Social Flight School Student Preparation
Participation Paths
Compete
At UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC)
Coach
Your peers at UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC)
Help run
UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC) on Friday as an attendant for development
blocks, judge room, or career fair. Learn, network, help others, and get workers
perks like Amazon gift cards and wearing casual UToledo/ESSPS swag all at the same
time! Limit 10 students who get PSLS class engagement credit for working UTISC.
Engage
In role play social situations within a business context and get coaching at Social
Flight School
Why Attend
- Improve interpersonal 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 Social Flight School is designed to help with professional development and recruiting. If you are unable to attend Social Flight School, 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.
Prepare
- Request time off or an altered schedule at work, if needed
- Accept the calendar invite from the Edward Schmidt School of Professional Sales (ESSPS) to make sure the event is on your calendar and that you have important event information and links at your fingertips. Only students who complete the engagement survey by the deadline will receive the calendar invite and access to Launchpad. Calendar invites go out during week 3 of the semester.
- Review your Assignment Schedule in Launchpad so you know which social scenes to go to and can begin to think about conversation starters and social topics for discussion. Assignment Schedule is posted 1-2 weeks before the event in the General channel.
- Research the companies using the attendee information found in Launchpad's Corporate Partner Info channel
- Update resume and/or personal business cards
- Compose tailored cover letters for the top firms you are targeting
- Follow ESSPS social media for updates (X, Facebook, Instagram)
- Practice your opening
- Select an appropriate business casual outfit and make sure it is clean and tidy
Access to Launchpad/Teams is for registered attendees, key partner contacts, and students that completed their engagement survey by the deadline. You will receive an email from Microsoft Teams that you have been granted access to the team (ie: Launchpad). The following channels are helpful when you view their Files/Shared tab.
- General - Individual Assignment Schedule and prep document. Prep document includes an overview of the event flow and information on the social scenes.
Social scene possibilities include: networking reception at a conference, dinner with a customer executive, golf outing, holiday office party, client appreciation event at a sports game, trade show happy hour, business flight, company lunch-n-learn, and volunteer event with co-workers and/or customers.
Plot twists can be etiquette or ethical based. Possibilities include alcohol consumption, tripping, dealing with a loud talker, receiving confidential information, etc. Plot twists are not shared in advance with the students so they can think on their feet.
Students and corporate attendees get the assignment schedules (individual for students and comprehensive for corporate attendees) in Launchpad 1-2 weeks in advance so they can prepare. The Individual Assignment Schedule is in the General channel.
At the event, remember to submit a QR code survey for each social scene that you visit.
What to Bring and How to Dress
- Personal business cards
- Something to take notes on and a pen
- Business casual attire
Refreshment
- Heavy grazing and water incorporated into the role plays
Follow-up
- 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)