The guide to becoming a business developer in business school

What does the job of Business Developer consist of?

Imagine spotting an opportunity on LinkedIn in the morning, convincing a prospect on the phone in the afternoon, and then celebrating a signature the next day. That's it, the life of a Business Developer : one job where every day can change the trajectory of a company. Find, convince and build loyalty are your exciting missions to take on. You are the architect of growth, the one who transforms contacts into customers and ideas into concrete results.

Its main missions

Your daily life as a Business Developer is like a balancing game between exploration and transformation. You go hunting for new opportunities, you open up conversations and you transform initial exchanges into lasting relationships. Concretely, your missions are divided into several highlights:

• Prospecting on various channels (telephone, email, social networks) to initiate the first contact;
• Qualifying needs using methods like BANT or GPCT, in order to focus on the prospects that really matter;
• Organize appointments or demos to present the value of your solution;
• Negotiate and close : to transform the interest into a signed contract, with all the thrill that comes with it;
• Ensure follow-up and build loyalty, because a satisfied customer can become a long-term partner;
• Collaborate with marketing and product to refine Go-to-Market and identify new growth drivers;
• Manage your results thanks to key indicators: conversion rate, sales cycle, revenue generated.

In your daily missions, you transform your actions into measurable growth.

Essential skills

To succeed in business development, energy and motivation are not enough. You also need to master tools and methods. These technical skills are your weapons to transform your efforts into tangible results:

• Mastering a CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) to monitor your prospects, opportunities and performances like a real management dashboard;
• Multichannel prospecting : know how to combine calls, emails, LinkedIn and events to increase your chances of reaching the right people;
• Develop your online presence thanks to Social Selling, by building a network and by arousing the interest of your future customers;
• Writing effective scripts for your emails and calls, capable of capturing attention in a few seconds;
• Analyze your KPIs in dashboards and understand what they say about your pipeline and your performance;
• Practicing professional English to evolve in an international environment;
• Know the legal bases (CGV, contracts) in order to secure your exchanges and negotiations.

These hard skills give you the structure and the method to make your missions a real driver of growth.

Expected personal qualities

In business development your human qualities that will make all the difference. Here are the ones that will help you stand out in your interactions with your prospects, customers, service providers or members of your company:

• Resilience : accept positive and negative feedback and to distinguish the final “no” from the “no” is not the right time;
• Active listening : capture the needs behind the words, ask the right questions, and understand what really matters to your prospects;
• The meaning of negotiation : find the right balance between defending your goals and creating value for your interlocutor;
• The organization : juggle dozens of prospects, reminders and appointments without losing track;
• Curiosity : take an interest in products, markets and new methods to always stay relevant;
• Team spirit : collaborate with marketing, product, and business peers to work together to achieve performance;
• Ethics : build lasting relationships based on trust and transparency.

These soft skills are your allies in turning every interaction into an opportunity and building a solid commercial career thanks to your future. Track record (your results).

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What studies to become a business developer?

You are not born a business developer, you become one. Some choose a BTS Or a GOAL to quickly acquire commercial bases and enter the field quickly. Others prefer to bet on a Bachelor Or a Master in Business school to discover the fundamentals of management and business management, multiply experiences (internships, apprenticeships, international) and aim higher from the start. Whatever your background, each stage is an opportunity to specialize, gain experience and prepare for your future ascent.

Possible courses after the bac

After high school, several doors open if you dream of becoming Business Developer. But not all of them lead to the same opportunities.

The Bachelor in Management by BSB, it's three years to build a solid foundation in management, finance, management, sales and marketing. You alternate between applied courses, team projects and corporate experiences with internships and the possibility ofAlternating in 3^E year.

BSB also offers unique support at each stage of your career with:

• Pathfinder™ : personalized support to find your internships, your work-study program and get your first permanent contract;
• Business network & Alumni : partners and graduates who open doors and share their experiences;
• International exchanges : more than 200 partner universities to broaden your horizons and your linguistic skills;
• LeaderSkills Institute : a unique program to develop your soft skills (trust, negotiation, leadership);
• Alternating from the 3rd year : a direct immersion in a company to become operational even before the diploma.

Other ways exist such as BTS NDRC Or the PURPOSE Marketing Techniques. They give a first concrete experience, but offer less international openness, a limited network and little support in building a personalized career path.

📌 How to join the BSB Bachelor in Management?

• After high school, the entry into 1st year The Bachelor's degree takes place on Parcoursup.
• In 2nd or 3rd year After a BTS, GOAL or two years of licensing, applications are made via the parallel admissions.

Long studies: the Bac+5 course in business school

If you are looking for fast-growing business developer positions, long studies are a real springboard. At BSB, the Master Grande École (MGE) allows you to build a tailor-made course and to specialize in 2^E year in the field that corresponds to your ambitions. You combine academic excellence, work-study professional immersion and international openness thanks to possible exchanges in one of the 200 partner universities.

Among the flagship specializations:

• Commercial & Retail Strategy (apprenticeship) : you learn to manage a commercial strategy, to negotiate with major accounts and to manage the performance of sales teams.
• Marketing & Communication (apprenticeship) : you explore the levers of demand generation, brand content and digital communication, all assets to strengthen your commercial actions.
• International Business Management (apprenticeship) : you are trained in the management of international operations, in auditing and in the global management of companies operating in a globalized environment.
• Strategy, Consulting & Business Transformation (apprenticeship) : you develop a position of consultant and analyst, capable of supporting organizations in their transformation and growth projects.

This path not only prepares you to become a successful business developer, but also to quickly evolve into more strategic roles.

Salary and career development for a business developer

Average earnings

The salary of a business developer is generally composed of a fixed And of a variable (bonuses, bonuses) directly linked to results. That's what makes this job so stimulating. Your performance is reflected in concrete terms in your remuneration.

In France, sales schedules show that the first salaries start around €35,000 to €45,000 gross annually. TO paris, the reported median annual total is approximately €48,000 gross/year in 2025, with differences based on company size, sector and experience. In tech or SaaS environments, packages are often higher, in particular thanks to attractive variables.

Opportunities for progression

The job of Business Developer is a launching pad. The progress is clear and fast for those who perform:

• You often start out as SDR/BDR (Sales/Business Development Representative), in charge of prospecting and qualifying leads;
• You then evolve into a role of Business Developer/Account Executive, where you conduct negotiations and conclude contracts;
• With experience, you can become Key Account Manager, strategic account manager, or aim for a position of Head of Sales/Sales Director, at the head of a sales team;
• Bridges also exist to more transversal functions such as Sales Operations, the Growth or even the Product Marketing, which require a strong understanding of data and strategy;

It is a job that opens multiple doors, with rapid development prospects for those who like the challenge and the direct impact on the growth of a company.

Our alumni have become Business Developers

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathilde-godon-a04690123/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enzo-balsamelli/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-sperat-czar-991908114/

FAQ — How do I become a Business Developer?

What degree do you need to become a business developer?

The Bachelor in business school is the ideal way to acquire a solid foundation in management, sales and marketing, with internships and work-study programs to quickly become professional. Les BTS NDRC and PURPOSE Marketing Techniques are also interesting springboards, but offer less international openness and personalized coaching. To aim for strategic positions and accelerate your career, the Master Grande École from BSB and its specializations remain the reference.

What is the difference between SDR/BDR and Business Developer/Account Executive?

The role of SDR/BDR (Sales/Business Development Representative) is focused on prospecting and qualifying leads. Once this first step has been taken, the Business Developer or Account Executive takes over: he or she leads appointments, negotiates and concludes contracts. It is the natural evolution of a junior towards more commercial responsibilities.

What is the salary of a business developer in Paris and in the regions?

In Paris, the median salary for a business developer is around 48,000€ gross per year (fixed + variable), with packages that generally oscillate between €40,000 and €60,000 depending on experience and sector. In the regions, average earnings are close to €42,000 to 45,000 euros gross per year, with differences depending on the size of the company and local economic dynamism. In tech or SaaS environments, variables can greatly enhance the package, regardless of the location.

What tools and certifications are useful for this job?

The mastery of a CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot) is essential. Certifications related to digital prospecting, social selling (LinkedIn), or even automation (Salesloft, Outreach) are also highly valued.

Can you become a business developer on a work-study basis?

Yes, and it's actually one of the best ways to learn the trade. The work-study program immerses you directly into the reality of prospecting, customer follow-up and negotiation, while consolidating your theoretical knowledge. You thus gain professional experience that is valued by recruiters and you build a network even before you graduate. It is an employability accelerator that allows you to be operational from your first permanent contract. To maximize your chances, check out our tips for Find an alternation and make a Impacting student resume.

Source: Michael Page, Glassdoor

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