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Resume example

Business developer resume example

In France, 'business developer' is used as is, mainly by start-ups, scale-ups, agencies and B2B software companies. The job is to open new accounts: identify target companies, find the right decision-maker, get a first meeting and turn it into a signed contract or a qualified opportunity for an account executive.

Mornings often go into prospecting blocks: sequences on LinkedIn and email, cold calls to IT, HR or operations managers, follow-ups after a webinar or a trade show. Afternoons are for discovery calls and demos, proposal writing and CRM updates. In smaller companies, the business developer also tests new segments or countries, feeds the product team with objections heard in the field and helps marketing refine the pitch.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Business Developer | B2B SaaS, Outbound Prospecting and Closing

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Business developer with [x] years in B2B software, from outbound prospecting to closing mid-market deals. Opens new segments, runs discovery and demos, negotiates with procurement and hands over clean accounts to customer success. Works with marketing on campaigns and with product on market feedback.

Experience

Business Developer, [Company], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Opened the [Segment] segment from scratch, booking [x] qualified meetings per month through outbound sequences
  • Ran discovery calls and demos for mid-market prospects and closed [x] new contracts over the year
  • Tested three messaging angles with marketing and kept the one that brought the most replies from target personas
  • Kept the pipeline up to date in HubSpot so that monthly forecasts could be built without extra checks
  • Shared recurring objections with the product team, which led to a new onboarding offer

Resume headlines

  • Business Developer | B2B SaaS, Outbound Prospecting and Closing
  • Business Developer (SDR to AE) | Mid-Market Accounts, France and Benelux
  • Business Developer | New Market Opening for a Scale-up

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Business school graduate with a six-month internship as SDR at [Company], a B2B SaaS start-up. Built outbound sequences targeting HR directors, booked qualified meetings for the account executives and learned to run discovery calls. Looking for a business developer role with a path to closing.

Experienced

Business developer with [x] years in B2B software, from outbound prospecting to closing mid-market deals. Opens new segments, runs discovery and demos, negotiates with procurement and hands over clean accounts to customer success. Works with marketing on campaigns and with product on market feedback.

Career change

Former [operations or consulting role] who knows from the inside the problems our customers face. Used to presenting to managers and building business cases. Trained in outbound prospecting and CRM tools, and looking to join a sales team selling into [Sector].

Tips

  • Show your funnel: activity, meetings booked, opportunities created, deals closed. Recruiters in start-ups read resumes this way.
  • Specify your target: company size, sector, persona and average deal size, using placeholders if needed.
  • Name your tools, since many teams look for people who can be productive in their stack from week one.
  • If you worked in English or opened another country, say it in the headline.
  • Add a short line on what you built, such as a playbook or a new segment, not only what you sold.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Writing 'hunter mindset' with nothing to back it up.
  • Mixing SDR, BDR and AE responsibilities without saying which part of the cycle you owned.
  • Leaving out deal size and sales cycle length.
  • Copying start-up jargon without explaining results.

Working as a business developer in France

The English title is widely used on French job boards: search for business developer, business developer junior, SDR or BDR, account executive, and in more traditional companies chargé de développement commercial or chargé d'affaires. The job is not regulated. Most hires come from business schools, master's programmes in sales or marketing, or engineering schools for technical products, but start-ups also recruit motivated profiles from other fields. Paris, Lyon, Lille and Nantes concentrate many tech employers. Roles selling to French companies require fluent French; international teams hire native speakers to cover other European markets from France. Packages usually combine a fixed salary and a variable part.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a business developer, an SDR and an account executive?

In French tech companies, an SDR or BDR generates and qualifies meetings, while an account executive runs the opportunity to signature. 'Business developer' can cover either, or both in a small team. Read the job description to see whether closing is expected and adjust your resume to that part of the cycle.

Can I be a business developer in France without speaking French?

Only in roles targeting other markets, such as the UK, DACH or the Nordics, which many Paris start-ups hire for. Selling to French companies requires fluent French, because prospects expect calls and proposals in French. State your languages clearly at the top of your resume.

Should I include my quota attainment?

Yes, if you had a quota. Give it as a rate or a ranking and be ready to explain how it was calculated. If you were an intern or SDR without quota, show meetings booked and opportunities created instead.

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