Careers in Business Development

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in business development? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

As a kid you probably visited Walt Disney World in Florida and had a great time cheese-ing with Mickey and his friends. The carefully crafted experience you had then has now been expanded to include not only other locations like Paris and California, but also new rides and different characters. Many of these changes and additions have come about because of people working in business development for Disney. These folks concentrate solely on business strategy and research to recommend ways to help grow businesses.

Business Development Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user tallapragada

Business Development Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Business Development Associate Does
  2. A Typical Day in Business Development
  3. Salary and Career Progression for Business Development
  4. Best Locations for Business Development
  5. Pros and Cons of Business Development
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Business Development
  7. Business Development Resources
  8. Careers Related to Business Development
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Business Development

What a Business Development Associate Does

A career in business development involves developing various aspects of a business to take it to the next level. To do this, a business development associate researches new types of business, products, and services with an emphasis on identifying gaps in the needs of potential clients. While you’ll often focus on growth, sometimes you’ll find that the optimal strategy might mean downsizing an activity in a certain market. In many cases you’d work with the marketing and sales departments within a company to attract new customers or penetrate existing markets.

A Typical Day in Business Development

During a typical day, some tasks of a business development associate would include:

  • handle a number of emails
  • make phone calls to partners and clients
  • communicate between teams
  • do market research
  • keep up with the changes and trends in your industry
  • study what competitors are doing
  • figure out what products and services are selling
  • think about the positioning of various products

These tasks involve a lot of reading, talking with people, and math. To make decisions you’d work across teams discussing options with executives. You might also be responsible for contacting potential new customers, which could involve a bit of travel.

Salary and Career Progression in Business Development

A Business Development Associate makes about $29,000-$90,000 per year and earns $46,500 on average. Beyond that you can go on to become a Business Development Manager ($41,000-$144,000), a Vice President of Business Development ($80,000-$279,000), or a Business Development Director ($57,000-$202,000).

Best Locations for Business Development

Here are some hot spots for business development:

  • Wichita, Kansas
  • McLean, Virginia
  • Irvine, California
  • New York, New York
  • Washington, DC
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Houston, Texas
  • San Francisco, California

Pros and Cons of Business Development

Pros
  • Great salary and opportunities for upward growth
  • Can have a real impact on the business
  • Lots of creativity
Cons
  • A lot of stress
  • Need to think strategically but also be a “people-person”
  • Long hours

What You Need to Know for a Career in Business Development

To be in business development you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. You’d also need an MBA to secure the best positions. Beyond that, you’ll need great interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and the ability to think strategically.

Business Development Resources

If business development still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Business Development

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ValidaTek Mc Lean, VA
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Addison Group Rockville, MD
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Senior Business Development Manager
Advanced Technology Systems Company Dickerson, MD
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Amazon Leesburg, VA
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Business Development Manager/Director - State and Local IT Services
Creative Information Technology Falls Church, VA
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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Business Development

Lua Logo

Lua - Lua is an NYC based company focused on “empowering mobile workforces by giving them access to the people and information they need to get the job done."

See the complete Lua profile


Victorious Logo

Victorious - Victorious is a Santa Monica, CA based startup that is “motivated by the challenge of powering and uniting the world’s most creative communities.”

See the complete Victorious profile


Vayable Logo

Vayable - Vayable is based in SF/NYC and offers “a home for anyone looking to experience honest, local culture through experiences created and hosted by passionate local Insiders.”

See the complete Vayable profile


Fingerprint Logo

Fingerprint - Fingerprint is a San Francisco, CA based company that has “designed a way to transition this parent and kid engagement into the digital world.”

See the complete Fingerprint profile


Protobrand Logo

Protobrand - Protobrand is a Boston, MA based "independent research and branding consultancy that offers a unique perspective on emotional insight mining.”

See the complete Protobrand profile


Huckberry Logo

Huckberry - Huckberry is a San Francisco, CA based company that “is like your favorite store, your grandpa’s favorite store, and your favorite magazine all rolled into one.”

See the complete Huckberry profile


August Logo

August - August is a San Francisco, CA based company that has developed a “safe, simple, and social way to manage your home’s lock.”

See the complete August profile


The Resumator Logo

The Resumator - The Resumator is a Pittsburgh, PA based company that helps “great people build great companies” by bringing “talented professionals and compelling companies together.”

See the complete The Resumator profile


Kitchensurfing Logo

Kitchensurfing - Kitchensurfing is an NYC based company that matches “up chefs and people who need a cook at high and low price points and for a variety of types of engagements."

See the complete Kitchensurfing profile


Optoro Logo

Optoro - Optoro is a Washington, DC based company that “unleashes hidden revenue for retailers and creates value for shoppers” by helping businesses with “reverse logistics.”

See the complete Optoro profile


UpOut Logo

UpOut - UpOut is a San Francisco, CA based company that “is changing how locals discover unique events in their city.”

See the complete UpOut profile


Course Hero Logo

Course Hero - Course Hero is a Redwood City, CA based company that “provides a suite of digital educational resources that help you learn as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

See the complete Course Hero profile


Centro Logo

Centro - Centro is a Chicago, IL based company that works “to improve the lives of those working in the advertising industry by building media management software."

See the complete Centro profile


SmartBear Logo

SmartBear - SmartBear is based in Beverly, MA, and they make “tools to help you manage the quality of your desktop, web, mobile, and api-based applications."

See the complete SmartBear profile


Fullscreen Logo

Fullscreen - Fullscreen is a LA based agency aiming to build “the first media company for the connected generation—together, right at the intersection of tech and entertainment.”

See the complete Fullscreen profile


Ahalogy Logo

Ahalogy - Ahalogy is a Cincinnati, OH based company that is “pioneering the science of discovery on Pinterest.”

See the complete Ahalogy profile


RealMassive Logo

RealMassive - RealMassive is an Austin, TX based startup that has developed the “first-ever source of real-time commercial real estate information.”

See the complete RealMassive profile


Clever Logo

Clever - Clever is a San Francisco, CA whose software syncs "with your school’s student information system to provide an amazing experience for teachers and students.”

See the complete Clever profile


Round Star Foundation Logo

Round Star Foundation - Round Star Foundation is a New York, NY based non-profit “dedicated to extending the many benefits soccer can provide to every individual.”

See the complete Round Star Foundation profile


TVI Logo

TVI - TVI is a New York, NY based “award winning digital agency that designs leading brand experiences."

See the complete TVI profile


General Assembly Logo

General Assembly - General Assembly is based in NYC and is “offering full-time immersive programs, long-form courses, and classes and workshops on the most relevant skills of the 21st century.”

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Olo Logo

Olo - Olo is a New York, NY based company that makes it easy for restaurants to offer "reliable, fast, and secure digital ordering for restaurants."

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Extole Logo

Extole - Extole is a San Francisco, CA based company that specializes in helping “brands acquire new customers at scale by rewarding existing customers.”

See the complete Extole profile


Anomaly Logo

Anomaly - Anomaly is an NYC based agency that blurs “the borders between providing traditional marketing services and working as a business development partner.”

See the complete Anomaly profile


Amicus Logo

Amicus - Amicus is a New York, NY based company that turns a “nonprofit’s supporters into fundraisers and advocates.”

See the complete Amicus profile


Invoca Logo

Invoca - Invoca is a Santa Barbara, CA based company whose "marketing tools empower you to generate better leads, higher conversions, smarter spends and greater revenue.”

See the complete Invoca profile


Mass Relevance Logo

Mass Relevance - Mass Relevance is an Austin, TX based company that aims “to inspire brands to involve their audience.”

See the complete Mass Relevance profile


Tree.com Logo

Tree.com - Tree.com is a Charlotte, NC based company that aims to be the place “where good decisions start” whether you're buying a home, new car, or college education.

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EasyPost Logo

EasyPost - EasyPost is a San Francisco, CA based startup that “is changing the way shipping works and helping a lot of people” at the same time.

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Haworth - Haworth is a Holland, MI based furniture company that “can make your environments work harder for you.”

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Updater Logo

Updater - Updater is a New York, NY based company that aims "to simplify the way we move" with regards to address changes.

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Townsquare Media Logo

Townsquare Media - Townsquare Media is a Greenwich, CT based "company that owns and operates radio, digital and live event properties in 66 small to mid-sized markets across the country.”

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Tinypass Logo

Tinypass - Tinypass is an NYC based company that believes "that bloggers, magazines, newspapers, and all creators shouldn’t have so much trouble making money online.”

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Upworthy Logo

Upworthy - Upworthy curates online content that is both awesome and meaningful. They call themselves “a mission-driven media company.”

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Liftopia Logo

Liftopia - Liftopia is a San Francisco, CA based company that helps "skiers and snowboarders get out on the slopes more often, and help alpine resorts generate incremental revenue.”

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Landesa Logo

Landesa - Landesa is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “works to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people."

See the complete Landesa profile


Altitude Digital Logo

Altitude Digital - Altitude Digital is a Denver, CO based company that “empowers publishers to effectively monetize and optimize their online display, video and mobile inventory.”

See the complete Altitude Digital profile


Fuhu Logo

Fuhu - Fuhu is an El Segundo, CA based company aiming to be "the leading designer, seller and innovator of ‘thoughtful’ consumer products and services for children.”

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Boys & Girls Clubs of America Logo

Boys & Girls Clubs of America - Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an Atlanta, GA based non-profit with clubs across the country that aims to “promote and enhance the development of boys and girls."

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Lovely Logo

Lovely - Lovely is a San Francisco, CA based startup that is knows “how painful it can be to rent an apartment and thinks it should be faster, easier, and more transparent.”

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Paymentwall Logo

Paymentwall - Paymentwall is a San Francisco, CA based company that offers “the leading digital payments platform for globally monetizing digital goods and services.”

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Handybook Logo

Handybook - Handybook is a New York, NY based company that enables you to book a pre-approved cleaner or handyman for whatever time you like.

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I Will Teach You To Be Rich - I Will Teach You To Be Rich is a business that was started by Ramit Sethi to help people achieve their career and financial dreams.

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View The Space Logo

View The Space - View The Space is a New York, NY based startup that is built around streamlining the commercial real estate leasing process.

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Moveline Logo

Moveline - Moveline is a New York, NY based startup that uses the power of the Internet to offer “a radically easier way to move.”

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Riskive Logo

Riskive - Riskive is a Baltimore, MD based company that provides " technology dedicated to identifying, monitoring and preventing risk across the socially connected enterprise.”

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MOpro Logo

MOpro - MOpro is a Los Angeles, CA based company that expands “the digital possibilities for small businesses" through video, social media, web design, and more.

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BrainJuicer Logo

BrainJuicer - BrainJuicer is a U.K. based market research firm (with offices in NYC, LA, and Chi) that aims “to inspire brave clients to do great marketing."

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Qpid.me Logo

Qpid.me - Qpid.me is a Los Angeles, CA based company that “makes having ‘the conversation’ about STD status easier.”

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Brandwatch Logo

Brandwatch - Brandwatch is a New York, NY based company that is “all about monitoring what people say about your brand, products, competitors, industry or any related topics.”

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