Pro Tip: Notice the small icons at the top symbolizing his location, email, phone number, and LinkedIn.

This information is a must-have, but icons and symbols can confuse applicant tracking systems and can harm the chances of your resume getting the attention of a recruiter.

So, avoid symbols and icons in your resume whenever possible.

4. Clara Thompson's Entry-Level Graphic Design Resume

This resume includes a pop of color that catches the eye without distracting from its contents. Thompson's contact information is listed neatly in the upper right corner of the page, leaving plenty of room for her work experience.

What I Love: The resume is an excellent example for individuals just starting their careers. I love how it highlights relevant projects the applicant completed before freelance work.

5. Samantha Angel's Senior Graphic Designer Resume Example

I'm biased because purple is my favorite color, but this is one of my favorite examples. Samantha's resume includes her work experience and a bulleted list of responsibilities. It also features her activities outside work and degree, adding more legitimacy to her application.

Pro Tip: Like Samantha, consider adding activities and certifications you've completed outside of your career to beef up your resume and show you're a well-rounded candidate.

If you're a student trying to break into the graphic design industry, here are some examples to get you going in the right direction.

1. Minimalist

The sample resume is an excellent example for graphic design students looking for entry-level opportunities. If you're new to the field but have internship or volunteer experience that applies to the role, include them as your work experience.

What I Love: The resume is simple and clean, with nearly all relevant information listed.

2. Black and White

Like the previous example, this resume lacks color—that's okay! As I mentioned earlier, it's not essential to have color. A pop of color can show you creativity, but there's no guarantee a recruiter or hiring manager will see it or care.

What I Love: I can't emphasize enough the importance of having a clean, easy-to-read resume. This format will pass ATS without issues and neatly display your qualifications.

3. Traditional with a Pop of Color

If you want a pop of color in your resume, this example is an excellent template to emulate. It showcases the applicant's creative flair while highlighting all the essential information.

However, be mindful of adding odd symbols and icons. Again, they can pose a problem for ATS.

Pro Tip: If using color, use it sparingly and pick a color that isn't too jarring. Like the one in the example, a calming blue is a great choice.

Graphic design, like most creative fields, can be a harsh industry to break into. However, you have the best chance if you have a portfolio, skills, experience, and a clean resume to vouch for you. Good luck!

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