Occupations

Sales and business development jobs abroad

Show your prospecting skills, sales-cycle experience and market knowledge when applying for an international commercial position.
Practical guide · Updated 26 October 2026
Sales representative presenting an industrial valve to a customer at a trade fair.
Generated illustration for this topic.

Explain how a relationship became a sale

For a sales position abroad, describe a sales cycle you actually helped deliver: prospect selection, needs discovery, proposal and negotiation. Put results in context by distinguishing newly won customers from an inherited account portfolio, then explain your confidence with tracking tools and professional conversations in the language used by the target market.

Understand targets before committing

Business development may involve opening a territory, booking meetings or closing complex contracts. Clarify the geographic remit, prospecting resources, targets and variable-pay calculation; also consider travel requirements and the technical support available when a sale requires a demonstration or a tailored proposal, so that the advertised title matches the work you expect to do.

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