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Monster: What made you want to be a Business Development Manager?
Mark: All my previous experience had involved customer liaison and account management. By becoming involved in Business Development I felt I could develop myself professionally further, by winning and developing business opportunities and then utilising my account/project management skills to see this business ‘won’ through to fruition.
By stepping into a Business Development role I was certainly stepping out my comfort zone, but felt this was necessary at this stage of my career. To increase my skill-set and provide myself with a greater potential pool of future job roles, moving into Business Development was necessary.
What skills and education are essential to your job?
Education-wise, a high level of numeracy and literacy is required in order to be able to feedback and provide information and reports effectively. Time management and the ability to successfully carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, to me, are key to being successful in the role. I am comfortable and confident communicating face-to-face, on the phone and via email, but making sure I actually have the time to communicate with my customers, suppliers and contractors is paramount!
What advice can you offer someone wanting to become a Business Development Manager?
If you are going to become a Business Development Manager, ensure that you are passionate and knowledgeable about the product or service you are trying to sell…if you don’t buy into it, your potential customers are not likely to either. In the early stages of a Business Development role, getting past ‘Gatekeepers’, so you can actually speak to the relevant person in an organisation, can be a frustrating aspect of the job. However, this is always off-set by the satisfaction felt when you do speak to and meet the relevant person and they are keen to proceed with a purchase.
What are the best and worst things about your role?
Best? if you take the advice above, you will hopefully be working in an enjoyable environment. Both getting sceptical customers on board and talking to customers who are already keen and ‘get it’ provide a great sense of satisfaction. And let’s be honest, if you succeed and achieve your targets in a Business Development role, you will normally receive a bonus!
And the worst? Speaking (briefly, usually) to potential customers who just do not get what you are trying to offer them. Not being given the opportunity to be heard out is incredibly frustrating, however, I find that sometimes a few weeks or months down the line, they eventually come back to you!
Are there any perks to the job?
I would class working at home as a perk - it demonstrates trust from your employer, but also requires self-discipline. I also drive a company car and am provided with a laptop, mobile phone, sat-nav and company credit card, although I would also describe these items as necessary tools to undertake the role successfully. Being able to receive discounted Sky TV is a definite perk!
What is the end goal in your career?
I would be happy to stay in the industry I am currently in, however, ‘never say never’. I have only been doing my current Business Development role for 6 months, but in another 12 months time I would be looking for the next step up. Ultimately, in 3-4 years time I will be aiming to secure a National Business Development/Account Management role…if not with my current employer, with another.
Finish this sentence. "This week I have been mostly..."
“…working from home. My role is home-based and is also very fluid…I have to be very flexible, in terms of travel, appointments, admin, etc. Typically, I spend 2-3 days a week at home, but occasionally it is necessary to spend 4 or even 5 days a week at home to follow up previous appointments, arrange new ones and talk to contractors/suppliers.”
Fancy following in Mark's footsteps? Check out our latest Business Development Manager jobs. |
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