Business Development Associate Internship Jobs in Illinois

Addison Group is one of the fastest growing private staffing firms in America that specialize in contract and direct hire staffing, as well as consulting services. We have made “Best of Staffing” lists for multiple years and continue to enjoy many accolades in the industry!

Business Development Associate

The Business Development Associate (BDA) is an entry-level sales position designed for someone who is eager to learn the business, develop strong client-facing skills, and grow into a Business Development Manager. This role provides hands-on exposure to sales, recruiting, client management, and business development while working closely with experienced sales professionals.

The BDA will begin by providing sales and administrative support to the team while learning the business through observation, training, and hands-on experience. Over time, the BDA will take on increasing responsibility and transition into more direct business development activities.

What You’ll Do

Sales & Business Development Support

• Support senior sales professionals with day-to-day business development activities.
• Schedule client appointments and coordinate meetings.
• Confirm interviews, meetings, and other client-related activities.
• Attend client visits and meetings to observe and learn sales and account management techniques.
• Shadow BDMs and other senior team members on client calls and phone conversations.
• Take notes during client meetings and calls and maintain accurate records.
• Follow established templates, processes, and best practices.
• Enter and maintain client and prospect information in Salesforce.
• Assist with preparing information and materials for client meetings.

Client & Market Research

• Research prospective clients and contacts using LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, and other available resources.
• Gather and verify contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses.
• Build and maintain targeted prospect and client lists in Salesforce.
• Research former clients and identify key contacts who have moved to other organizations.
• Help identify new business opportunities and maintain accurate prospect information.
• Assist with cleaning and updating existing Salesforce data.

Recruiting & Business Development Learning

• Participate in recruiting-specific training, sourcing, role-play, and strategy sessions.
• Learn how recruiting and sales work together to meet client needs.
• Shadow recruiters and sales professionals to understand the full staffing process.
• Gain exposure to client requirements, candidate needs, and the overall sales cycle.
• Learn account management, client retention, cross-selling, and relationship-building strategies.

Professional Development

• Participate in structured training and coaching.
• Develop communication, organization, research, and client-service skills.
• Learn how to effectively communicate with clients and prospects.
• Develop an understanding of sales strategy, lead generation, and overcoming client objections.
• Gradually take on more client-facing responsibilities as knowledge and confidence grow.

Qualifications:

• Four-year degree or equivalent
• Professional oral and written communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Capability to connect with others
• Takes responsibility and is accountable for their results
• Ability to balance multiple tasks at once
• Competitive spirit

Our Values:

Addison Group is dedicated to promoting a culture that provides a fun learning environment for each of its employees. We work hard, play hard, and understand the value and importance of both. We are built on the understanding and approach of People First, Process Second.

Benefits:

• Ability to create your own Healthcare package; BCBS medical, dental, and vision - it’s your choice!
• 401(K) with up to 4% matching
• Flexible PTO
• Weekly pay with uncapped commissions
• Pre-taxed commuter benefits, including Uber Pool
• Addison Group Wellness Program
• Annual Echelon Club trip for our top producers
• Seasonal parties and events

Training & Development:

Our Learning & Development department is integral to the culture of Addison and plays a key role in employee growth at all levels. Addison Group’s Onboarding Accelerator/Mentorship program is about supporting new producers in order to strengthen each team, grow Addison, and grow our new employees. This program gives our employees the support they need from day one and gives our Accelerators early leadership experience.