Asking this question allows you to see whether the business development executive remembers to retain old customers or only focuses on getting new ones. How they answer the question tells you whether they are good at interacting with clients or if they would resort to ineffective or inappropriate tactics. Their reply can let you know if they have the ability to think about what appeals to an established user base. What to look for in an answer:

• Interest in keeping customers’ business
• Creative thinking
• Ability to sell products and services

A business development executive has a lot of responsibilities. This question helps you learn about the candidate’s ability to multitask and organize their time. Asking it also encourages the person to elaborate on the types of duties they expect to fulfill. Their answer to this question gives you an idea of how they would perform a typical workday. What to look for in an answer:

• Awareness of what the job entails
• Ability to delegate to associates
• Strong organizational and time management skills

If a person can properly answer this question, it lets you know that they have done their research and learned about the company before the interview. Their answer also tells you what general direction the executive would want to take your company in if they were hired. What to look for in an answer:

• Knowledge about your company’s current development
• Confidence and enthusiasm in an answer
• A clear and logical assessment of development goals

If your business uses customer relationship management software, it is useful to see if the business development executive candidate has used any CRM software before. Even if they have not used the same product as you, their answer can let you know if they are comfortable using technology to improve the workplace. Their response can also tell you about how much they value their client relationships. What to look for in an answer:

• Knowledge of CRM software your business uses
• Interest in using technology in the workplace
• Desire to manage customer relations

All business development executives should have some ideas for how to enter markets, so you can use this question to test their intelligence and expertise. When a candidate answers this question, pay attention to whether they give you a stale recitation of traditional steps or consider a more unique approach. This question can help you identify creative thinkers who are likely to advance the company’s goals. What to look for in an answer:

• Fast and confident responses
• Defined plans for addressing new markets
• Innovative and outside-the-box strategies

Business development executives use relationship management as one of their primary strategies for retaining customers and cultivating a dedicated customer base. Successful business development executives understand that maintaining client relationships takes strategic effort so that they can keep customers engaged without making them feel pressured or overwhelmed. They use high-impact interactions to encourage loyalty without overextending their resources. Interviewers can use this question to assess a candidate's interpersonal skills and determine their overall plan for interacting with existing clients. Quality responses should reference:

• Examples of relationship-building techniques
• Emphasis on authentic connections
• Scheduled outreach