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Business development specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Jonathan Byers,

Adegoke Oke Ph.D.

Business development specialist example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical business development specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for business development specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.2% of business development specialist resumes contained work ethic as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business development specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business development specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Work Ethic

Here's how business development specialists use work ethic:

Maintain a positive work ethic and professional dress code.
Structured documented conversation to construct and implement better work ethics and performance.

2. 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 specialists use crm:

Founded company providing automated CRM solution to help franchise owners overcome barriers to marketing communications.
Managed implementation of CRM software including installation, training and custom development

3. 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 specialists use customer service:

Provided excellent customer service by building customer rapport through excellent communication with the customers and by asking customer needs questions.
Recognized and assisted Manager with special projects for consistent customer service oriented attitude, product knowledge, and leadership capabilities

4. Healthcare

Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of a person's health by the diagnosis and treatment of a person's injury, illness, or any other disease. Healthcare is a basic necessity of human life and is the responsibility of the country's government to ensure that each person gets healthcare. Providing healthcare is the job of certified health professionals that includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other physicians. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, dentistry, therapy, and health training all come under healthcare. Healthcare plays a vital role in the country's economy and its development.

Here's how business development specialists use healthcare:

Created strong working relationships within the Kansas City Hospital Community focusing on upper level medical professionals and HealthCare providers.
Developed revenue enhancing opportunities targeted to consumers, marketing weight loss products and related education to multiple healthcare providers.

5. Sales Process

Here's how business development specialists use sales process:

Implemented daily meetings utilizing WebEx to align sales efforts; maximize effectiveness of sales process by creating standard operating procedures.
Automobile Sales/Management Sell vehicles utilizing the Key Auto Group Sales Process.

6. Salesforce

Salesforce is an American cloud-based software company based in San Francisco, California. This company provides customer relationship management services that enable the customers to be closer to the company. It gives the company detailed information about each customer, including marketing, sales, commerce, and services. Salesforce also helps market a product to attract more buyers, and helps win more customers by targeting the right audience.

Here's how business development specialists use salesforce:

Improved SalesForce database input procedure for business & eliminated dual data entry.
Develop and implement custom Salesforce reporting/forecasting tools to standardize role processes and key performance indicators of Account Executives.

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7. PowerPoint

Here's how business development specialists use powerpoint:

Presented services at PI meetings using PowerPoint presentations along with performing hands on equipment demonstration if required.
Developed training for attorneys; delivering training on public speaking and PowerPoint presentations.

8. Excellent Interpersonal

Here's how business development specialists use excellent interpersonal:

Identify new revenue opportunities and utilize excellent interpersonal skills to foster and maintain valuable working relationships with potential and existing accounts.
Cultivate and maintain a professional network with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

9. Lead Generation

Here's how business development specialists use lead generation:

Utilize data mining techniques and segmentation models to improve overall lead generations and overseeing efforts to obtain data mining information.
Engaged with senior-level executives, to proactively schedule and confirm customer engagement meetings through cold-calling and lead generation campaigns.

10. Project Management

Here's how business development specialists use project management:

Developed, directed, and/or assisted in project management including proposals and implementation of system installations/upgrades to improve support capabilities.
Experience using project management practices and principles to provide effective project management leadership for complex projects involving multiple organizations.

11. PET

Here's how business development specialists use pet:

Created the Milwaukee Pet Goods and Services page which highlighted local pet services, organizations, and events.
Incepted an alternative music and pet therapy program in Hospice setting.

12. 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 specialists use customer relationships:

Partnered with Business Development Managers and Directors by receiving incoming requests for assistance and providing solid solutions that increase customer relationships.
Outperformed previous Territory Distributor by rebuilding customer relationships and providing high levels of service on consistent basis.

13. Digital Marketing

Here's how business development specialists use digital marketing:

Put together digital marketing campaigns for each client and monitored monthly to ensure effectiveness or suggest changes as needed.

14. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how business development specialists use customer satisfaction:

Demonstrate an understanding that business is built on excellent customer satisfaction and being devoted to guaranteeing customer satisfaction.
Focused on establishing relationship with customers to successfully build assigned territory and ensure high level of customer satisfaction.

15. 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 specialists use product knowledge:

Increased sales revenue through exceptional customer/product knowledge and ability to identify opportunities to sell online and print ads.
Expanded product knowledge utilizing all resources including product literature, manufacture representatives, product managers and technical support.

5 Business Development Specialist resume examples

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What skills help Business Development Specialists 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 specialist resumes?

Jonathan Byers

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 specialists possess?

Adegoke Oke Ph.D.

Professor of Supply Chain Management, Arizona State University

In general, people skills: leadership, effective communication and negotiation skills, the ability to work effectively with people in different cultures and in a team environment.

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

Adegoke Oke Ph.D.

Professor of Supply Chain Management, Arizona State University

Data analytics skills are currently in high demand, so is understanding the impact of emerging technologies and digitization on business

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

Matthew Nagler

Professor and Chair, The City College of New York

A gap year might be the right move for some students, especially if the online environment is not for them. Fortunately, I know of students who have obtained great online internships, jobs, and other opportunities that allow them to grow their experience during the pandemic. Many companies are seeking online talent to build out products and marketing strategies.

What type of skills will young business development specialists need?

Jim Drinkwine

Professor, Whatcom Community College

Employers consistently say they want graduates with strong people skills. While technical skills are good, being able to work effectively in group settings is more important. I hear from students all the time about how much they dislike group projects for several reasons. However, the topic of the group project isn't as crucial as the teamwork skills you develop as a part of this type of learning. Take every opportunity you can to develop strong skills in interpersonal communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

What technical skills for a business development specialist stand out to employers?

Todd Lee Goen

Instructor & Internship Director, Christopher Newport University

Technical skills are often industry and/or position specific. Applicants should highlight any technical skills related to the position advertisement and those that add value to the position/organization. Most importantly, requirements for technical skills change with time and technological advances. This means employers value workers capable of adapting to change and continually improving and acquiring new technical skills. Thus, it's usually more important to demonstrate you are capable of learning and developing technical skills than it is to have a specific skill set upon hire (although this is not true for some positions/industries).
That said, technical skills related to online presentations, virtual meetings, virtual networking, remote working and the like are hot commodities right now. While most organizations were in the process of adopting many of these technologies and ways of doing business pre-pandemic, the pandemic accelerated the process. Organizations are making it work, but they often don't know best practices or the most efficient means of working in the largely virtual, pandemic environment. Post-pandemic, many of the remote/virtual changes the pandemic brought will stay in some form. Technical skills that support this type of workplace will make applicants stand out to many employers because they need/want to do virtual/remote business better.

Do you want to know more?

List of business development specialist skills to add to your resume

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

Work Ethic
CRM
Customer Service
Healthcare
Sales Process
Salesforce
PowerPoint
Excellent Interpersonal
Lead Generation
Project Management
PET
Customer Relationships
Digital Marketing
Customer Satisfaction
Product Knowledge
Patients

Account Management
Market Research
Relationship Building
Business Relationships
Outbound Calls
Excellent Organizational
Home Health
Rehabilitation
Sales Strategies
Marketing Campaigns
Business Development
Linkedin
Telemarketing
Cold Calls
Trade Shows
Proposal Development

Business Growth
Product Line
RFP
Sales Cycle
HR
Sales Presentations
Market Trends
ROI
Community Events
Lead Management
Sales Pipeline
Twitter
Market Analysis
Facebook

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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