Business Development & Sales Internship Roles

Business Development & Sales Internship roles may encompass a dynamic blend of research, outreach, client engagement, and strategic business support functions. Typical internship positions may be:

• Sales and Business Development Intern
• Lead Generation Intern
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Intern

Daily Operations

Business Development & Sales Interns handle research, communication, sales support, and administrative tasks to gain experience in driving growth. Their duties include:

• Prospecting leads and supporting client outreach via phone, email, or in-person.
• Conducting market research and assisting in strategy development.
• Preparing presentations, sales materials, and managing client portfolios with follow-ups.
• Handling scheduling, correspondence, CRM updates, and supporting social media/promotional activities.
• Participating in training, meetings, and sales call shadowing.

Candidate Profile

Typically requires pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, or related fields, strong communication, research, and analytical skills. Candidates should be motivated, customer-focused, tech-savvy (Microsoft Office, CRM, social media), and able to work well in teams while managing tasks efficiently. Previous sales or marketing experience is a plus but not mandatory.

The Big Three Learning Outcomes

• Communication: Ability to clearly articulate ideas, craft persuasive messages, and interact effectively with clients and team members.
• Professionalism: Demonstrated reliability, ethical conduct, and the capacity to manage responsibilities in a business environment.
• Teamwork: Enhanced collaboration skills, contributing positively within diverse teams to achieve common goals.

In addition, you can expect to make gains in:

• Leadership: Developed confidence to take initiative, guide tasks or small projects, and support decision-making processes.
• Commercial Awareness / Problem Solving: Improved understanding of market dynamics, identification of business opportunities, and the ability to analyze challenges and propose effective solutions.

Career Pathway

Starting with Business Development & Sales Internship roles, a typical career pathway can look like this:

• Entry-Level Roles: Begin as a Business Development Representative (BDR), Sales Associate, or Inside Sales Account Executive. These roles focus on client acquisition, lead generation, and support in sales processes.
• Mid-Level Roles: Progress to Business Development Manager or Sales Manager, managing the sales or business development processes, developing strategies, and possibly leading a team.
• Senior Roles: Advance to roles such as Senior Business Development Manager, Regional Sales Manager, or Sales Director, responsible for bigger accounts, strategic partnerships, revenue growth, and managing larger teams.
• Leadership and Executive Roles: Potentially move into executive leadership such as Head of Business Development, Vice President of Sales, Chief Sales Officer, or Chief Business Development Officer overseeing company-wide growth initiatives and strategies.

This pathway reflects a progression from hands-on sales and client interaction to strategic leadership and broader business impact roles, emphasizing skill growth, leadership development, and increasing responsibility.

Additional Career Opportunities

Skills gained from Business Development & Sales Internship roles can also lead to roles in marketing, product management, consulting, or entrepreneurship, given the broad skill set acquired during these internships.