Business Development Representative

Bridgeway Partners is seeking an ambitious, motivated, and competitive individual to join our professional search team as a Business Development Representative (BDR) . This is an entry-level opportunity to develop valuable professional skills in sales, prospecting, business development, relationship management, and consultative selling while learning directly from experienced business leaders.

No prior sales experience is required. We're looking for someone who is eager to learn, comfortable initiating conversations, and motivated to develop the skills necessary to become an exceptional sales professional. The right person will be proactive, coachable, persistent, and willing to challenge themselves in a performance-driven environment.

What You'll Do

Prospecting & Market Development

• Research companies, industries, and key business decision-makers.
• Build, organize, and develop an assigned sales territory.
• Identify prospective clients and uncover new business opportunities.
• Conduct outbound prospecting through phone calls, email, and other outreach channels.
• Utilize CRM systems, AI tools, and modern sales technology to support business development activities.

Sales & Relationship Building

• Initiate conversations with business leaders and decision-makers.
• Learn to ask thoughtful questions and identify business challenges and hiring needs.
• Develop professional communication, active listening, and consultative selling skills.
• Navigate objections, rejection, and follow-up conversations with confidence and persistence.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective clients over time.

Business Development & Account Support

• Work alongside experienced partners to develop new client relationships.
• Assist with ongoing business development initiatives and market expansion efforts.
• Track prospecting activity, maintain accurate CRM records, and manage follow-up priorities.
• Develop an understanding of how businesses operate and make important hiring decisions.
• Gradually take on greater responsibility for assigned accounts, client conversations, and business development opportunities.

What We're Looking For

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A genuine interest in sales, business development, and relationship building.
• Confidence and comfort initiating conversations with people you don't know.
• A competitive mindset and motivation to achieve measurable goals.
• Resilience, persistence, and the ability to handle rejection constructively.
• Curiosity about businesses, industries, and what drives organizational success.
• Strong organizational skills, personal accountability, and attention to detail.
• Openness to direct coaching, feedback, and continuous improvement.
• A strong work ethic and desire to become exceptionally good at something.

Previous sales experience is not required. We place significant value on ambition, curiosity, coachability, persistence, and the willingness to work hard at developing new skills.

About Bridgeway Partners

Bridgeway Partners is a professional search firm specializing in helping organizations identify and hire talented professionals for important, business-critical positions.

Our approach is deliberately different from transactional, high-volume recruiting and sales. We focus on building long-term relationships, understanding our clients' businesses, and becoming a trusted partner in their most important hiring decisions.

As we enter our 21st year, we're focused on the next stage of our growth, with a goal of doubling our business by 2030 through expansion into new markets, improved technology and systems, and the development of the next generation of sales and search professionals.

Why This Opportunity?

Professional search sits at the intersection of sales, consulting, talent, and business strategy. This position offers the opportunity to learn how to sell a sophisticated professional service while working directly with experienced partners who have spent decades developing businesses and building client relationships.

Over your first 18–24 months, you'll gain practical experience in prospecting, territory development, executive communication, relationship management, discovery, negotiation, organization, resilience, and influence.

As your capabilities develop, you'll have the opportunity to take on greater responsibility, manage client relationships, and participate in increasingly sophisticated business conversations.

Our goal is to help you develop the skills necessary to grow into an Account Executive, Search Consultant, or other high-level sales professional.

We hope you'll build your career at Bridgeway. But wherever your career ultimately leads, our goal is for you to become a significantly more capable and valuable professional because of the experience you gain here.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

If you're early in your career, motivated to learn sales, and looking for an opportunity that offers meaningful responsibility, direct mentorship, and significant professional development, we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you.