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Job outlook for global business development managers in the United States
Global business development manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected global business development manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for global business development managers are projected over the next decade.
Global business development manager salaries have increased 8% for global business development managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 33,939 global business development managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 162,587 active global business development manager job openings in the US.
The average global business development manager salary is $116,291.
Are global business development manager jobs in demand?
Global business development manager job and salary trends over time
Global business development manager jobs over time
Global business development manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,939 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 32,903 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 32,297 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 29,603 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,530 | 0.01% |
Average global business development manager salary over time
Global business development manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $116,291 | $55.91 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $111,939 | $53.82 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $109,845 | $52.81 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $108,160 | $52.00 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $107,301 | $51.59 | +1.9% |
Global business development manager jobs by state
Most common states for global business development managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 463 | 67% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,251 | 40% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 398 | 38% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 625 | 33% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 286 | 33% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 228 | 31% |
| 7 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 806 | 28% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 534 | 26% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 199 | 26% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,745 | 25% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,499 | 25% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,470 | 25% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 801 | 25% |
| 14 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 723 | 24% |
| 15 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,613 | 22% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,439 | 22% |
| 17 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,071 | 21% |
| 18 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,411 | 21% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 621 | 21% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 211 | 20% |
Most common cities for global business development managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $139,725 |
| 2 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $138,916 |
Global Business Development Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of global business development manager experts
Georgia State University
Drexel University
Utah State University
City University of Seattle
North Dakota State University
Siena College
Siena College
Wayne State University
University of Scranton
University of Saint Mary
The Pennsylvania State University
Augsburg University
Miami University
Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of West Florida
Christopher Newport University
Northeastern University
Valdosta State University
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Andrew Spicer: Resiliency is a particularly important skill for international business and career progression. Resiliency – the ability to recover quickly in the face of obstacles and failures – has always been a critical part of successful international assignments. The only constant of working abroad is that there will be miscommunication and mistakes. Successful international business careers depend on the ability to learn from these inevitable setbacks to improve over time. The constant change in the global business environment also leads to the demand for resiliency among international business specialists. An important role for those with a global mindset is to help companies adapt to the massive disruption to the global business environment for international trade and investment presently taking place across the world.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andrew Spicer: If you know another language and have deep knowledge of foreign markets, then a good strategy is to deliberately seek out multinational companies that would value these international capabilities. This returns to advice to seek out companies with a strong international presence and an interest in hiring and fostering international expertise.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Andrew Spicer: My first piece of advice for a graduating college student who wishes to pursue a career in international business is to ask lots of questions about the potential for international assignments before accepting a job. Does the company send people abroad for work assignments? For how long? To which places? How do international assignments fit into long-term career progression in the company? Besides talking to the company recruiter, I would also advise to talk directly to people who have already completed an international assignment with the company.
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Salomao De Farias: An International Business Analyst/Professional performs a variety of tasks that contribute significantly to understanding and navigating global markets. On a daily basis, these may include analyzing data trends and market information to identify patterns and insights that help in making informed decisions about market entry, product development, and other strategic moves. Also, IB analysts will work in compiling findings into detailed reports and presentations that communicate insights and recommendations clearly to stakeholders, they will be capable to use data visualization to simplify the complex set of data that they may face when analyzing a country's market potential. They will assist in the development of strategic plans based on analysis to help the company maximize its international potential and opportunities. A key responsibility is working closely with various departments (such as marketing, sales, and logistics) to ensure coherent strategies are implemented effectively across all sectors of the business. It is important to keep track of international economic and trade regulations, monitoring geopolitical impacts on international markets, and understanding international legal frameworks to adjust business strategies accordingly. I would say that for someone entering the field, initial activities typically involve more focused tasks such as data collection, basic analysis under supervision, and learning the specific technologies and methods used in their organization. They may also spend considerable time gaining understanding of the specific markets their company is interested in or already operating within.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Salomao De Farias: As businesses increasingly operate on an international scale, the demand for professionals who can analyze and navigate international markets continues to grow. Adding to this, the advancement in data analytics tools has enhanced the capability to collect and analyze extensive amounts of data, making international business analysis more efficient and insightful. AI tools will help in this task. Understanding complex global markets is crucial as companies seek to expand or improve their global footprint amidst fluctuating trade regulations and geopolitical tensions. After the COVID pandemic and the disruption of global markets, more than ever there is a need for professional that can understand and navigate the complexities of IB.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Salomao De Farias: Likes: IB analysts often see a direct impact of their work on company decisions and strategy, which can be highly satisfying. IB roles offer varied problems to solve, which can make every day interesting and intellectually stimulating. Working with international markets offers exposure to different cultures and business practices, enhancing personal and professional growth. Travelling internationally, getting to know different countries, cities and cultures around the globe. Dislikes: I wouldn’t call dislikes, rather challenges. I will start pointing that the stakes are high, as incorrect analysis could lead to poor strategic decisions. This pressure can be stressful. Also, navigating various international regulations, economic conditions, and cultural nuances can be daunting and complex. Depending on the markets covered, working hours might be irregular to overlap with different time zones.
Parfait Kouassi PhD.
Associate Teaching ProfessorDrexel University
Bilingual, Multilingual, And Multicultural Education
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Parfait Kouassi PhD.: In the next 3-5 years, bilingual and multicultural skills will likely become as indispensable as having access to transportation. Just as individuals without access to a personal vehicle can rely on public transit or ridesharing services, those lacking multilingual abilities will find themselves at a severe disadvantage in their careers. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and the ability to communicate across languages and navigate different cultural contexts will be essential for professional growth, success, and mobility.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Parfait Kouassi PhD.: Maximizing your salary potential when starting your career with multilingual and multicultural skills requires a strategic approach. While some companies offer language incentives, the true value of these skills extends far beyond financial compensation. Multilingual and multicultural individuals enjoy a wealth of social fulfillment by fostering connections, building bridges, and gaining deeper insights into diverse perspectives and ways of life. If you want to maximize your financial gain and your chosen field does not directly reward language proficiency, you should be aware that numerous opportunities exist across various industries that actively seek out and compensate individuals with your unique skill set. Fields such as international business, diplomacy, education, healthcare, and tourism highly value bilingual and multicultural individuals for their ability to facilitate communication, build bridges, and drive innovation in diverse contexts.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Parfait Kouassi PhD.: My advice would be to embrace these valuable competencies as a competitive edge. Research shows that individuals with multilingual and multicultural backgrounds possess enhanced cognitive abilities, including improved working memory and mental flexibility for solving problems in innovative ways. They should actively seek out opportunities that allow them to leverage these unique strengths and pursue their passions while making meaningful contributions to their chosen field.
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Barbara Ribbens: It is important to develop your story about your skills and competencies to sell yourself to potential employers. Not many companies list jobs as International Business openings, but almost every company is happy to consider IB grads for their openings. IB grads are particular desired in rotational leadership development programs and in logistics/customs kinds of roles, but we have IB graduates go to work in many different companies and settings. We have found that IB grads tend to promote more quickly than average because they know a second language (which often results in improved communication skills) and they have studied abroad so they tend to be more confident and flexible than many other business graduates.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Barbara Ribbens: Specific IB skills that are increasing in importance are cultural intelligence, being able to deal with complexity in problem solving, and adaptability/flexibility to work in different situations and settings. As the world globalizes, more people will need the ability to work with peers and on teams that are diverse culturally in effective ways. This is a real strength of IB majors since they take language and international general education courses to broaden their thinking and then also do cross cultural courses and study abroad to develop their cultural communication and leadership skills.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Barbara Ribbens: Developing your poise and experience through college activities is essential beyond doing well in classes. Getting involved in student organizations, doing case competition teams, getting involved in consulting projects and taking on leadership roles are all good examples of ways to develop your skills. Doing a study abroad and an internship are both important steps to being ready to negotiate a good salary for that first job. Being able to clearly communicate your goals and how your experiences have prepared you for your career is key to successfully negotiating that first job and starting your career with a job that pays well and offers development opportunities.
Brent Allred
Professor of International Business and Strategic ManagementUtah State University
Marketing
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brent Allred: I get this question often from my students that wish to have international careers and job opportunities. One of the reasons we suspended our International Business (IB) major was that we found that not a single company was coming to campus to specifically recruit students with IB degrees. At the undergraduate level, companies are more focused hiring students with function skills from degrees like Accounting, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Data Analytics, etc. Few companies are looking for fresh undergraduates to come advise in creating and implementing high level international strategies. Instead, they look to those in the company and industry that have extensive experience. Due to the expense of sending employees abroad, fresh undergraduates are also not the prime candidates for international assignments. While Executive Ex-patriot assignments are declining (due to expense and the increased availability of local national talent), companies that wish to have employees acquire international experience are sending more mid-level managers for international assignments. This allows them to send high potential employees that have developed the understanding and talent of the company/industry/specific field to enhance their value to the company with international experience. So, the advice that I give my students is to first focus on the functional business degree that interests them most and complement this with an International Business Minor or our new Certificate. They should then seek out companies that have a global reach and provide international opportunities to employees. Once on the job, excel at that job, while also seeking out opportunities that will expose them to global projects and managers that can result in international opportunities.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Brent Allred: As stated above, I feel that students should focus first on establishing a solid job/career within a company, typically an American company for US students. International assignments and experience within a company will only enhance your value. Pursuing international jobs directly in countries that pay as locals is not a recommended path for maximizing salary. It could be a good path for gaining experience, but many countries do not pay as well as the US and the cost of living may be high. I led a student experience to London this past March and while the students came away with a sense that they could pursue jobs there, they also learned that they would not be paid as well in a very expensive city. A colleague of mine taught at the London Business School and told me that his salary paid for rent and his consulting paid for food. It is wonderful to live and work in places like London for a couple of years, but that may not help you get ahead financially. On the other hand, the experience may prove invaluable for a career and future opportunities. It should also help make you a better global citizen, which may be the most important thing to be.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Everyone is talking about AI these days, so I will start off by joining the bandwagon, but with some nuance. It's important to know how to use artificial intelligence tools in order to be better or more effective at one's job. This doesn't mean that everyone needs to become an AI expert, but that we should be able to harness the power of AI tools to improve the quality and efficiency of our work. This requires being fluent enough with AI tools to understand, discuss, and make decisions involving AI or about AI output (even if we don't actually use those tools in a hands-on manner). This should be done while also being able to bridge the gap for those who are less fluent (perhaps those in more senior-level roles who are even less hands-on with these tools). That apart, as more of the workforce focuses more of their time on technical and similar skills, "softer" skills such as integrity, professionalism, self-awareness, and team-orientation will become even more important as differentiators.
Ahmad Asady
Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and GrowthNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Ahmad Asady: The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
Soyoung Joo
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills stand out on Global Business Development Manager resumes?
Soyoung Joo: Communication and time management skills are valuable skills for marketing managers.
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds can be added to the above skills.
Allison Lauenstein
Teaching Instructor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
Allison Lauenstein: Leadership and collaboration will go a long way. The best ideas can come from anywhere, and it's not always about who has the best idea but who can execute the idea the best. Good marketers must understand that if you cannot successfully execute or effectively communicate a great idea, it may not be so great.
Attila Yaprak Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing and International Business, Director, Doctoral ProgramsWayne State University
Mike Ilitch School of Business
What soft skills should all Global Business Development Managers possess?
Attila Yaprak Ph.D.: Humility, tolerance, appreciation for diversity, empathy, cultural adaptability.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Global Business Development Managers?
Attila Yaprak Ph.D.: Functional area knowledge, i.e., in (international) marketing, finance, strategic management, etc.; world area knowledge, i.e., expertise in West Africa and digital facilities.
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
Attila Yaprak Ph.D.: Portfolio of the above three with different weights depending on context.
Abhijit Roy
Professor of MarketingUniversity of Scranton
School of Management
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
Abhijit Roy: The above skills are in high demand and also currently pay the most. Still, I strongly recommend that students focus not on skills that will help them earn the most but on the skill sets that each individual possesses and think of how they can best leverage that in the marketplace to have a long sustained, and enjoyable career.
What soft skills should all Global Business Development Managers possess?
Abhijit Roy: These are very important, yet harder to quantify skills, not only for marketing professionals but for business graduates in general. They include the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, having a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as embodied by having empathy towards coworkers and subordinates, delegating appropriately, mentoring, communicating, time management, maintaining positivity despite setbacks and adapting to unforeseen challenges, being flexible, being persuasive and assertive at appropriate moments, yet being collaborative, seeking feedback, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts when needed, amongst others.
Soft skills are typically more instrumental in enabling candidates to fit into an organization's culture and be strong candidates for promotion. Most marketing jobs involve candidates representing their brand initiatives and building strong client relationships, so interpersonal, and other soft skills are often valued more than hard skills. The strongest case for having excellent soft skills is that they are more easily transferable across various jobs and industries.
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs, Coordinator of All-University Honors ProgramUniversity of Saint Mary
Division of Business and Information Technologies (DBiT)
What hard/technical skills are most important for Global Business Development Managers?
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: Familiarity with software-basic windows packages, particularly MS Word and Excel. Candidates should not be afraid of quantitative data analysis. Analytics are necessary to figuring out what your business is doing and how it can grow. Also, familiarity with whatever social media platforms are used in that industry can be very important.
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: One consideration is, does the position pay commission? If so, the soft skills listed above are extremely important because the more you apply those skills, the more likely you are to grow your business.
When a manager is not on commission, there's little correlation between skills and pay while doing the job. The employer will hire you at a given salary level, and it is your job to negotiate to the best position. Once they have chosen you-that's the moment when you have the most leverage. You will never get a raise that is as substantial as what you might be able to ask for upon hire. After that, most raises are not going to be tied mechanically to performance and skills. Your next chance at a raise will be when you move or are promoted to a new position. Thus, those soft skills can affect your ability to negotiate.
I will repeat a previous theme: education and experience are probably more important than skills in terms of making more money. An employer can't really tell what your skills are from your resume. Just because you say you have a skill doesn't mean that you really do. They can reasonably guess that somebody with a degree is responsible enough to have accomplished something big. Somebody who makes it through a graduate program is probably very good at what they know. And somebody who has been in the industry and/or in a similar job is more likely to be able to walk in with little orientation and know what they are doing. Employers take risks on employees and hope that they can deliver. Thus, with more education and more experience, you are able to apply for higher-level jobs, which usually come with higher salaries.
What skills stand out on Global Business Development Manager resumes?
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: Resumes are hard. It is very difficult to predict what any employer is looking for on any resume. The "skills" section of a resume is probably not the first thing most employers are looking at. The first consideration is probably education. Those with a bachelor's degree will be sorted first in fields-such as those who have business degrees, or particularly sales and marketing majors. Those with MBAs will be placed on the top. Those who have MBAs and marketing concentrations will likely be valued the most. The second consideration would probably be experience. Someone with several years of experience in business development or sales and marketing will be moved to the top. Someone with a bachelor's degree who has a lot of experience might beat out a fresh MBA. However, MBA plus experience beats almost everything. Someone with an MBA going for an entry-level position with little experience needed will likely beat out all bachelor challengers. For new graduates, getting some kind of internship in sales and marketing can differentiate them from those who do not.
Most hiring managers will probably assume that somebody who has sales and marketing education and/or experience probably has the skills necessary to do the job. An interviewer may probe on specific skills. I'll comment more specifically on other kinds of skills below, but it's also fair to say that a candidate's soft skills should shine in the interview. Simply saying that you have certain skills on a resume doesn't mean that you actually have them.
I think that the best thing a candidate can do is to research the company they hope to work for and tailor their resume to that employer. What does the business do? What kinds of things do you think that development manager is going to do in that particular industry? How do your skills as a candidate match what you guess they're looking for? The more you customize your resume, the better chances you have of resonating with the company. Employers are impressed when you already know something about the job and the industry.
What soft skills should all Global Business Development Managers possess?
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: First, critical and creative thinking. Employers value problem solvers. A Business Development Managers' problem usually is finding growth opportunities. Candidates need to learn to take the initiative to figure out how to solve problems like those.
Second, writing. The best employees know how to communicate in writing. More and more communication occurs through email and other forms of social media and apps, and as such, this skill is absolutely critical. You don't need to be a creative writing genius, but you do need to know how to write in a professional tone, present your ideas in an organized way, get to the point, and avoid errors. There is a direct line between a student's ability to write an academic essay with a clear thesis and an employee's ability to write a good email or proposal. If you can't do those things, then you risk embarrassment and possibly limited options for promotion.
Third, speaking. The American business world discriminates against introverts-sometimes at their own peril. Everyone needs to know how to give a quality speech, but more importantly, you need to sound confident and assertive in a board room during meetings. You need to be confident in front of clients. Fake it if you have to. The way you present yourself is absolutely critical.
Fourth, social skills. You need to be friendly. Get to know co-workers and clients. Find out what they like and show an interest. Find common ground. Your undergraduate degree hopefully exposed you to a wide diversity of topics you may have thought were irrelevant at some point. Now is the time to remember that stuff and use it to connect with people. Nearly everything you learned will have some application someday. It will help you connect with others. In addition, put away your cell phone when you are at work or on social occasions. To some people, a preoccupation with a cell phone communicates a lack of interest in the person you are with. It can alienate bosses, co-workers, and clients.
James Wilkerson Ph.D.
Business Program Coordinator, Project and Supply Chain Management Program CoordinatorThe Pennsylvania State University
Business Department
What skills stand out on Global Business Development Manager resumes?
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Skills, experience, knowledge, and abilities that matter especially strongly include target market analysis (including market research skills and knowledge), product/service positioning within competitive field, project work or coordination with sales staff, major client relationship management, and enough general business and industry knowledge to be able to relate business development to operational/production realities.
What soft skills should all Global Business Development Managers possess?
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: 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 Global Business Development Managers?
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Spreadsheet (Excel) skills (including graph production from data), basic statistical knowledge, and online information search skills.
What skills will help Global Business Development Managers earn the most?
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Skill at rapidly learning market trends, relating business development to product development, and persuading major prospective clients when brought in to help with closing sales. Bottom line: the business development manager must be on the cutting edge of new market conditions and new business opportunities to help the firm organically grow its sales, especially in new markets or product/service lines.
George Dierberger
MBA Director, Associate ProfessorAugsburg University
Business Administration
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
George Dierberger: Early on, it is all about getting international experience. Once you have completed 3-5 years then you can look at maximizing your earning potential and becoming an expert in a certain field like medical devices. I believe it is really important to become a subject expert in a given field like medical devices; that will create plenty of opportunities with high returns on investment.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
George Dierberger: Being fluent in multiple languages (written and oral); excel skills; having the experience of living abroad for a semester.
What's a day at work look like for a Global Business Development Manager?
Patrick Lindsay: Sales is a good job out of college. Regardless of the company, the industry, the marketplace or geography, being in the customer interface is not only the best and quickest way to learn about a business but also to learn about business. They are exposed to the impact from and on all stakeholders. They learn about what a value proposition really is and the importance of Trust. They observe and learn the importance of relationships. And they grasp the importance of why over what and how. Finally, sales experience and success is almost universally transferable. Once a grad has a year to three developing competencies, skills and confidence, they can pursue virtually any other product or service in almost any company. They can pursue a next job in sales but also other areas like marketing, customer service, human resources, training, recruiting, et cetera. Employers are not emphasizing industry knowledge or experience like they once did. And many companies, from small local the largest global companies in their industries, insist their new college hires begin in sales (aka account management, business development, client acquisition).
Now, with the proper training (could be a major/minor but doesn't have to be if the graduate has developed a particular skill set) there are many available jobs for graduates that are technology-related. These are "good job" from a compensation and stability perspective. And any position with a global tech firm is a golden ticket.
What technical skills for a Global Business Development Manager stand out to employers?
Patrick Lindsay: Most all employers expect full competency in creatively using technology for communications. By that I don't mean mobile devices or social media usgae. I mean a widespread working knowledge of technology tools (apps, software, etc). Employers are seeking those candidates who can convey thoughts, ideas, responses in a multi-faceted way. Basic competency in written correspondence is no longer enough. Employers want to see daily business communication not only contain demonstration of good writing (grammar, syntax, formatting) but also being able to create embedded images, video, and relevant web links to better communicate. And not just for a big fancy client presentation, but consistently in regular communication. Further, they want words supported by data; support words with numerical evidence. As such, advanced excel skills and real experience in data sources and extraction stand out to employers.
Similarly, they expect professional virtual audio-visual communication. It is not enough to just be on the Zoom call. The expectation is to be prepared, to be engaged, to be aware of the audio and video angles and backgrounds. To demonstrate active listening as well as enthusiastic, energetic, even animated talking. Body language and facial expression are even more enhanced in virtual communications.
If there was a positive outcome from being thrust into an academic world that was all virtual, it was the need to learn new technical skills, not only for classwork, but also for social interaction. This will not only be appreciated by employers, but for many, expected.
Sachin Tuli
Director, International Business MajorWisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
International Business
What's a day at work look like for a Global Business Development Manager?
Sachin Tuli: The pandemic accelerated ongoing shifts with work-from-anywhere and use of remote meeting technologies. With mass adoption at all levels, these trends are likely to persist to some degree across fields and industries. There will likely be less travel for a number of years, but concurrently we may see more cross-team and cross-national collaboration and coordination. From an international business perspective, firms do plan to continue their globalization efforts and we know that graduates themselves increasingly seek potential global opportunities and mobility when choosing which organizations to work for.
Eric Bostwick Ph.D.
Professor of AccountingThe University of West Florida
Department of Accounting and Finance
What soft skills should all Global Business Development Managers possess?
Eric Bostwick Ph.D.: Similar to the answer above, oral and written communication skills have been important for a number of years, but in our current environment, these skills have become much more important. Our ability to pick up on the context surrounding email messages is reduced since we have fewer in-person interactions, and even our virtual meetings eliminate much of the body language that we use--both consciously and unconsciously--to interpret what other people mean by what they say. Thus, candidates will stand out when they can clearly articulate their thoughts in both written form, via email or chat, and in oral form, via the ubiquitous "Brady Bunch" layout on their coworkers' computer screens.
Todd Lee Goen
Instructor & Internship DirectorChristopher Newport University
Department of Communication
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Global Business Development Manager job market given the pandemic?
Todd Lee Goen: The pandemic is demonstrating that employees can be productive working remotely and with flexible schedules, so we're likely to see more flexible and remote positions emerge in the job market. This will be industry/company/position specific, but these options give employers access to a larger applicant pool (which means a more talented workforce) and allows them to reduce overhead costs of maintaining physical office space.
Relatedly, hiring processes will become more technology-driven. In-person interviews (especially if there are multiple rounds) will be significantly less likely and more organizations will opt for pre-recorded interviews. This started pre-pandemic, but the pandemic will accelerate it. The good news is that as the technology improves the application process should become more efficient and streamlined (e.g., applying with LinkedIn profiles has the potential to become more of a norm).
The job market in recession-proof industries will remain strong, but wages will likely stagnate and may even decrease. Many recession-proof jobs are connected to state and local governments. The pandemic and its associated recession brought decreased tax revenues and increased demands for public expenditures, and state and local governments won't have the funds to support wage growth for the next few years. The job market in recession-intolerant industries will fluctuate for several years and will only stabilize once the economy begins to recover.
One of the key take-aways from the pandemic is that public health systems are inadequate. One possible outcome is that in the next few years there will be a greater number of jobs in the public health sector. Whether or not this happens will largely depend on the length and severity of the current recession as well as funding allocations of governments post-pandemic. Given the US federal government ceded much of the responsibility for responding to the pandemic, expect many of these positions to be with state and local governments. Also, expect many of these will be community/public engagement type positions that focus on communication and relationship building.
What technical skills for a Global Business Development Manager stand out to employers?
Todd Lee Goen: 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.
What's a good job out of college for Global Business Development Managers?
Todd Lee Goen: Pandemic or no pandemic, the best job out of college is one that sets you on the path to achieve your ultimate career goal(s). Reflect on where you want to be in five or ten years or even twenty-five years. Then consider positions that will set you on the path to achieve that goal. Very few people land their dream job upon graduation - dream jobs are typically those we're not qualified to do without some additional work experience and training. A good job is one that will help you achieve your goal(s) - just don't frame it that way in the interview.
Good jobs pay a livable salary for the location, offer benefits (health insurance and retirement at minimum), and provide professional development opportunities (these can take a variety of forms). Too often, college grads overlook professional development. If an employer isn't willing to invest in you, there's no guarantee you will succeed in the job. Good employers understand they need qualified employees who continually develop their skills and abilities, and good employers will make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed.
What technical skills for a Global Business Development Manager stand out to employers?
Todd Lee Goen: 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.
What's a good job out of college for Global Business Development Managers?
Todd Lee Goen: Pandemic or no pandemic, the best job out of college is one that sets you on the path to achieve your ultimate career goal(s). Reflect on where you want to be in five or ten years or even twenty-five years. Then consider positions that will set you on the path to achieve that goal. Very few people land their dream job upon graduation - dream jobs are typically those we're not qualified to do without some additional work experience and training. A good job is one that will help you achieve your goal(s) - just don't frame it that way in the interview.
Good jobs pay a livable salary for the location, offer benefits (health insurance and retirement at minimum), and provide professional development opportunities (these can take a variety of forms). Too often, college grads overlook professional development. If an employer isn't willing to invest in you, there's no guarantee you will succeed in the job. Good employers understand they need qualified employees who continually develop their skills and abilities, and good employers will make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed.
What general advice would you give to a Global Business Development Manager?
Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: Around 75% of the global market lies outside the US, so firms that want to grow sales need to understand and market to foreign customers. Similarly, with the restructuring of supply chains formerly concentrated in China, firms need to analyze alternative sources of supply in other counties such as India, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Morocco and elsewhere, find and qualify suppliers, and negotiate supply contracts with them, taking into account transportation and logistics, customs duties, economic and political stability, and so forth. Students who graduate with an understanding of how IB affects a business based in the US will be able to offer additional analytical and decision-making skills which will be helpful to their potential employers. In a complex technological world, firms will often seek overseas alliance and joint venture partners, and new recruits who have an understanding of and can help manage economic, political and cultural differences will be invaluable.
What Global Business Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: I am unaware of such a position - International Business Analyst. IB is intertwined with most business functions in companies that do international manufacturing or marketing, conduct R&D; with overseas partners, acquire human resource talent from outside the US or depend on global supply chains. Thus, students who work in one of the functional disciplines mentioned above, as well as in support functions, such as Finance or Accounting, will need to have some understanding of how IB affects their responsibilities and assignments. For example, firms marketing overseas will need to understand currency fluctuations, hedge receivables and payables, adjust pricing in local currencies and assess longer-term trends in currency fluctuations in making foreign investment and foreign borrowing decisions.
What will help Global Business Development Managers increase their earning potential?
Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: Positions involving IB are multi-faceted, requiring the integration of skills from different disciplines, and bringing to bear not only business thinking, but an understanding of politics, ideologies, Governmental regulations, history, languages, in sum, a multidisciplinary approach beyond just business. This can be exciting, rewarding, and one can always continue learning, by being exposed to new situations, countries, people and problems. The downside is that IB requires an open minds, a willingness to accept greater uncertainty and volatility, and readiness to work with foreign firms, as equal partners, sharing decision making, and trusting them. IB has more uncontrollable factors, and a firm and the team and an individual’s performance will all be affected by such unpredictability. Someone well trained in IB and with growing IB experience can help reduce this unpredictability, make it more manageable.
Herbert Fiester Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Curriculum and Instruction Doctoral ProgramValdosta State University
Department of Curriculum, Leadership, and Technology
What skills stand out on Global Business Development Manager resumes?
Herbert Fiester Ph.D.: Education and certifications complemented with practical experience is what employers like to see. Additionally, demonstrated skills leading, whether it be an implementation process through an entire lifecycle or driving change through innovation, will always impress. A resume should demonstrate a prospective employee's ability to take ownership of the functions of the job and complete those functions competently. Employers want to feel confident that the applicant can perform the job successfully, and any inclusions on the resume to help make that case should be included.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Global Business Development Manager job market given the pandemic?
Herbert Fiester Ph.D.: This is an interesting question. On one hand, I expect organizations are treading water right now related to new hires while they weather the current atypical pandemic business conditions and an uncertain future. I know budgets in many industries, including public education, have been frozen. On the other hand, the pandemic has brought new challenges to how people work. New processes have been developed and are being utilized to allow productivity to continue. Many of these changes require employees to be trained to do these new process and use new productivity tools, which provides excellent opportunities for people with the ability to train others especially with technology related skills. I expect individuals with technology training skills will be in high demand even with the tight budgets. If, and when, the effects of the pandemic start to recede, I expect all organizations will look to shore-up human resource gaps where those needs exist.