If you have an example from work experience this is ideal, however, do not be concerned if you do not. You could give an example from your private life, such as persuading a friend or family member to get involved with something they were not really interested in. Good sales skills are trferable to life.
Say that you listen to their needs and then propose a solution that will meet a majority of their needs. If there are any gaps in the product offering, explain that workarounds can be developed to ensure that business runs smoothly.
A couple reasons:
I wanted to go to a top business school one day and I could set myself apart by doing something other than the typical "track."
Since I was from a non-target school and didn't work at a bulge bracket bank, I had almost no chance of getting into the top private equity firms and hedge funds.
Corporate development offered a better lifestyle and more responsibility than what you'd get at a typical PE firm or hedge fund - at a lot of those places you're still an Excel jockey pulling all-nighters.
Even though it's a startup, the company itself is very well-known and so I also received the benefit of branding by working there.
The downside is that you don't get paid as well and bonuses are much lower, so if you're 100% focused on making as much money as possible, you're better off following the traditional path.
Say that you focus on the positive aspects of the idea and explain why it will eventually benefit everybody. Ideas may be unpopular but their outcomes are often welcomed once people understand better what is being proposed.
To wer this you need to show a good understanding of the company and say that you are keen to be part of a dynamic team to help the company grow and develop. The aim of business development is to develop growth opportunities, so you must show a keen interest in working with their products and services.
To wer this effectively it is best to say that you find that working with others is the most enjoyable and fulfilling way to develop new ideas and implement solutions. Say that working in a team environment allows many different skills to be brought together to produce better results in less time.
A good sales person needs to be friendly and professional, to be a good listener and an excellent speaker. Above all, they must be confident and extremely knowledgeable about the products they are selling.
I have been working with computers since 20@I also have a degree in network support/computer repair. I have built my last 3 computers, have work with Dell as an employee. So I have around 15 years experience working with computers.
If you have a proven track record in sales, say so and give some examples. Mention how you are a good listener, good at interpreting a person's motive and intention and that you feel confident in closing deals.
Say that you feel that business development is the heart of a healthy business and it is extremely rewarding to see a business grow on the back of your decisions and actions.
Sure. I was from a non-target university and worked at a middle-market investment bank after graduation, focusing on Internet companies there.
I was promoted to stay on for a 3rd year, but around that time I was also getting interested in moving on - I stuck around mostly because the economy was in a nosedive and we were just entering a recession at the time.
A few months after that, a company we had worked with before came to my MD and said they were looking for a corporate development Associate, so the MD referred me, I went through the recruiting process there, and had an offer a few weeks later.
I didn't want to follow the typical PE or HF path, and at this startup I would have a chance to work directly with the CEO and other senior executives and get a much better work-life balance, so I decided to take the offer.
Say that you enjoy working in a team environment. Describe the environment in such a way as it sounds similar to the work environment you believe the company has adopted.
Turning your strong point into weak point.
For example: I am a perfectionist and therefore, I rarely believe in anyone who can work as well as me. As a result, I am afraid to delegate important tasks to others. This approach has a weak side as that if you are not clever, you will cause the employer to believe that you are cheating him.
Solving your weakness absolutely.
A better approach is that you state one point which was once your weakness, but you have done well to resolve it.
For example: I tended to be a perfectionist, therefore I didn't like to delegate to others. But I have found out that in order to develop the organization, everyone in the organization must be experienced with many tasks and this is very good for an efficient team work.
Tips:
Analysis of sales data should help to identify possible new markets. This would be followed up with some market research.
It depends on the company, but here's how I think about the differences:
Corporate Development: You focus on M&A and acquiring other companies as well as setting up joint venture deals.
Business Development: It's less about M&A and acquiring companies / stakes of companies and more about setting up partnerships.
Corporate Strategy: This is like management consulting, only internal to the company. You focus on planning their big-picture strategy, solving specific operational problems, and competitive analysis.
Corporate Finance: This is more like FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) - you maintain the company's finances, plan their budget, and make sure all the right controls are in place. Of those, corporate development is most similar to banking/PE, and corporate strategy is most similar to consulting; corporate finance is closer to accounting or auditing work and you don't need to understand deals to do it.
My job is a combination of corporate development, business development, and corporate strategy - since it's a startup you have to do a bit of everything.
Absolutely! Say that you are very much motivated when working in a target-orientated role and enjoy being the first to hit targets.
As I mentioned, my MD recommended me to the VP of Corporate Development at my company and so I got interviews right away without having to go through a resume screen.
Here's what I went through:
Teamwork is central to most roles today; few people work in isolation. Answer that you like seeing how a group of people with a wide skill set can work together to achieve results not possible by any individual.
For the least enjoyable part of teamwork, try to keep it positive by saying that you sometimes prefer to concentrate on more complex problems in a quiet environment so there are times when the team environment can be a little distracting.
Hitting targets and achieving goals is your main motivation. Say that you are motivated by the desire to do a great job and to help improve business.