Manager of Business Development

The scope of career opportunities available in the Languages Services industry extend further than just translating and interpreting roles and these roles are critical to the effective running of any Language Service Provider (LSP).

The next in our series of blogs on careers within the Language Services industry focuses on Business Development Managers (BDMs)., one of the newest members to our team of BDMs, gives his insights into the role.

Describe what you do on a day-to-day basis?

There are a few key elements to my role as a Business Development Manager:

Research: The most time consuming part of my role involves scouring the internet for exciting companies that may require our services. If I see that a particular company is extending its global reach, for example, I will make contact to explore ways in which we can help them achieve international growth.

In a crowded marketplace, we need to be innovative when contacting clients and this often consists of identifying solutions to problems companies didn’t realise they even had.

Quoting/writing proposals: Once a project has been identified, we work with our File Engineers, Project Managers and Technical Pre-Sales Managers to draw up a proposed workflow based on the client’s final requirements.

On-going client calls: As the primary point of contact, I make regular calls with the client to ensure that the project is running smoothly. Client satisfaction is what we’re all about and we constantly look at ways to improve our service offering to help maintain effective relationships beyond the first project.

How did you become a Business Development Manager and what attracted you to this job?

Fresh out of University, I joined Capita TI in a Telesales Lead Generation function, calling lists of companies and booking appointments for the Business Development Managers (BDMs). In July I progressed into a BDM role myself and started working on my own accounts.

The opportunities at Capita TI for career progression, the job autonomy and the fast-paced environment attracted me to a career in the Sales department. Having been here for nearly a year and a half, I am excited to see where my career at Capita-TI will take me.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

Finding new clients to work with on a monthly basis is without a doubt the most challenging aspect of the job. That being said, who doesn’t love a good challenge!

What are your favourite aspects of your job?

I most enjoy speaking with and meeting lots of new people on a daily basis – it keeps the job fresh and the learning process is on-going.

What would your advice for newcomers be?

It’s all about knowledge in the Language Services industry! Swotting up on the industry helps you to pre-empt a client’s problem, and to be the expert. People can often struggling when coming from outside the industry, and I would put that down to a very steep learning curve with regards to technical knowledge.

What do you feel is the key skill/attribute needed to succeed in your role?

You need a thick skin, a competitive mind-set, and strong relationship/rapport building skills with clients and colleagues alike; in my opinion, being able to get on with people is an underrated attribute.

What would you do if you weren’t a Business Development Manager?

Most likely playing guitar in a rock band somewhere!

If you would like to find out more about a career as a Business Development Manager, or in the Language Services industry in general, contact marketing@capita-ti.com. In the meantime why not visit our website to find out how we can help you with all your language requirements.