Business Development Internship

Business Development Internship at Brilliant — Research Report

Introduction

The Business Development Internship at Brilliant is the kind of role that gives you real exposure to how growth happens behind the scenes. Instead of doing busywork, you are likely to support outreach, research, pitch preparation, and relationship-building that directly influence new business opportunities.

This role is remote, which makes it especially attractive for candidates who want flexibility without losing access to a fast-moving team environment. The internship period is listed with a deadline not mentioned, so applicants should move quickly and submit a polished application as soon as possible.

For job seekers targeting a Brilliant internship, the upside is simple: you can build transferable business development skills, learn how a modern agency sells its services, and strengthen your resume with work that sounds meaningful in future interviews.

Overview of Brilliant

Brilliant appears to operate as a PR and marketing agency focused on family-oriented consumer brands, with a reputation for being award-winning and growth-minded. Its positioning suggests a niche agency model rather than a broad generalist shop, which usually means tighter client focus, more specialized storytelling, and more hands-on execution.

In the market, Brilliant sits in the same conversation as boutique communications and growth agencies that win business by being faster, more specialized, and more personal than larger competitors. That niche matters because clients in consumer and family categories often want agencies that understand audience trust, brand voice, and long-term reputation management.

The company’s services likely center on public relations, business development, campaign support, influencer partnerships, and growth-oriented marketing work. That combination makes the internship valuable because it gives you a view into both the creative and commercial sides of agency life.

Remote work also signals a modern operating style. Candidates are often drawn to companies like Brilliant because they offer flexibility, direct access to senior team members, and the chance to contribute in visible ways instead of disappearing into a huge corporate structure.

Business Development Internship Role

Role Overview

The Business Development Internship is built around helping the agency find, evaluate, and pursue new opportunities. In practical terms, that means supporting prospect research, drafting outreach materials, maintaining organized records, and helping senior team members move potential leads through the pipeline.

The impact is real: strong business development support can improve meeting quality, speed up lead qualification, and help the team spend more time closing deals instead of chasing basic administrative tasks. For an intern, that creates a strong learning curve because you see how a client pitch turns into revenue.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Research prospective clients, media contacts, and partner organizations.
• Help prepare outreach emails, pitch notes, and follow-up messages.
• Maintain lead lists and contact records in spreadsheets or CRM systems.
• Support new business presentations with background research and talking points.
• Track responses, meetings, and next steps so the pipeline stays organized.
• Assist with campaign summaries, performance notes, and basic reporting.
• Contribute to influencer or partnership research when relevant to client work.
• Coordinate internal documents in Google Drive and keep files current.

Day-to-Day Workflow

A realistic day in this role starts with checking priorities, updating lead status, and reviewing any outreach that needs to go out that morning. You may spend the first part of the day researching a target account, then move into drafting a short pitch email or organizing notes for a client-facing meeting.

Later in the day, you might update a spreadsheet with new decision-maker contacts, compare competitors, or summarize a brand’s recent campaign activity. The rhythm is usually a mix of independent research and frequent touchpoints with the team, especially if the agency is moving quickly on a prospect.

Because this is remote, good interns are expected to be responsive, organized, and able to manage their own time without constant supervision. That is one of the biggest differences between a strong internship and a passive one.

Tools and Technologies

Based on the role requirements, the most likely tools include Google Drive, Google Sheets, email, shared calendars, and some kind of CRM or lead-tracking system. Depending on the team’s workflow, you may also encounter Slack, Notion, Airtable, or presentation tools for pitch support.

For business development roles in agency settings, fluency with spreadsheets matters more than people expect. Being able to clean up a lead list, sort contacts, and track follow-ups accurately is often more useful than having advanced technical skills.

Skills and Requirements

Technical Skills

The strongest candidates usually understand the basics of lead generation, market research, and outreach organization. You do not need to be a sales expert, but you should be comfortable using Google Sheets, email tools, and simple research workflows.

Because Brilliant values support for marketing and PR work, familiarity with brand messaging, campaign structure, and audience targeting is a plus. If you can read a brand’s website and quickly identify the right angle for outreach, you already have a useful edge.

Soft Skills

Communication is the core skill here. You need to write clearly, ask smart questions, and stay professional in every message because you may be representing the agency in early-stage client communication.

Organization, reliability, and curiosity matter just as much. Strong interns notice details, follow up without being reminded, and make it easy for the team to trust their work.

Experience Expectations

The posting indicates that applicants are expected to be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and that prior office internship experience in marketing or public relations is preferred. A 3.0 GPA or above is also listed, which suggests the company wants evidence of consistent performance.

You likely do not need an elaborate portfolio, but you should have proof that you can work in a professional environment. That can include prior internship work, a class project involving outreach or brand strategy, or a writing sample that shows strong business communication.

Salary and Benefits

Publicly available information suggests this internship includes reimbursement of $250 per month for personal cell phone, computer, and home internet use. That is a meaningful remote-work perk because it offsets some of the everyday costs of working from home.

For salary expectations, a realistic market-based estimate for a remote business development internship at a boutique agency is roughly $18 to $28 per hour in the U.S. market, depending on experience, location, and whether the internship is paid hourly or as a stipend-based role. Some agencies pay less, but roles with direct business development exposure and clear responsibilities often land in that range.

Additional benefits may include flexible scheduling within core office hours, resume-building exposure to client growth strategy, and the possibility of conversion into a longer-term role if performance is strong. Interns who treat the position like an audition for a future hire are often the ones who create the most value.

Brilliant Hiring Process

Step-by-Step Hiring Stages

1. Application: submit a resume and any requested materials quickly and cleanly.
2. Screening: a recruiter or team member reviews fit, availability, GPA, and experience.
3. Assignment: candidates may complete a writing, research, or outreach task.
4. Interviews: expect one or more conversations focused on communication and initiative.
5. Offer: strong candidates receive a formal internship offer and onboarding details.

Application Timeline

Because the deadline is not mentioned, applicants should assume the process is rolling or moving on a first-come, first-reviewed basis. For remote internship roles like this, hiring can move in one to three weeks if the team is actively trying to fill the seat.

The safest strategy is to apply early, follow up professionally if appropriate, and make sure your materials are ready before the posting gets crowded. Waiting is usually a disadvantage in internship hiring.

Screening Methods

Screening likely starts with simple keyword checks tied to business development, outreach, research, Google Sheets, PR, and marketing support. A resume that clearly shows organization, communication, and client-facing experience will usually perform better than one that only lists generic coursework.

Portfolio requirements are probably light, but having a writing sample or a short work sample can help. A cleanly formatted document that shows you can research a company, summarize a market, or draft outreach copy can set you apart quickly.

Interview Preparation

Example Interview Questions

• How would you research a prospective client before outreach?
• Tell us about a time you managed multiple deadlines or organized a project.
• How do you write outreach that sounds persuasive but not overly salesy?
• What interests you about business development at a PR and marketing agency?

How to Answer

Use the STAR method: describe the situation, explain your task, walk through the action you took, and end with the result. That structure works especially well for internship interviews because it shows you can tell a clear story without rambling.

For outreach and research questions, be specific. Talk about the tools you used, how you chose priorities, and what you did when the first approach did not work.

What Recruiters Evaluate

Recruiters will look for professionalism, attention to detail, and signs that you can work independently in a remote setting. They also want to see that you understand what business development actually is: relationship-building, research, follow-through, and persistence.

They will pay attention to whether you sound coachable. For an internship, the best answer is rarely the most polished one; it is the one that sounds thoughtful, practical, and trainable.

How to Get Selected

Practical Tips

• Tailor your resume to business development, marketing, PR, and research tasks.
• Use action verbs and measurable results wherever possible.
• Show that you can handle spreadsheets, outreach, and professional communication.
• Prepare one or two examples that prove you can work independently.
• Apply with a short, focused cover note that sounds human, not templated.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending a generic resume that could fit any internship.
• Ignoring the agency angle and talking only about sales in a vacuum.
• Giving vague answers like “I’m a hard worker” without proof.
• Overwriting outreach samples so they sound stiff or artificial.
• Failing to mention remote work discipline or availability.

How to Stand Out

The strongest candidates often bring a small but thoughtful work sample. For example, you could create a one-page prospect brief on a relevant brand, a short outreach draft, or a mini competitive analysis that shows how you think.

Networking also helps. If you can connect with current or former employees, or even reference the company’s client niche intelligently in your application, you immediately sound more serious than someone who applied cold with no context.

Another smart move is to quantify your comfort with the work. If you have done outreach, CRM cleanup, lead generation, or campaign research before, say so plainly. Concrete experience beats broad enthusiasm every time.

Final Thoughts

The Business Development Internship at Brilliant is a strong fit for candidates who want real agency exposure, remote flexibility, and a chance to learn how growth actually happens. It is especially appealing if you enjoy research, communication, and the fast pace of supporting new business efforts.

If your goal is to learn how to get hired at Brilliant, focus on clarity, initiative, and proof that you can contribute from day one. Apply early, tailor your materials, and present yourself like someone who already understands the rhythm of a modern agency team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is salary?

Estimated pay for a remote Business Development Internship at Brilliant is likely around $18 to $28 per hour, with a confirmed $250 monthly reimbursement for phone, computer, and internet use based on the posting details.

How competitive is hiring?

It is likely moderately competitive because the role combines business development, PR, and marketing support, which attracts candidates with both communication and research strengths. Candidates with prior internship experience and strong organization will have an advantage.

What skills matter most?

The most important skills are clear communication, research, organization, spreadsheet proficiency, and the ability to work independently in a remote setting. A strong understanding of outreach and client-facing professionalism will also help significantly.