Business Development Associate

As a Business Development Associate at Groupon, your primary responsibilities include identifying and connecting with local businesses that could benefit from Groupon's platform. You'll engage in outbound calls, pitch our services, and present tailored solutions that align with merchants' goals. Additionally, you'll be responsible for hitting and exceeding sales targets while building strong relationships with local business owners to assist them in achieving success on our platform.

To qualify for the Business Development Associate position at Groupon, you should be a confident communicator with excellent listening and negotiation skills. An outgoing personality is crucial, along with comfort using technology and sales tools, preferably having experience with CRMs like Salesforce. While at least 6 months of sales experience—whether in telesales, retail, or customer service—is desirable, a passion for connecting with local businesses and personal drive matters most. Familiarity with the Chicago area is a plus!

Groupon offers a competitive commission structure for Business Development Associates which is based on gross profit, with no cap on earnings. Last year, successful BDRs had median total earnings of around $60,000, showcasing how your hard work and dedication can translate into significant financial rewards. This structure encourages you to excel and achieve remarkable results while helping local businesses thrive.

At Groupon, new Business Development Associates undergo an extensive onboarding process that includes hands-on training and mentorship. This program is designed to equip you with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to excel in your role. You'll learn about our platform, sales techniques, and relationship-building strategies while working closely with your team to ensure you’re ready to make a tangible impact from day one.

Groupon fosters a culture of learning and development, which means there are ample opportunities for growth as a Business Development Associate. You'll receive ongoing training and support to enhance your skills, and as you demonstrate success in your role, you may have the chance to advance to higher positions within the sales team or explore other areas within the company based on your interests and professional goals.

When answering this question, focus on specific sales experiences you have, illustrating how they have equipped you with the skills necessary for the Business Development Associate position. Discuss your achievements, any strategies you employed to succeed, and how you built relationships with clients, emphasizing your adaptability and communication skills.

Explain your approach to relationship building by highlighting your ability to listen, understand business needs, and create tailored solutions. Provide an example where you've successfully connected with a client or customer, showcasing the steps you took to develop trust and credibility.

Share your personal techniques for staying motivated, such as setting milestones, tracking progress, or celebrating small wins. Discuss how you maintain a positive attitude and use setbacks as growth opportunities to continually enhance your performance.

When faced with this question, choose a specific situation and detail the steps you took to navigate the challenge. Emphasize your problem-solving skills, resilience, and determination, ultimately leading to a successful outcome through persistence and creativity.

Discuss your organization skills and techniques for managing your pipeline, including how you segment leads, follow up on prospective businesses, and ensure timely communication. Highlight any tools or systems you've used to stay on top of tasks and deadlines.

Explain the importance of collaboration within a sales team and how you leverage team dynamics to achieve collective goals. Provide examples of instances where you’ve worked together with colleagues to enhance your efforts or brainstorm solutions for clients.

Illustrate why your skills, experiences, and personal traits align perfectly with the Business Development Associate role. Emphasize your enthusiasm for local businesses, communication abilities, and dedication to driving results, ensuring to connect this back to Groupon’s mission.

Approach this question with apositive mindset, discussing how you view rejection as a learning opportunity. Share any strategies you use to cope, reflecting on how those experiences have helped you improve and refine your sales approach.

Share your familiarity with CRM systems and how you’ve used them to track leads, manage customer relationships, and analyze data. If you’ve specifically worked with Salesforce or similar platforms, provide examples of how these tools have contributed to your successes.

Discuss the value you place on community and the role local businesses play in creating vibrant neighborhoods. Link your personal values to Groupon's mission, showcasing your passion for empowering local entrepreneurs and driving community connection.