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Business development officer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Jonathan Byers,
James Wilkerson Ph.D.
Business development officer example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical business development officer skills. We ranked the top skills for business development officers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.9% of business development officer resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business development officer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business development officer skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how business development officers use customer service:
  • Trained and empowered team leaders to improve and deliver professional customer service and to ensure effective day-to-day operations of the businesses.
  • Committed to creating a memorable banking experience by providing impeccable, personalized customer service to maximize account acquisition and retention.

2. Business Administration

Business administration is the management of a commercial firm. It incorporates all aspects of supervising and overseeing business operations. Considering the leadership and management perspective it unfolds into the fields of accounting, finance, quality assurance, data analysis, sales, information-technology management building administration, design, development, project management, research and development, and marketing.

Here's how business development officers use business administration:
  • Increased Small Business Administration lending for Wells Fargo Bank SBA Lending Division.
  • Represented bank in Small Business Administration lending and merchant services programs.

3. Financial Services

Financial services are economic services that are offered by the finance sector, which includes banks, financial institutes credit-card agencies, insurance companies, accountancy firms, and others that handles assets. Organizations in the financial services sector are concerned with money and risk management.

Here's how business development officers use financial services:
  • Implemented business and personal financial service programs and effectively solicited new Business Banking customers in assigned territory.
  • Developed CS Private Banking On-Shore operations in order to deliver an integrated local financial service platform.

4. Workplace

Here's how business development officers use workplace:
  • Tracked and reported WorkPlace Direct Banking activities and effectiveness.
  • Revitalized and strengthened existing WorkPlace Direct Banking relationships.

5. SBA

Small Business Administration or SBA refers to a government agency that offers assistance to small businesses. They work with individuals starting or growing their businesses. The agency has a website that contains various tools such as training programs and business plans to help small businesses.

Here's how business development officers use sba:
  • Established and coordinated implementation of business products and services as Business Loan Officer and Business Service Manager with SBA lending experience.
  • Partner with Commercial Banking and Smith Barney segments to identify SBA 7a and SBA 504 opportunities with existing and potential customers.

6. Bank Products

Those products which a bank offers to its customers are called bank products. There a variety of services that a bank offers to attract customers. Some of the banking products/ services are: giving loans, overdrafts, check payments, exchange of foreign currency, consultancy services credit, debit and ATM cards, home and online banking.

Here's how business development officers use bank products:
  • Initiated promotion of bank products utilizing various marketing and advertising methods in the community.
  • Identified and developed account relationships of large and or complex nature by selling bank products and services to commercial customers.

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7. Customer Relationships

Customer relationships are the interactions and efforts made by a company to improve its customer service. Customer relationships cover not just all of the essential roles performed by customer support, but also the initiatives made before and after the interaction with a customer.

Here's how business development officers use customer relationships:
  • Worked with Branch Managers and Loan Officers to grow our borrowing/non-borrowing customer relationships and to acquire new business customer relationships.
  • Maintained former Mellon Bank customer relationships and cultivated lead opportunities with Branch Management, Cash Management and Treasury contacts.

8. Sales Process

Here's how business development officers use sales process:
  • Developed and implemented effective sales process targeting law firms and attorneys for cash management, banking, credit and investment relationships.
  • Led and support the sales process by developing a strong network of potential business clients in various diversified industries.

9. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how business development officers use financial statements:
  • Reviewed tax returns and financial statements for both customer and dealerships to ensure financial stability.
  • Credit analysis of customer financial statements for term negotiations and commercial loan approvals.

10. CRM

CRM stands for Customer relationship management and it is a complete process through which a business or organization monitors and administers its interactions with the customers. A process in which large amounts of data are collected through marketing via a company's website, polls, surveys, and other social media applications. The basic goal of CRM is to target the right audience for their product, and then fulfill their needs, to increase the sales and revenue of the company.

Here's how business development officers use crm:
  • Revamped CRM and other customer tracking systems to improve marketing communications to our clients.
  • Utilized CRM to track clients from lead to closed sale to portfolio management.

11. BDO

Here's how business development officers use bdo:
  • Added value to the BDO position by addressing and participating in employee education and plan sponsor communication.
  • Named as BDO to Michigan Wells Fargo Bank team bringing insurance services to bank clients and prospects.

12. Loan Portfolio

Here's how business development officers use loan portfolio:
  • Manage a commercial loan portfolio by obtaining current financial information, monitoring credit strength and updating loan covenants.
  • Managed loan portfolio asset quality with respect to loan delinquency and criticized assets.

13. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how business development officers use product knowledge:
  • Trained other sales representatives in the areas of product knowledge, sales techniques and territory management.
  • Maintained quality industry and product knowledge through training, research, and practice.

14. Cash Flow Analysis

Here's how business development officers use cash flow analysis:
  • Completed the First Chicago credit training program (financial statement/cash flow analysis).
  • Assist in the underwriting/cash flow analysis process by presenting necessary financials to committee and giving a recommendation for approval/decline.

15. Commercial Banking

Here's how business development officers use commercial banking:
  • Managed and developed commercial banking relationships with middle market companies and business owners/principals.
  • Incorporated effective business development strategies to expand commercial banking with outstanding results.
top-skills

What skills help Business Development Officers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on business development officer resumes?

Jonathan ByersJonathan Byers LinkedIn profile

Assistant Director, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University


- Professional skills related to career development competencies such as strong oral & written communication, teamwork & collaboration, leadership, problem-solving ability & creativity, and professional integrity, but we recommend that applicants do not just list these skills. They should provide evidence of how they have used them in their work experience, volunteer experience, academic experience, etc.
-The ability to use technology effectively to solve problems or improve collaboration; this could relate to social media management, computer hardware or software skills, proficiency with general programs like Microsoft Office Suite (also being able to demonstrate the use of these skills in various experiences).
-With diversity, equity, and inclusion becoming more important in 2020, the ability to appreciate different points of view, accept and appreciate different cultural backgrounds & types of identities, and increased awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions can also be important to market on a resume.

What soft skills should all business development officers possess?

James Wilkerson Ph.D.

Business Program Coordinator, Project and Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University

Verbal skills (both speaking and writing), negotiation skills, unfailing honesty, ability to empathize with clients' wants, and teamwork skills suitable for working collaboratively with sales and operations staff.

What hard/technical skills are most important for business development officers?

James Wilkerson Ph.D.

Business Program Coordinator, Project and Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University

Spreadsheet (Excel) skills (including graph production from data), basic statistical knowledge, and online information search skills.

What business development officer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kaustav Misra Ph.D.Kaustav Misra Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean, Central Connecticut State University

This pandemic taught us many things and one important thing that we have an efficiency gap.

The way of doing business will be much more technology orientated. Hence graduates should be ready to unskill and upskill their credentials. This time it is necessary to forget the old way of doing business and learn new skills to get a job or stay in a current job. Soft skills have become much more important than before, but a different soft skill set would be essential to interact with future market participants. Thus, a gap year should be utilized to unskill-upskill and enhance relevant credentials by getting into short-long term programs, training, and workshops would be highly recommended.

What type of skills will young business development officers need?

Patrick Scott Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University

I think the importance of critical thinking and reasoning skills cannot be overstated enough. In this area, economics shines. Additionally, analytical and quantitative skills are more important than ever. Businesses continue to make the shift towards data-driven decision making. The ability to quickly analyze data and correctly assign an interpretation or meaning to that data is an important job market skill. With just a little bit of economic intuition, combined data science skills, business economics majors are uniquely positioned for success in the job market of tomorrow.

List of business development officer skills to add to your resume

Business development officer skills

The most important skills for a business development officer resume and required skills for a business development officer to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Business Administration
  • Financial Services
  • Workplace
  • SBA
  • Bank Products
  • Customer Relationships
  • Sales Process
  • Financial Statements
  • CRM
  • BDO
  • Loan Portfolio
  • Product Knowledge
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Commercial Banking
  • Gross Sales
  • Financial Analysis
  • Excellent Interpersonal
  • Cash Flow
  • Lead Generation
  • Trade Shows
  • Treasury
  • Business Clients
  • Cash Management
  • Develop Leads
  • Origination
  • Community Events
  • Cross-Selling
  • Business Relationships
  • Cold Calls
  • Work Ethic
  • Sales Strategies
  • Business Plan
  • Business Development
  • Client Relationships
  • Business Loans
  • Credit Analysis
  • Commercial Loans
  • HR
  • Financial Products
  • National Accounts
  • Loan Programs
  • Sales Targets
  • Due Diligence
  • Anti-Money Laundering
  • CPA
  • Business Growth
  • Market Research

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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