Business Development Manager Internships
Business development manager internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working business development managers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are concentrated across Technology & Software, Manufacturing, and Renewable Energy, with Travelers, JLL, and TikTok among the employers posting roles now.
Find InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 75+ Business Development Manager Internships
In addition to significant professional development, mentorship, and real-world project experience, participants will be considered for a one-time, performance-based payment at the conclusion of the program. The amount depends on business and individual results.
Bauer Entertainment Marketing (www.BauerEM.com (http://www.bauerem.com/)), is looking for a dynamic professional to support its sales initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing a career in music, sports, entertainment, marketing, or technology.
Primary responsibilities will be to identify potential clients, assist with proposals and agreements, establish new prospective client relationships, drive new revenue for the company, and organize and maintain the current CRM system. The Business Development Internship also serves as a launch point for exploring multiple areas and opportunities.
This internship requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week during standard business hours. Specific days and hours can be coordinated with your supervisor based on business needs and academic schedules.
We are looking for an outgoing candidate with a passion for entrepreneurship, the ability to learn quickly and execute with excellence, organizational skills, attention to detail, and superior communication skills. The ideal candidate will be organized and have a deep commitment to growth and learning.
This position reports to the Business Development Manager. This internship can be done from our workspace in East Nashville and/or remotely.
Qualifications:
- Current graduate student or undergraduate Junior or Senior
- Business, sales, or psychology-focused degrees preferred
- Strong interest in the entertainment and technology industries
- Experience in startups and the entertainment industry are a bonus, but not required
Hard Skills:
- Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills (preference given to great copywriters)
- Proficient in Google products (Slides, Docs, Sheets)
- Aptitude for graphic design (Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop)
- Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
Soft Skills:
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction and supervision
- Great people skills and ability to collaborate with colleagues in person and remotely
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, efficient, and productive while managing multiple tasks at once
- Needs to be told things only once, but not afraid to ask for clarification
- Capacity to get work done in a fast-paced environment not confined to a typical “9 to 5” day
- Strong problem-solver and adept at anticipating opportunities. Handles objections with ease
- Seeks, welcomes, and uses constructive criticism to learn, grow, and improve
Mission:
- Grow BEM's ability to share unforgettable experiences with fans by supporting new business acquisition through research and proposal development
Outcomes:
- Identify and qualify prospective clients
- Assist in creating business development proposals and presentations
- Maintain up-to-date and accurate CRM records to support sales pipeline management
Our internship offers you:
- Flexible Scheduling: Work from wherever and whenever you want as long as deadlines are met, your communication is timely and consistent, and your supervisors are happy with results. Unlimited vacation, pending approval
- Hands-on Experience: Working at a startup means you'll get greater access, responsibility, and accountability immediately. Receive real-time training and core knowledge across a range of marketing strategies and tactics
- Networking Opportunities: Meet, engage, and build relationships with a variety of people in the entertainment industry
- Potential consideration for a full-time position after graduation
About Bauer Entertainment Marketing (BEM):
Bauer Entertainment Marketing is a full-service marketing agency providing strategic consulting and hands-on campaign management. We're leaders in removing barriers to growth and generating more conversions via leads, sales, awareness, and engagement. We've proudly helped grow 100+ sports, music & entertainment companies including: Country Jam USA, Nitro Circus, Kanye West, Ryman Auditorium, Music City Bowl, and Uber. BEM was named “Best in Business” by the Nashville Business Journal, “Best Emerging Music, Sports, & Entertainment Company” by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, plus a "Best Advertising Agency" and "Top Digital Marketing Agency" in Nashville by Expertise.com and UpCity. Most recently, we received recognition from Front Office Sports as 2023 Best Employers in Sports. This reflects our experience, passion, professionalism, and ability to generate quantified, documented results for clients. Learn more at www.BauerEM.com (http://www.bauerem.com/).
Business Development Manager Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Manufacturing
- Renewable Energy
- Construction & Real Estate
Tips for Your Business Development Manager Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer programs
Large employers recruit summer business development manager interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter break. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so roles appear year-round. Building a target list of employers in September gives you the widest window before structured cohorts close.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Business development manager intern recruiters expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to assess instead. Document two or three projects, a market sizing analysis, a competitive landscape deck, or a prospecting outreach campaign, noting the tools you used and the outcome. A linked, shareable artifact does more work than a bullet point on a resume.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied directly to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Your professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the total pool you reach.
Practice your case interview out loud
Business development manager intern screens typically involve a market-sizing or business case exercise, sometimes a competitive analysis prompt. Practice out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you structure a problem as much as your final answer. Running mock cases with a partner before your first interview makes the format familiar when it counts.
Target structured business development programs early
Larger companies run rotational or cohort-based business development programs designed specifically to train people new to the field. These programs offer structured mentorship, cross-functional exposure, and clearer conversion timelines than ad-hoc internships. They recruit early and fill fast, so identify the programs that match your target industry and apply in the first wave of their recruiting cycle.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 32% of the business development manager internships listed here, so decide what you can commit to before you start applying. Filtering by location and work type upfront means you spend time on roles you can actually take rather than sorting through listings that do not fit your situation.
Business Development Manager Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a business development manager internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For business development manager candidates, a concrete artifact like a market analysis, competitive research deck, or documented sales pipeline project gives recruiters something real to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a business development manager internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for business development manager interns is performance on real work, available headcount on the team, and how early the employer sets return-offer timelines. Treat the internship as a genuine audition, deliver on your projects, and position yourself for a return offer without counting on one.
When should I apply for business development manager internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September, so waiting until spring means the structured cohort programs are already closed. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, which means openings appear year-round and a second application window often opens in late winter and spring.
Are business development manager internships paid?
Most professional business development manager internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and the specifics depend on what each employer discloses. Listings show pay where the employer has made it public, so you can compare what is available as you apply.
What should a business development manager internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show your process and outcomes, for business development manager candidates, that means market research write-ups, competitive analyses, pitch decks, or documented prospecting campaigns with results. List the tools used and link to the work where possible. Add relevant coursework and keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote business development manager internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 68% of the business development manager internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants nationally, so apply early. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid openings and avoid sorting through roles you cannot take.
What is a business development representative (BDR) internship and how does it differ from a business development manager internship?
A BDR internship focuses on outbound prospecting, cold outreach, and qualifying leads, the front end of the sales pipeline. A business development manager internship typically involves higher-level responsibilities like market analysis, partnership evaluation, and strategy support. BDR internships are a well-known entry point into business development careers and recruit heavily from universities, often filling cohorts early in the fall cycle.
Can international students get business development manager internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
See All 75 Business Development Manager Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Internships