Top Business Development Interview Questions

So you've applied to an internship or job, passed the phone/HR screen, and are now on to the interview stage. Congratulations! We recognize that this is arguably just as stressful as it is exciting—a large part of your ability to secure the role is to ace your interview. In this piece, we'll be sharing some of the most common business development interview questions so you can walk into your interviews feeling more confident and prepared.

Tell me about how you work on a team.

Why they ask: An interviewer favorite, asking candidates how they work on a team is a great way to learn several things about them—what drives them, what their values are, and what their immediate impact on a team might be.

Suggested Answer: Use questions like this as an opportunity to pitch yourself as a great team player—someone that makes those around them better. One of our favorite answers to this is to point out that you're flexible—you're able to drive projects, but also let others shine.

Tell me about a time when you're dealt with conflict/adversity on a team.

Why they ask: The rationale for this question is similar to the one listed above. That is, recruiters or managers will ask this question to determine how you might deal with issues on a team.

Suggested Answer: There's definitely been a time where you and a friend/team member didn't agree on how you should tackle an issue. Answer this question by finding a meaningful project you worked on (that was ideally a success), and thinking about issues you addressed along the way. You want this project to reflect humility, confidence, and problem-solving.

How do you learn things?

Why they ask: Business Development is an inherently dynamic role and function. For this reason, hiring managers might be interested in how you learn and process new information.

Suggested Answer: In all honestly, the best way to answer this question is by effectively conveying how you actually learn things. Don't worry about the specifics of your answer—as long as it's coherent and effective in conveying your message, it'll work out well.

How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a product/strategy?

Why they ask: As we stated above, the business development role, like many functions nowadays, is shifting to be more analytical in nature. That is, managers want to hear that you're comfortable with data.

Suggested Answer: This is your time to flex your slightly technical chops. It's a huge plus to have experience with analysis tools like Excel, Python, or SQL. If you pair this with the STAR method detailed here, you're all set!

Do you have any questions for me?

Why they ask: This is a pretty standard interview question that most (if not every) interviewer will ask you. There's no ulterior motive here—interviews at their core are meant to be conversations between two people that assess their fit in working together.

Suggested Answer(s): Constructing an effective response to this question can make a large difference in your performance through your interviewer's eyes. Be genuine when you respond, but some of our favorite questions to ask are:

• What's a typical day in the life of [job function] at [company]?
• What do you think makes a great [role you're interviewing for]?
• Do you have any feedback for me?

Next steps?

First things first, if you haven't already, go read our Guide to Business Development Interviews. After you've done that, you should be all set to start applying to jobs in Business Development!

Happy job hunting!