Curious to know what different people do all day at their 9-5? We’re investigating job titles and diving deeper into day-to-day tasks to get the low-down on exactly what those roles really entail. Not sure how much to ask for your raise? Wondering what a VP in finance does in the afternoon? We’re uncovering the details behind jobs, along with the salaries and tasks that come with them, to help you figure out what you’re interested in. Below, read about how a woman working in finance spends her day.
Age: 22
City: St. Louis
Industry: Finance
Job Title: Business Development Associate
Years of Experience: 3
Salary: $35k
What does your job title mean?
Business Development Associate is a title that basically encompasses sales and marketing in the investment world. I work with my team to identify new clients, creating reports and presentations, answering questionnaires, and completing other tasks to help us win new business. I also work on client retention, organizing client data, sending updates, tracking market values, and going above and beyond to keep our clients satisfied. On a monthly and quarterly basis, I have a spreadsheet of clients and accounts that I must send performance and portfolio analysis to. Overall I am the contact person for institutions and individuals inquiring about our firm’s products, quarterly updates, and marketing information.
What is your morning routine?
I’m usually up around 5:30am, even though I don’t have to be at work until 8am. I HATE being rushed in the morning, so getting up early allows me to take my time and take care of what needs to be done. I start my morning with a quick workout or at home yoga flow, followed by a quick shower. I always have the news playing in the background while I get ready so that I can at least get an update on my local weather, events and traffic. My job doesn’t have a very strict dress code so jeans and cute top are my usual go-to! Once I’m dressed and ready I’ll make a simple breakfast–smoothie bowl, egg and avocado sandwich, or if I’m in a hurry I’ll grab a yogurt and some fruit to eat at my desk! If I have some extra time, I like to take care of some small household tasks (load the dishwasher, clean the litter box out, take the trash out, etc), so that way I can come home to a cleaner house and get straight to relaxing! I’m usually out the door around 7:30am, and if traffic allows, I sometimes treat myself to a coffee before I get to work!
At 9am I am…
Most days I am responding to client emails and information requests, running some client reports, or updating our CRM with the previous day’s tasks. On Tuesdays though, I am preparing for our weekly Business Development Team meeting, which means double-checking our team task list and making sure I have completed everything I was assigned, preparing any questions I have for the team, and gathering any materials I need to share with them.
At 11am I am…
Wrapping up my team meeting on Tuesdays. On other days, I am usually doing competitor research, organizing and updating the CRM system, and finishing up unresolved tasks from the morning. Some weeks are slower than others, so if I’m not very busy, I’ll ask if anyone needs help with anything around the office before lunch.
What does lunch normally look like for you?
I’m lucky enough that my company understands the importance of being able to step away for a little while, so we’re encouraged to take an hour lunch, with at least 30 minutes being away from our desk. I usually take a late lunch, since I’ve learned that the places around are all packed around 11:30-12! I’m also lucky that my fiancé works nearby, so we’ll usually grab lunch together! If he’s busy, I’ll go grab a quick bite to eat at one of my favorite local places, and maybe get a quick Target run in!
At 1pm I am…
Usually heading back from lunch, wrapping up anything I didn’t finish before lunch, or getting ready for any afternoon meetings I might be involved in. Most afternoons I will work on completing questionnaires and information requests for potential new business, updating our marketing materials, or brushing up on my CRM skills by using the free training associated with the system we use. If I have any meetings later in the day, I’ll work on preparing any notes and materials I need for that meeting and double-checking with the others if they need any help with anything before the meeting.
At 3pm I am… 
Wrapping up my day, updating our CRM system with anything relevant that happened that day, and making a list of things I’d like to accomplish the next day.
At 5pm I am… 
Just making it home! If I was able to cross things off my list in the morning, I’ll spend some time just decompressing, scrolling through social media. After that I usually get started on dinner, or am grabbing a quick snack to head off to my part-time tennis coaching job.
When does a workday end for you? 
I usually leave the office around 4:30pm, and I like to make sure I am ready to hit the ground running the next day.
What do you do after work?
Most days I go home and start on dinner. I’ll swing by Trader Joe’s if I know I need something for the recipe I’ll be making since it’s on my way home. If my fiancé is in charge of dinner, I usually get started on any homework I have since I’m currently working on my MBA. Some days, I head home only to have to leave again to go to my other job. I’ve played tennis since I was little, and now I coach the sport part-time!
What do you do before bed?
I’m definitely way more of a morning person. It takes a lot to make me stay up late, so I’m usually in bed by 10pm. I’ll go through my skincare routine, put on pjs and either read a couple chapters of the book I’m reading, or I’ll watch a couple episodes of my favorite shows while sipping some cozy tea.
 
 
 
Want to submit your day-to-day job duties? Fill out the “What She Does” anonymous form here.