what is a business developer?
As a business developer, you are a member of the sales team, and you work with people inside and outside the organisation to create new business opportunities. Your offer proposals to new clients and build long-term relationships with the company's customers.
As part of the marketing team, you build sales leads, pitch to new prospects and develop a company's client list. Your goal is to push people through the sales funnel and sign them up as customers. Since you are the company's public face, it is important to convey professionalism to prospects and potential clients. Making the right decisions and using the best strategies helps you achieve strategic goals.
Business developers spend most of their time generating new business opportunities and ensuring the peak performance of sales staff. Hence, you need exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills. Expertise in conducting research and developing business trends aids in sound decision-making and helps steer the company towards growth opportunities. Collaborating well with others, especially the senior members of the sales and marketing teams, makes your job easier.
Most industries rely on business developers to generate new opportunities. You could work in the construction, manufacturing or retail industries or for a consultancy firm.
Would working as a business developer in Luxembourg suit your negotiation skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a business developer role.
business developer jobsaverage salary of a business developer.
As a business developer, may start at a minimum wage (approximately €38,000 gross annually), but they often receive bonuses and commissions. These are generally intended to reward contributions to the company's growth. Depending on experience, results, languages spoken, and the sector, compensation can be significantly higher. It may also include allowances or benefits, such as a vehicle for business travel.
what factors influence the salary of a business developer?
The main factors that affect your earnings as a business developer in Luxembourg are experience and education. More experienced professionals with advanced degrees and relevant certifications are likely to earn more due to the expertise they bring to the organisation. When you have a proven record of success, including the ability to close deals and strong sales numbers, you are likely to earn more.
Some Luxembourg industries offer more competitive salaries for business developers due to the complexity of the role. For instance, if you work in tech or SaaS companies, the nature of the products or services you market demands high remuneration. Large organisations also have more resources and offer higher salaries and more benefits than small companies. The geographical location also impacts salaries. Some regions and cities have higher earnings compared to others due to fluctuations in demand.
types of business developers.
The types of business developers depend on the industry they work in and their responsibilities:
- Construction business developers: your job in construction is to look for new building projects on behalf of your employer. Apart from identifying new prospects, you ensure the project meets the clients' needs and develop relationships with all the construction project stakeholders.
- Cybersecurity business developers: you study trends in cybersecurity and develop ways to improve computer systems' security. If your employer offers cybersecurity as a service, you identify prospective clients in various industries.
- Financial services business developers: you monitor the performance and upcoming trends in financial services and help your employer stay ahead in the sector. You also find new ways to reach existing markets.
- Sales business developers: as a sales business developer, you work closely with the sales team to increase revenue. You generate leads, qualify potential customers and pass them over to the sales team to close the sale.
- Partnership manager: as a partnership business developer, you are responsible for establishing strategic alliances and partnerships. You identify potential partners, cultivate relationships with them and manage strategic alliances. Your focus is expanding the market reach and enhancing the company's offerings.
working as a business developer.
Working as a business developer involves helping businesses create long-term relationships with their clients and find new customers. Let's explore some of the business developers' duties and work schedules.
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business developer job description
The tasks of a business developer in Luxembourg include:
- Setting business goals: as a business developer, you set the goals that a business needs to achieve to improve growth. You also develop plans to support the achievement of those goals. Your objectives focus on growing the customer base and improving revenue.
- Researching new target markets: your primary role is to identify new opportunities for business growth. Therefore, you research new markets for the company to explore. You create plans and implement initiatives to improve sales in new target markets.
- Identifying new business leads: when you spot a target market for your products or services, you research prospective accounts in the market. Your job is to leverage market research and marketing campaigns to generate new leads for the business. You also pursue leads and move them through the sales cycle.
- Developing proposals and quotes for prospective clients: as a business developer, you pursue important leads that can generate significant revenue for your employer. This part of your role involves pitching ideas to prospects and developing proposals on how your company can help them achieve their goals. When a client is interested in the business proposal, you generate quotes and negotiate prices.
- Training business development staff: as a business developer, you train the sales and marketing teams in the best strategies for approaching clients. You also set goals for the business development teams and help workers implement strategies to meet objectives.
- Attending conferences and company events: as a business developer, it is important to stay on top of industry events and upcoming trends. This involves attending conferences and meetings to keep up with changes in the industry.
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work environment
Business developers in Luxembourg work in various industries, including manufacturing, IT, construction and retail. Your objective in all the business sectors is the same, but the work environment may differ. As a business developer, you mainly work indoors, attend meetings and research clients. You also meet with clients at their preferred location. Sometimes, you work outdoors, for instance, for a game of golf, attend social events with prospective clients or make home visits to discuss proposal details. Some travelling to conferences and other industry events is usually involved.
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who are your colleagues?
As a business developer, your colleagues include sales, marketing and customer relationship managers. You might also be working in close proximity to accountants, IT developers and administrative assistants, as well as other specialists, including business development executives, customer service representatives, sellers, product managers and finance managers.
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work schedule
On average, you work 40 hours per week, but you may be required to work beyond traditional office hours. Meetings may take place in the evening or on weekends. The role of business manager is rarely part-time, unless you have one-off assignments.
You can accomplish many of your duties without leaving your office, but you frequently have to meet with clients to develop and build good relationships. Therefore, some business developers work from home or remotely.
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job outlook
The career path of a business developer is promising, and the role can be your first step into executive positions in a company. As a business developer, your situation is similar to that of sales and marketing managers. You can progress to other roles like marketing director or regional sales manager. Some business developers become chief executive officers.
advantages of finding a business developer job through randstad.
Finding your business developer job in Luxembourg through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a business developer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills.
- Education level Bac +3 to Bac +5: if you want to work as a business developer, you need at least a Bac +3 (Bachelor's degree) in a relevant field, such as business administration, economics, marketing or business management. If your role is a mid-level or senior position, some employers prefer a Bac +5 (Master's degree), such as a Master's in Business Development or a Master's in Business Administration (MBA).
- Work experience: aside from academic qualifications, you need experience to work as a business developer in Luxembourg. Internships and apprenticeships in customer-facing or sales-driven roles prepare you for business developer positions. When you want to work in industries like IT, finance or healthcare, you need experience working in the sector or some knowledge in the industry.
business developer skills and competencies.
Some of the skills and competencies you need to excel as a business developer include:
- Communication and language proficiency: as a business developer, you interact with business partners and company clients. That means it is important to be proficient in English, but most employers value knowledge of French, German or Luxembourgish. Your communication skills help you articulate complex ideas and explain company products and services in simple terms.
- Strategic thinking: as a business developer, you analyse the market trends, competitor behaviour and industry developments to identify growth opportunities. Your strategic thinking skills help you shape long-term business strategies and collaborate with the management to increase revenue.
- Sales and negotiation skills: your job involves qualifying leads and meeting potential clients. You need exceptional sales skills to pitch new products or services to potential customers. Your sales and negotiation skills also help you close deals, especially in high-value products or services in the financial and tech sectors.
- Networking skills: your relationship-building and networking skills are crucial for establishing lasting connections with clients. Since you are expected to cultivate lasting relationships with clients, your networking skills come in handy for growing company visibility. When you have effective relationship-building skills, you encourage client loyalty and sustained business growth.
- Problem-solving skills: as a business developer in Luxembourg, you need exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions. Your problem-solving skills help you interpret market research and analyse the market trends to find opportunities for growth. When you are good at solving problems, you can find creative ways to sell products to customers and increase revenue.
- Leadership skills: as a business developer, you lead a team of salespeople or work alongside business development executives. You inspire, guide and motivate your team to achieve their targets and company goals. When you have exceptional leadership skills, you create a collaborative work environment.
FAQs.
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of business developer.
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what is the job role of a business developer in luxembourg?
As a business developer, you are responsible for a company's growth. Your job is to implement a commercial strategy to boost sales and revenue in a company. You analyse the market, identify customers' pain points and align the company's products to the clients' needs. You also identify new opportunities for growth, like new markets, and anticipate competition. Other responsibilities include negotiating new trade agreements and working closely with the company's major clients to maintain good relationships.
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how much does a business developer make in luxembourg?
As a business developer, your earnings depend on experience, educational qualifications and company size. The average salary of a business developer in Luxembourg is €45,000 annually. When you are new to the role, your salary starts at €40,000 per year. As you improve your experience, your earnings increase gradually and you can make over €55,400 per year. When you work in industries like IT, finance or healthcare, you are likely to earn more due to the complexity of your role.
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what skills are required for a business developer?
You need good listening skills to understand what the clients want and help them address their pain points. You also require communication skills to articulate your ideas clearly and work with your team effectively. In Luxembourg, speaking French and German helps you build effective relationships. Your sales and negotiation skills help you build a rapport and demonstrate patience, versatility and empathy.
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how do I apply for a business developer vacancy?
Applying for a business developer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!