Sales Connection Student Preparation

Participation Paths

Compete at Internal Sales Competition (ISC) and/or UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC). Sales Connection is part of ISC and UTISC, includes development blocks.
Coach your peers at Internal Sales Competition (ISC) and/or UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC). Sales Connection is part of ISC and UTISC, includes development blocks.
Help run the event on Friday morning as an attendant for development blocks, judge room, or career fair at Sales Connection, Internal Sales Competition (ISC), and/or UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC). Learn, network, help others, and get workers perks like Amazon gift cards and wearing casual UToledo/ESSPS swag all at the same time!
Engage in development blocks and open networking lunch at Sales Connection
Each path earns you Eureka points with UToledo that you can redeem for rewards throughout the year

Improve sales and related skills in an interactive environment while learning about various sales career opportunities
Expand your career contact network by talking to firms you might have missed at the college job fair and/or meeting new contacts
Increase and direct your exposure to the firms that are focused on recruiting sales talent
Follow-up in person with the firms you are currently targeting for employment
Meet the individual(s) who might become your next manager!!!
...required for those taking a professional sales class this semester because Sales Connection is designed to help with professional development and recruiting. If you are unable to attend Sales Connection, you need to talk with your instructor ASAP and have documentation in order to receive the alternate assignment. Otherwise, you are expected to be there.

Take the Student Engagement Survey during week 1 of each semester to share your preferences for development block topics and confirm your participation. ESSPS Director will email survey to PSLS majors and minors and all those taking a PSLS class the week before classes start with a reminder during week 1 of class. Faculty will also email and post the link in Blackboard.
Request time off or an altered schedule at work, if needed
Review the development block topics and prepare questions. You will receive an Assignment Schedule the week before the event so you know which topic block(s) you are going to and where to go.
Research the companies using the organization and attendee information found in Memberclicks (you will need to login to access the Event Attendees list and Company Directory found in the Exclusive Protected Content section) Memberclicks Guide for Students
Update resume and/or personal business cards
Compose tailored cover letters for the top firms you are targeting
Follow ESSPS social media for updates (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
Practice your opening
Review and choose conversation starters for the opening networking lunch
Select an appropriate business professional outfit and make sure it is clean and tidy

Development Blocks

2 hour block that will cover 2 topics in a highly interactive workshop or panel format
Blocks are led by ESSPS Corporate Partners, ESSPS alumni, and other companies
Development blocks will be recorded so that students can securely access content and insights on-demand beyond the session(s) they attended live. Most recordings are available immediately after the event in the ESSPS Showcase by logging in and going to the Webinars, Events, Speakers, and Training channel.
Remember to check-in by scanning the QR code for that block
Full list of topics and details on development blocks

Open Networking Lunch

Companies will each have their own table. Branding is provided via a table stand sign and QR code check-in sheet. Remember to check-in by scanning the QR code for that table.
Students will sit down and enjoy their lunch while networking with the companies. Students can approach their open networking by focusing on the company, common interests, and/or general relationship.

Personal interests (pets, travel, cooking, volunteering, fitness, etc) will be communicated using a series of colored cups. Use the cup that has the color that matches the your personal interest so it is easy to find people who share your interests.

Ask these Link 20 © questions, over time, in a sincere way, and you will move most people up the pyramid (see below for some ideas and make up your own):

What do you do when you are not working?
Where did you go to school (and how did you choose it)?
Where did you grow up and what was it like growing up there?
What was your high school like?
What do you enjoy reading when you have time?
How did you decide to do (whatever he/she does) for a living?
Tell me something about your family
Where is your favorite place to vacation?
What kind of a vacation would you like to take that you have not taken?
What community associations, if any, do you have time to be involved with?
What sports, if any, do you enjoy participating in?
What sports do you enjoy watching?
If you could have tickets for any event, what would it be?
How did you decide to settle in this area?
Tell me something about you that would surprise me?
What things would you really want to do more of, but don’t have time for?
What challenges/issues in your work do you deal with that I, or my company, might be able to help you with?
What is the most frustrating thing about being in your business today?
In your opinion, what two or three qualities, make a top notch sales representative (account executive, consultant, etc.)?
If all work paid the same, and you could go around again, what would you do?

Send brief follow-up letters to the business professionals you met thanking them for their time/guidance/information/etc and/or expressing your excitement for pursuing a career with their company
Follow-up on any next steps that were discussed during the event (send a LinkedIn request, forward a resume, send availability to schedule job shadow or interview, apply online, etc)