Business Development Manager CV Examples & UK Templates

You identify market opportunities, forge strategic partnerships, and drive sustainable business growth. Now it’s time to focus your efforts on your next challenge: marketing your most valuable proposition—yourself.

Your business development manager CV is not merely a list of roles and achievements; it’s your pitch to future employers. It needs to clearly demonstrate your ability to identify, develop, and secure new opportunities. Think of it as your elevator pitch: concise, compelling, and results-focused.

Guide for a business development manager CV example

Boost your chance of success with the help of resume.io. We have guides and  CV examples that cover over 200 professions. To give you a competitive edge, you can use our  CV builder to quickly create an engaging CV for business development manager roles from scratch.

This CV guide and corresponding business development manager CV example will cover the following:

• How to write a business development manager CV
• Choosing the right CV format for business development
• How to add your contact information
• Using a CV summary
• Adding your business development experience
• Listing relevant skills and education
• Picking the right CV design and layout
• Understanding the business development job market outlook and expected salary

How to write a business development manager CV

Before we get into the content of your business development manager CV, let’s start with what sections it comprises. 

Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The  CV header
• The  CV summary (a.k.a. profile or personal statement)
• The  employment history section
• The  CV skills section
• The  education section

The task with a business development manager CV is to match the content to the role you are applying for. Business development is as much about relationships and timing as it is about numbers. So your CV should convey both the strategic thinking and drive behind your results. It’s about showing how you create opportunity—and turn it into impact.

Here’s how to present yourself as the best candidate:

• Highlight accomplishments. Avoid simply listing duties and responsibilities. Facts and statistics show your impact in previous roles and provide concrete evidence of your  strengths and capabilities as a business development manager.
• Tailor your CV for every opportunity. Your business development manager CV should align closely with what the hiring organisation is looking for. Use the key requirements on the job advert as a guide to tailor your content accordingly.
• Choose a professional format for your CV. Avoid design-heavy formats and fancy fonts that are distracting and can negatively impact readability.
• Optimise your CV with the  right keywords to ensure that your CV gets past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and into the hands of a recruiter.

Choosing the right CV format for business development

Next, you need to choose the right  CV format for your business development manager CV. 

As a general rule, we recommend using the  reverse chronological order to best present your career story. This is the traditional format hiring managers expect to see. Start with your most recent accomplishments at the top of each CV section and then work your way back in time.

However, there are times when you may choose to use a different CV format. For example, if you’re switching careers, you may opt for a  skills-based CV format. This emphasises the talents that you have over your work experience. 

Whichever format you choose, ensure that it accurately conveys your professional prowess. Check out our  CV templates if you need some inspiration and choose the format that best suits your situation. We also have many versions available as  CV examples that you can review.

When deciding on the design of your business development manager CV, keep it simple. Hiring managers receive hundreds of CVs for each job posting, so make their life easier with a straightforward and easy-to-read format.

Include your contact information

Your CV header is the focal point for information that hiring managers can notice and retrieve easily when they want to get in touch. Besides visually distinguishing your CV from others, an eye-pleasing header design makes everything else on the page look inviting to read. This impact is reinforced when your cover letter design matches as well. 

Here are the main things you need to include:

• Full name and title. List your full name, followed by the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Location. Hiring managers don’t need to know your  full address. You can simply provide your city or general location, or “Willing to relocate” if applicable.
• Professional email address. Use an active and professional email address, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
• Phone number. Share the phone number you’re most likely to answer, complete with a professional voicemail message.
• LinkedIn. Include a link to your  LinkedIn profile for employers to easily access and review. Just remember to check that your profile is updated.

You don’t need to include:

• Date of birth. Don’t provide your birthdate or age on your CV, as this can lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details. Don’t include your nationality, NI number, or whether you’re married on your CV.

Make use of a CV summary

If you've ever crafted an elevator pitch, your CV summary (or personal profile) should follow a similar structure. This two-to-four sentence section is your opportunity to highlight what sets you apart as a business development manager. What do you bring to the table that others don’t? Focus on your unique strengths, achievements, and professional edge.

Use  strong action verbs to convey your impact, such as “negotiated,” “secured,” “expanded,” “led,” and “strengthened.” Choosing the right verbs can elevate your summary and showcase your commercial acumen and leadership.

Avoid simply restating points found elsewhere in your CV. Instead, use this space to add value by showcasing measurable impact or strategic contributions. Instead of “Experienced business development manager with experience in sales,” consider something like, “Commercially astute business development lead with a proven ability to secure strategic partnerships and deliver 20% year-on-year revenue growth.” By being specific about the results you can offer, you show the hiring manager what they can expect from you.

Need inspiration for your business development manager CV summary? Here are some related CV templates:  sales manager CV,  business analyst CV,  business CV, and  marketing manager CV.

You can also find adaptable business development manager CV example summaries below:

Outline your business development work experience: pitch your value

Employment history is one of the most important parts of your CV—especially for business development roles, where proven results carry more weight than qualifications alone. Employers want to see that you’ve consistently driven revenue, built lasting partnerships, and expanded market reach. Your past roles should clearly showcase your commercial awareness and ability to deliver tangible outcomes.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent and working backwards. Focus on relevant, up-to-date experience and include your job title, employer, dates, key duties, and—most crucially—measurable achievements. Use short, powerful sentences beginning with action verbs to make your contributions stand out.

Remember, bland statements won’t set your CV apart. Rather than saying:

• “Developed new client relationships…”
• “Led sales presentations…”
• “Managed contract negotiations…”

Show the impact behind those actions with specific results and numbers to highlight your value:

• “Landed 15 new key accounts within six months, contributing to a 25% increase in revenue.”
• “Delivered over 30 sales presentations annually, achieving a 40% conversion rate with C-level decision-makers.”
• “Negotiated contracts worth over £3 million, reducing client acquisition costs by 12% while improving deal terms.”

Take a look at the business development manager CV example employment history below:

How to write a business development manager CV with no experience

If you’re transitioning into business development, it’s important to highlight transferable skills and your interest in commercial strategy.

Focus on your education in areas like business, marketing, or communications. Include any relevant training or workshops that align with sales, negotiation, or market research.

Showcase transferable skills and accomplishments that are essential to the BDM role. For instance, if you’ve worked in customer-facing roles, emphasise how you built relationships, influenced decisions, or achieved performance targets.

Demonstrating a strong interest in business growth—such as attending industry events or following market trends—can also strengthen your application.

By presenting a clear link between your past experience and the demands of the role, you can position yourself as a capable and motivated candidate, even with  no direct experience.

Include the relevant key skills that make a great business development manager

When listing your skills for a business development manager position, it’s important to blend both hard and soft skills to present a well-rounded profile.  Hard skills such as CRM software proficiency,  data analysis, and market research are valuable assets that demonstrate your technical capabilities.

Equally important are your  soft skills like excellent  communication, relationship-building, and  problem solving, which are essential for driving growth and managing client partnerships. Highlighting both types of skills will help you stand out in a competitive job market and show that you’re equipped to meet the demands of the role.

If you need some pointers on the types of skills to include on your CV, check out our  CV builder which provides examples of in-demand skills with adjustable proficiency levels, as well as the option to add your own skills.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our business development manager CV template:

Listing skills is straightforward, but providing tangible evidence makes a stronger impact. When crafting your business development manager CV, make sure to support each skill with concrete examples. Connect each key skill to a specific situation and its positive result. This approach will capture the attention of recruiters more effectively. 

For instance, in your professional profile and work experience sections, emphasise your:

• Industry expertise by sharing your success in driving business growth and profitability utilising your keen commercial acumen.
• Relationship-management skills by mentioning your ability to build and nurture strong client relationships, leading to improved customer retention and loyalty.
• Leadership skills by explaining how you’ve led projects and motivated teams to achieve challenging business goals.

Detail your education & relevant business certifications

The education section is fairly straightforward for a business development manager CV. List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you have strong work experience or a degree, there’s no need to include  secondary school details—just focus on higher education.

While a specific degree isn’t always required for business development roles, relevant education can strengthen your CV.  Listing a degree in subjects like business management or marketing can help demonstrate your understanding of key commercial principles and strategic thinking.

This section is also a great place to include additional training that supports your growth in business development:

• Training and certifications: Courses, webinars, or workshops in areas such as negotiation, sales strategy, or CRM systems can be a valuable addition.
• Professional development. Memberships with organisations such as the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP) or Chartered Management Institute (CMI) show that you're committed to advancing in your field.
• Awards. Highlight any sales or business development  awards, such as top-performer accolades, client growth achievements, or internal company recognition.

Education might not always be the headline in a business development manager CV, but when used strategically, it can reinforce your commercial credibility and show that your knowledge is backed by formal learning and continuous development.

Check out the education section from our adaptable business development manager CV example below:

Pick the right layout & design for a business development manager CV

Before a hiring manager reads a word of your experience, they’ll notice how your CV is laid out. A clean, professional design immediately signals credibility, while poor formatting or inconsistent styling can undermine even the strongest track record. In business development—where attention to detail and presentation matter—your CV should reflect these elements.

To ensure that your CV layout supports rather than distracts from your message, follow these design principles:

• An orderly  page layout—divided into cohesive, clearly labelled sections—ensures that recruiters can readily spot essential information in the expected location.
• Optimise white space and avoid text-dense blocks of information. Sticking to the default  one-inch margins takes care of this on the outer edges of the page, while adequate line and paragraph spacing allows breathing room throughout.
• Legibility should also guide your  CV font choices. Stick with the same font style and size for all body text, and only one compatible style for header text and section titles.

For a hassle-free way to get all of the layout and design details just right, consider using one of resume.io's field-tested  CV templates with our builder tool.

Business development manager job market & outlook

The demand for business development managers in the UK remains robust, driven by the need for organisations to expand their market presence and revenue streams. While specific projections for new BDM roles over the next decade are not readily available, the increasing emphasis on growth strategies across various sectors suggests continued demand.

Key takeaways for building a business development manager CV

In the competitive business development market, a well-crafted CV is essential to capture the attention of potential employers. Your CV should highlight not only your achievements, but also your ability to lead teams and foster key partnerships that drive growth. Tailoring your CV for each position will help you stand out from other candidates and clearly showcase your value.

Ready to get started? Try out our hassle-free  CV builder to create a professional, high-quality document that looks as good as it reads.