Have you ever worked in a customer service role before? If so, what did you like and dislike about it?
Even if you don't have direct experience in business development, the interviewer will likely still be interested in you if you've held any retail or customer service jobs in the past. They will be looking to see that you are able to effectively handle customer complaints (i.e., that you show resilience) and that you strive to make customers happy because you like to help them. Both of these skills are transferrable to the business development representative role.
"Throughout college, I worked in a retail role where I sold tea at the mall. The job entailed standing outside the store door with samples of tea and persuading potential customers to come inside to try one. This wasn't necessarily an easy job - and this part wasn't always fun - because most passersby had absolutely no interest in coming into our store. I learned over time how to become more engaging, using my friendliness and humor to coax more and more people into trying the tea. I also learned not to take it personally if someone declined my offer; if one person said no, I just looked around for the next person who might say yes. And, perhaps most importantly, I discovered how much I enjoyed making people happy. Those people who I converted into paying customers were always so delighted by their purchase, and I found that to be very satisfying."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Yes, I have over 2 years of experience in customer service. What I liked about this role was deeply understanding the customers' needs, building rapport, and establishing repeat customers over time. Nothing I disliked but there were challenging aspects such as de-escalating conflict but I became very successful at this and am proud of this skill.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great start! You give an overview of your years of experience but consider elaborating on what customer service roles you've held and in what industry. Instead of naming dislikes, you describe them as challenges and turn them into a skill. Great job!
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