John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation

Professional sales majors are given tools to show how varied the career map can be, the steps to set up and conduct effective sales calls (or business meetings), understand needs, develop proposals, work in team selling settings, take on leadership roles and navigate the complexity of ever-changing technologies used not only in selling roles but in marketing more broadly. In doing so, no matter what a student's career aspirations or background, they are equipped to run a meeting, negotiate terms, adapt when the conversation does not go as planned - and most importantly, cultivate meaningful, trust-based professional relationships that drive long-term success.

Student Experience by Year

Year 1

• Declare your professional sales major so you get all the special access, emails, etc
• Sales Connection with Internal Sales Competition (ISC) – can just do Sales Connection, but we do have freshmen through seniors competing if you want to compete with other students who have a similar experience level as you. Students are eligible each year at ISC as long as they have not accepted a post graduation job offer.  Competing could land you a spot and scholarship as part of our Sales Competition Team to compete at UTISC.
• Social Flight School
• UToledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC) – volunteer to help run part or all of the 3 day event and meet top sales students from around the country and companies with attractive sales internships and careers
• Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE)
• Micro or regular internships full time in the summer and/or part time around your class schedule
• Access the ESSPS Student Experience Launchpad/Teams - a curated hub for career opportunities, events, and resources designed to help you explore and succeed in professional sales whether you are considering the major or actively building your path

Year 2

• PSLS 3000 Sales Career Orientation
• Same as year 1
• Those who engaged in year 1 are in a position to take on roles as peer leads and/or experience different aspects of UTISC. A select student will be invited to join Core Team to be part of the behind the scenes to prepare, run, and follow-up on ISC and UTISC.

Year 3

• Declare professional sales major (if you did not prior to upper division) and begin to take professional sales classes – PSLS 3440 Sales, PSLS 3080 Purchasing, and PSLS 3450 Sales Technologies and Strategies
  • Role plays vary by class with some integrated across classes. Role plays take place in person, over the phone, and online.  Interactions are 1-1’s, and some involve artificial intelligence.
  • Corporate Coaching Sessions with company professionals and senior sales students who provide coaching
  • Internal selling and presentations, negotiations, project management, supply chain management – only university in the country to require students to take purchasing to formally understand customer experience!
  • Analyzing and visualizing data, prospecting, segmenting customers, developing strategic sales and marketing plans, social selling
  • Class speakers from corporate partners and alumni share their stories and training
• Internship (PSLS 4940) after PSLS 3440 Sales is required so you can put into practice what you learned in the real world
• Same as year 1 – except Sales Connection and Social Flight School are required when taking a professional sales class
• Those who engaged previously are in a position to take on roles as peer coaches, peer leads, and/or experience different aspects of UTISC. Select students will be invited to join Core Team to be part of the behind the scenes to prepare, run, and follow-up on ISC and UTISC.

Year 4

• Senior professional sales classes – PSLS 4710 Sales Leadership and PSLS 4740 Advanced Sales
  • Role plays, coaching sessions, and simulations vary by class with some integrated across classes. Role plays and coaching take place in person and online.  Simulations are online.  Interactions are team based.
  • Corporate Coaching Sessions with company professionals to deliver coaching to junior sales students
  • Sales organization design, recruitment & selection, training & development, compensation & rewards, performance evaluation & management
  • Company and industry analysis, total cost of ownership, analyzing and visualizing data, strategic business reviews, making strategic presentations, emotional intelligence, selling as a team
  • Class speakers from corporate partners and alumni share their stories and training
• Customize your major as a double major for only 2 extra classes – double dips can take place for up to 2 classes for professional sales majors who are doubling in most other business majors. Some double dip classes are taken in year 3 and others in year 4. 
• MKTG 4540 Business Marketing – for those not double majoring or those doubling with marketing
• Same as year 1 – except Sales Connection and Social Flight School are required when taking a professional sales class
• Those who engaged previously are in a position to take on roles as peer coaches, peer leads, and/or experience different aspects of UTISC. Select students will be invited to join Core Team to be part of the behind the scenes to prepare, run, and follow-up on ISC and UTISC.

You Belong in the ESSPS to be Setup for Success​

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