Business Development Executive

► Why should we hire you as a Business Development Manager?

► Describe your results with generating new contacts and potential clients.

► What do you know about securing bid opportunities related to construction and renovations of hotels and high-end retail stores?

► In your view, what is the most important aspect in the development of a strategy to recruit and secure new business? Why?

► What do you find most challenging when facilitating meetings with clients and negotiating contracts. Why?

► Tell me about a meeting in which you supported someone else's ideas. What did the person say, and how did you support him/her?

► Of which proposal assignment or achievement are you proudest?

► What was the toughest academic decision you made? How did you arrive at that decision? What alternatives did you consider?

► Tell me about a time when your enthusiasm dropped after an especially long workday. When did it drop? What did you do?

► It's hard to "stay on top" of everything going on in an area. Describe a time when you didn't observe a developing problem. What happened?

► What are your standards of success in your job? What have you done to meet these standards as a Business Development Manager? Give a recent example.

► What is your experience as a Business Development Manager ? Tell me about some specific things you did.

► Tell me a bit more about your background with maintaining strong working relationships with corporate clients.

► How do you ensure success when you retaining and growing the existing client base?

► How have you established priorities to implement a new vision or directive? Give an example.

► What qualities do you think make a great Business Development Manager?

► Describe your management style.

► How would your past staff members describe your management style?

► How would they describe your strengths and weaknesses as a manager and supervisor?

► How do you hold employees accountable?

► Describe how you've dealt with under performers in the past.

► Describe the work environment or culture and its management style in which you have experienced the most success.

► Describe your sales management philosophy.

► Describe a time when you had to give a performance review that you found particularly challenging to give.

► What do you feel is a secret to a successful sales team?

A typical interview question to determine what you are looking for your in next job, and whether you would be a good fit for the position being hired for, is "What challenges are you looking for in a position?"

The best way to answer questions about the challenges you are seeking is to discuss how you would like to be able to effectively utilize your skills and experience if you were hired for the job.

You can also mention that you are motivated by challenges, have the ability to effectively meet challenges, and have the flexibility and skills necessary to handle a challenging job.

You can continue by describing specific examples of challenges you have met and goals you have achieved in the past.

Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to discuss what they do while they are working in detail. Before you answer, consider the position you are applying for and how your current or past positions relate to it. The more you can connect your past experience with the job opening, the more successful you will be at answering the questions.

It should be obvious that it's not a good idea talk about non-work related activities that you do on company time, but, I've had applicants tell me how they are often late because they have to drive a child to school or like to take a long lunch break to work at the gym.

Keep your answers focused on work and show the interviewer that you're organized ("The first thing I do on Monday morning is check my voicemail and email, then I prioritize my activities for the week.") and efficient.

► What is your approach to Business Development?

► Describe the business development process including the key roles.

► Describe how you would identify, qualify and support a bid through contract award.

► What is the key information you need to gather to identify a qualified lead?

► What percentage of your time did you spend at your desk versus meeting with prospects?

► What would be your "First 90 Days" plan?

► Describe how you've handled conflicts with Operations in the past.

► What was the monthly target for business development in your previous organization?

► Describe some of your marketing activities in the past? Were they successful?

► What are your other skills related to marketing other than sales and business development?

► Suppose you are a business development manager and a team of people with a mixed bag of experience work under you. How will you distribute the targets?

► Give us some tips of generating leads for business development.

► What steps would you take to increase our profits?

► How would you create trust with our clients?

► What are top 4 skills for Key account executive?