17 Business Development Intern Interview Questions and Answers

The business development intern will work closely with the business development team to support the team’s initiatives. The intern will be responsible for conducting market research, creating presentations, and assisting with the development and execution of business development plans.

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with strong research, writing, and communication skills. The ability to work independently and take initiative is a must.

The business development intern will report to the business development manager.

Responsibilities:

– Conduct market research – Create presentations – Assist with the development and execution of business development plans

Requirements:

– Strong research, writing, and communication skills – Ability to work independently and take initiative

Are you familiar with the concept of value proposition? How would you use it in your work as a business development intern?

Business development interns need to understand the fundamentals of their work. This question helps employers see if you have a basic understanding of business development and how it applies to your role. In your answer, define value proposition and explain how you would use it in your daily work as an intern.

Example: “A value proposition is a statement that describes what makes a company unique from its competitors. It’s important for me to know this concept because I can use it when identifying target markets and developing strategies to reach them. For example, if I was working with a marketing team, I could help them develop a value proposition based on the needs of our target market. Then we could use that information to create content that speaks directly to those customers.”

What are some of the most important skills for a business development professional to have? Why are they important?

This question helps the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. It also allows them to see how you prioritize your own skill set and what you think are important for success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few of the most important skills and then explain why they’re important.

Example: “The two most important skills for business development professionals are communication and persuasion. These skills allow you to effectively communicate with clients and persuade them to buy products or services from your company. I feel these skills are so important because without them, you may not be able to do your job well.”

How would you go about creating a lead generation plan for our company?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of lead generation and how you can apply it to a business. Lead generation is the process of finding potential customers, so employers want to see that you understand this concept and have experience with it. In your answer, explain what a lead generation plan is and give examples of how you would create one for their company.

Example: “I’ve worked on several lead generation plans in my previous internship where I helped develop a marketing strategy for a small startup. The first thing I did was research our target audience and find out which channels they use most often. Then, I created a list of companies we could reach out to and developed a system for tracking leads.”

What is your experience with cold calling? How do you stay motivated during a cold call?

Cold calling is a common practice in business development. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience with cold calling and how you stay motivated during the process. In your answer, share an example of when you had to make cold calls and what helped you stay motivated throughout the process.

Example: “In my previous internship, I was responsible for making cold calls every day. My strategy for staying motivated was to focus on the end goal. I would remind myself that even though it may be challenging at times, I am working toward something bigger. Another thing that helped me stay motivated was setting daily goals. For instance, I would set a goal to call 10 people per hour. This helped me stay focused and not get overwhelmed.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully closed a deal. What was your process for closing the deal and what did you learn from the experience?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. You can use past experiences to highlight your communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

Example: “In my previous internship, I was tasked with finding new clients for our company’s software. After researching several companies in the same industry as us, I found one that had a similar product but didn’t offer any customer support. I contacted them about our software and offered to provide free training on how to use it. They agreed, and we provided training to their employees. We also offered to help them set up our software if they ever needed assistance.”

If you could choose one area of business development to focus on, what would it be and why?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the business development process and how you would apply it in an internship. When answering this question, try to focus on one specific area that interests you most and explain why you chose it.

Example: “If I could choose one area of business development to focus on, I would choose lead generation because it’s such an important part of any sales cycle. In my previous role as a marketing intern, I worked with a team to create a lead generation campaign for our company. We used several different methods to generate leads, including social media ads, email campaigns and content marketing. The results were amazing, and we saw a 30% increase in sales within the first month.”

What would you do if you were assigned a task you were unfamiliar with?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are willing to learn new things and develop your skills. They want to see that you have a willingness to grow as an employee, so it’s important to show them that you’re open to learning more about the company and its processes. In your answer, explain that you would take the time to research the task and complete it to the best of your ability.

Example: “If I was assigned a task I wasn’t familiar with, I would first do some research on how to complete it. If there were any resources available to me, such as online training or guides, I would use those to help me understand what I needed to do. If not, I would reach out to my supervisor for guidance.”

How well do you work in a team environment? What examples can you provide from your previous experiences?

Business development is a collaborative process. Employers ask this question to make sure you can work well with others and are willing to collaborate on projects. When answering, try to provide an example of how you worked in a team environment and what your role was.

Example: “I have always been passionate about business development, so I started my own blog where I wrote about the latest trends in the industry. My first article got quite a lot of attention, so I reached out to some experts in the field for advice. They were happy to help me, and we ended up collaborating on several articles together. We even developed our own marketing strategy that helped us reach more people.”

Do you have experience using social media to promote a business or product? Which platforms do you prefer?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your social media experience and how you use it. If you have relevant experience, share what platforms you used and the results of your efforts. If you don’t have any professional experience using social media, you can still answer honestly and talk about which platforms you prefer to use personally.

Example: “I’ve used Facebook and Instagram to promote my own business ideas in the past. I find that these two platforms are great for promoting content like blog posts or videos. I also enjoy Twitter because it’s a good platform for sharing links and asking questions.”

When is the best time to start marketing a new product or service?

This question can help the interviewer determine your time management skills and ability to plan ahead. Your answer should include a specific example of when you started marketing a product or service in the past, along with the steps you took to promote it.

Example: “I believe that starting the marketing process early is important because it allows me to create an effective strategy for promoting the new product or service. In my last internship, I was tasked with creating a social media campaign for a new software program. We decided to start the promotion two months before the launch date so we could build up our audience and increase brand awareness.”

We want to improve our customer service. What is your strategy for doing so?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically. It also shows the interviewer that you have experience working with customers, which can be valuable for a business development role.

Example: “Customer service is one of the most important aspects of any company because it’s how we interact with our clients. I would start by analyzing what customer complaints are most common and then work with management to create a plan to improve those issues. For example, if many customers complain about shipping times, I might suggest hiring more employees or changing the way we ship products.”

Describe your ideal work environment.

Employers ask this question to make sure you’ll be happy in their company. They want to know that you’re a good fit for the culture and will enjoy working there. When answering, think about what makes you feel most comfortable at work. Consider things like your preferred workspace environment, how much freedom you need to do your job well and whether you prefer to work alone or with others.

Example: “I thrive when I have plenty of natural light and fresh air. I also really value having a mentor who can help me learn more about my role and provide feedback on my performance. In an ideal workplace, I would have access to both mentors and other employees so I could get advice from everyone.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this business development internship?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are the best candidate for this role. Consider highlighting any relevant experience or skills that match what they’re looking for in an intern.

Example: “I am passionate about sales and marketing, which is why I chose to major in business management. In my previous internship, I learned how to use social media platforms to promote brands and products. This skill set makes me well-suited for this position because I know how to create content that attracts customers. I also have excellent communication skills, so I can easily collaborate with team members and clients.”

Which industries do you want to gain experience in?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention industries that are related to the job you’re interviewing for or ones that you have experience in already.

Example: “I’m passionate about working in marketing and advertising, so I would love to gain experience in those fields. I’ve interned at an ad agency before, so I know what skills I need to develop to become a successful marketer. I also want to work in the tech industry because I think my background in coding could help me excel there.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when working on a team project?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you work with others and your thought process when collaborating on a project. Your answer should show that you value teamwork, are willing to compromise and have good communication skills.

Example: “I think it’s important to be open-minded about other people’s ideas and opinions. I’ve found that even if someone has an idea that seems strange or unlikely, there is often some merit to it. It’s also helpful to remember that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, so we need to make sure we’re all working together in our projects.”

How often should a business development team meet?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan your work and organize meetings. Your answer should show that you know when to hold a meeting and what to discuss during it.

Example: “I think business development teams should meet at least once per week, but I would recommend holding more frequent meetings if there are important projects or campaigns in progress. For example, if we’re working on a new sales pitch for a client, I’d suggest having weekly meetings with my team members so we can all provide feedback and make sure our ideas are developing as planned.”

There is a new business development opportunity that requires skills that your team doesn’t have. How would you approach the situation?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work with others and develop skills that are necessary for success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time you worked with someone who had different skills than you did and how you helped them succeed in their role.

Example: “In my previous internship, I was working on a project where we needed to create a new sales pitch. My team member was very good at writing content but not so much at creating graphics. So, I offered to help him by creating the visuals he needed. He appreciated my offer and together we were able to complete our task successfully.”