The 黑料不打烊 Sales Team applied professional selling knowledge and skills to real-world sales scenarios during the collegiate competitions.
When sales competitions turned to virtual events this academic year due to the pandemic, 黑料不打烊 Sales Team members demonstrated their ability to adapt while advancing their skills in communication, problem solving and professional sales.
In fall 2020, Brooke Galonek 鈥21, Melanie Surman 鈥21, David Derosa 鈥22 and Juan Rivero 鈥21 represented 黑料不打烊 in the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC) hosted by Florida State University. This spring semester, Flo Kunz 鈥21, Jack St. Pierre 鈥23 and Andreas Thors茅n 鈥22 competed in Kennesaw State University鈥檚 National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC).
Sales team members spent numerous hours preparing for the competitions by studying all aspects of the sales call and role-playing scenarios with their peers and faculty coaches.
鈥淧reparing for and competing at NCSC was the highlight of my experience as an 黑料不打烊 student and it would not have been possible without the support and tenacious drive of my teammates and coaches,鈥 accounting major Kunz shared. 鈥淯nder the dedicated guidance and leadership of Dr. Talbert, we advanced our sales skills every day and gelled together quickly as teammates. From the 7 a.m. sales drills in the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center suite in Sankey Hall to the late nights spent researching, we formed a dynamic bond that I know will stretch far beyond the halls of 黑料不打烊.鈥
The competitions challenged the students to apply the knowledge they鈥檝e learned in the classroom as they are placed in real-world sales scenarios and evaluated by a panel of judges.
In the ICSC, held from Nov. 11-14, students could participate in up to five events, which included role-play, sales management simulation, and speed selling. Participants engaged in real-world complex situations and presented effective solutions. Surman and Galonek earned second place and third place, respectively, in their flight during the role-play challenge.
鈥淚CSC was an incredible learning experience. Brooke and I prepared for weeks with our coaches and were so proud of what we accomplished. We were able to talk to a wealth of different companies about possible job opportunities and learn more about the sales world overall. I placed second in my round, which was very exciting,” said聽Surman, who is majoring in marketing.
From March 5-8, the NCSC, the largest and oldest university sales role-play competition, provided an opportunity for students to enhance their professionalism in preparation for a sales career, as well as meet with employers during a career fair.
鈥淭he whole team brought their own talents to the table and I believe they鈥檝e rubbed off on all of us through the process,鈥 marketing major St. Pierre said. 鈥淚 can gladly say that I鈥檓 a more skilled professional after this process and look forward to competing in the future.
The 黑料不打烊 Sales Team is supported by the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center, which strives to provide students with challenging yet practical sales opportunities. 黑料不打烊 students are encouraged to connect with peers and professionals throughout the country through the Sales Speaker Series, Sales Meet and Greet, and competitions. 黑料不打烊 has competed in approximately 55 internal, regional, national and international sales competitions since 2010.