What is the career path for business development?

Advanced degrees in these areas can jump-start you on the business development career path, but they are not a requirement.

You need sales experience to be hired at a BDR managerial level, so if you are fresh out of college you will most likely have to obtain an entry-level role, like a BDR representative, first.

The BDR representative role focuses on these areas:

• Marketing

• Customer Service

• Customer Success

If you can excel in these areas you should find yourself advancing on the business development career path within only a few years.

BDRs often have responsibilities that include:

• Cold calling

• Cold emailing

• Booking sales appointments

BDR roles are a great way to learn the ropes and gain experience in business development. Many BDR roles often come with specific quotas that must be reached.

Certifications are also another great way to advance along this career path. Here are some certifications related to business development to consider:

• Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

• Project Management Professional (PMI)

• Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)

• Master Project Manager (MPM)

• Program Management Professional (PgMP)

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)