OPT Sales Business Development Jobs
Sales Business Development roles are among the more OPT-friendly positions in the business world, with many employers familiar with sponsoring STEM and non-STEM OPT students. Your 12-month authorization window is enough to prove your value before H-1B visa season, making timing and employer targeting critical from day one.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
This position’s primary responsibility is to service in-store guests with a selling strategy that follows the guidelines of our Guest Engagement Model, while emphasizing the Interior Design. Will service any influx of scheduled design appointments made in-house, through our Commercial business channels, or via appointment setting technology by analyzing collected information pertaining to the project’s requests/constraints.
Position Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Greet and engage guests and execute sales proficiency using Living Spaces Guest Engagement Model and supporting behaviors
- Determine guests’ goals and requirements of their design project
- Provide relevant design advice, product knowledge, and product recommendations
- Present customized room designs, including sample fabrics, furniture, tables and accessory recommendations
- Maintain current knowledge of merchandise lines; product features, benefits and availability
- Master product knowledge and brand design inspiration
- Process customer transactions in the Point of Sale system
- Complete required training in the expected timeframe, and participate in ongoing learning opportunities
- Actively support and contribute to the store team with the goal of helping the entire team delight guests and achieve revenue targets
- Ensure that the store is “Grand Opening” ready by completing the daily task list and style guides
- Ability to work weekends and most holidays
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Qualifications
Education/Experience: Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from a community college or four-year college in interior design. 1-2 years experience in a customer service, retail, or furniture store environment. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have experience in Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of design software programs is a plus.
Certificates and Licenses: Vocational certificate or degree in interior design. Must successfully complete the internal certification program at Living Spaces.
Position Hiring Range
The hiring pay range provides a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage that Living Spaces expects to pay for the position upon hire. Pay will be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to: applicant's education, relevant work experience, knowledge, applicable and relevant skills and abilities, market demand, Company budget, as well as internal equity and alignment with geographic market data. Living Spaces reserves the right to modify this page at any time.
Compensation: $18.35 - $23.85
Overtime pay is available for eligible, non-exempt Team Members. Reimbursement for expenses as required by applicable law and Company policy. Retail, Guest Services and Distribution Center Team Members are eligible to receive team bonus based on meeting specific goals and KPI's.
Additional available benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements include:
- Medical (full-time only)
- Dental (full-time only)
- Vision (full-time only)
- 401(k) with Company match (full and part-time)
- Vacation (full-time only or as otherwise required by applicable law)
- Paid Sick Leave (full and part-time)
- Flex or Health Spending Account (for eligible full-time only)
- Employee Assistance Program (full and part-time)
- Holiday pay (full-time only)
- Life insurance (full-time only)
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.
E-Verify
Living Spaces participates in E-Verify. All newly-hired team members are queried through this electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
Position Summary
This position’s primary responsibility is to service in-store guests with a selling strategy that follows the guidelines of our Guest Engagement Model, while emphasizing the Interior Design. Will service any influx of scheduled design appointments made in-house, through our Commercial business channels, or via appointment setting technology by analyzing collected information pertaining to the project’s requests/constraints.
Position Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Greet and engage guests and execute sales proficiency using Living Spaces Guest Engagement Model and supporting behaviors
- Determine guests’ goals and requirements of their design project
- Provide relevant design advice, product knowledge, and product recommendations
- Present customized room designs, including sample fabrics, furniture, tables and accessory recommendations
- Maintain current knowledge of merchandise lines; product features, benefits and availability
- Master product knowledge and brand design inspiration
- Process customer transactions in the Point of Sale system
- Complete required training in the expected timeframe, and participate in ongoing learning opportunities
- Actively support and contribute to the store team with the goal of helping the entire team delight guests and achieve revenue targets
- Ensure that the store is “Grand Opening” ready by completing the daily task list and style guides
- Ability to work weekends and most holidays
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Qualifications
Education/Experience: Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from a community college or four-year college in interior design. 1-2 years experience in a customer service, retail, or furniture store environment. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have experience in Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of design software programs is a plus.
Certificates and Licenses: Vocational certificate or degree in interior design. Must successfully complete the internal certification program at Living Spaces.
Position Hiring Range
The hiring pay range provides a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage that Living Spaces expects to pay for the position upon hire. Pay will be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to: applicant's education, relevant work experience, knowledge, applicable and relevant skills and abilities, market demand, Company budget, as well as internal equity and alignment with geographic market data. Living Spaces reserves the right to modify this page at any time.
Compensation: $18.35 - $23.85
Overtime pay is available for eligible, non-exempt Team Members. Reimbursement for expenses as required by applicable law and Company policy. Retail, Guest Services and Distribution Center Team Members are eligible to receive team bonus based on meeting specific goals and KPI's.
Additional available benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements include:
- Medical (full-time only)
- Dental (full-time only)
- Vision (full-time only)
- 401(k) with Company match (full and part-time)
- Vacation (full-time only or as otherwise required by applicable law)
- Paid Sick Leave (full and part-time)
- Flex or Health Spending Account (for eligible full-time only)
- Employee Assistance Program (full and part-time)
- Holiday pay (full-time only)
- Life insurance (full-time only)
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.
E-Verify
Living Spaces participates in E-Verify. All newly-hired team members are queried through this electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
See all 4,950+ OPT Sales Business Development Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Sales Business Development Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Sales Business Development
Target companies with H-1B sponsorship history
Focus on employers who have filed H-1B visa petitions for business development roles in the past. This signals they understand the sponsorship process and won't back out when your OPT expires. Prior filings are a reliable proxy for future willingness.
Lead with revenue impact in your applications
Sales BD roles are judged on numbers. Quantify pipeline generated, deals closed, or accounts grown in every application. Employers weigh sponsorship costs against your earning potential, so making your ROI obvious reduces hesitation about your visa situation.
Disclose OPT status strategically, not upfront
Avoid listing OPT status in your resume or cover letter. Raise it after you've demonstrated fit, ideally once there's mutual interest. Framing it as a straightforward process, not a burden, keeps the conversation moving in your favor.
Pursue STEM-adjacent BD roles to maximize your window
If your degree is STEM-eligible, target technical sales or business development roles at tech companies. A STEM OPT extension gives you 36 months total, significantly improving your odds of clearing the H-1B lottery with your employer's support.
Time your job search around H-1B lottery deadlines
H-1B registration typically opens in March for an October 1 start date. If your OPT begins in summer, you have roughly one lottery cycle before you need an extension or alternative. Start your BD job search at least four months before registration opens.
Build internal advocates before sponsorship conversations
Managers and team leads influence sponsorship decisions more than HR does. Performing well and building trust internally means you'll have advocates arguing your case when the visa question comes up, rather than facing an impersonal HR policy review.
Sales Business Development OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in Sales Business Development on OPT without restrictions?
Yes, as long as your BD role is directly related to your degree field. A business or marketing graduate working in sales business development generally satisfies this requirement. You must work at least 20 hours per week and your employment must be authorized before your start date. Keep documentation showing how the role connects to your major.
Do Sales BD roles commonly lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at mid-to-large companies with established sponsorship programs. Business development roles typically qualify as specialty occupations when a degree in business, marketing, or a related field is genuinely required. Smaller startups may be willing but lack the infrastructure to sponsor efficiently, so vetting the employer's history before accepting an offer is worth doing on Migrate Mate, which filters for sponsoring companies.
What counts as a qualifying Sales Business Development job for OPT?
The role must be related to your field of study and substantive enough to constitute professional-level employment. Titles like Business Development Representative, Sales Development Representative, Account Executive, or Partnerships Associate typically qualify for business and marketing graduates. Commission-only positions with no base salary may raise questions about legitimate employment status, so confirm the compensation structure meets your DSO's requirements.
How do I find Sales Business Development employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It surfaces business development and sales roles at companies with active sponsorship histories, so you're not wasting applications on employers who won't support your visa. Filtering by sponsorship track record early saves significant time, especially given the tight timelines most OPT students are working within.
Can I work as an independent contractor or 1099 consultant in Sales BD on OPT?
This is a gray area DSOs handle cautiously. Self-employment and independent contracting are technically permitted on OPT if you can demonstrate you own a legitimate business and the work relates to your degree. However, most standard 1099 sales roles don't meet that threshold. If an employer offers a contractor arrangement instead of W-2 employment, confirm the arrangement with your DSO before accepting.