Jesse Scott and Pat Fernie are pictured at the World Collegiate Sales Open, Final Rounds, recently held in Chicago.
Judges were sold on the skills of two Niagara College Sales and Marketing students at the recent World Collegiate Sales Open, Final Rounds.
The students, who are both in their second and final year of the program, travelled to Northern Illinois University in Chicago to compete. Held Feb 21-23, the competition provided students with an educational opportunity designed to mimic the working life of sales representatives.
To qualify for the final rounds, the NC students competed against 148 students from 28 schools, including such first-rate institutions as Purdue, Indiana University, Kansas State, University of Arkansas, University of Texas and Central Michigan University. The top 20 students made it to the finals.
Jesse Scott and Pat Fernie were the only students from outside the United States to win individual awards. Fernie, from Burlington, placed first in the Email Follow-ups category and first in the Appointment Call category. Scott, from Niagara Falls, placed second in Email Follow-ups, second in Appointment Call, and third in Voicemail Call.
“It was amazing to hear someone from Niagara College called up to receive an award five times with so many other quality schools in attendance,” said professor Derek Spence who attended the event. “At one point, the organizers commented that they should all stand and start singing ‘O Canada'”
Professor Spence had been working to prepare the students for the competition for five months, beyond their regular course work, in all areas of the selling process: role playing, brainstorming and new and innovative ways to sell a product. The first round was held in October 2012. Four Niagara College students made it to the second round, and three of the four made it to the third round. Fernie and Scott were the two finalists. Once the students made it to the finals, training sessions increased to more than 20 hours per week in training.
The students valued the experience of competing, as well as the opportunity to network with many top executives and CEOs at the event.
“It was great way to use the skills you get from Niagara College in a practical situation. I owe a lot of my success to my teachers and friends for the support that they offered,” said Fernie. “The reverse job fair was a great way to network with companies and to get your foot in the door for future opportunities.”
“It it really opened my eyes to the world of sales and some of the skills you will need not only to get a job in sales but to prosper down the road,” said Scott. “We got to mingle and meet with a whole host of business professionals from all sorts of industries.”
Vivian Kinnaird, dean, Business, Hospitality and Tourism, applauded the students’ success.
“The fact that two of our students were among the top 20 finalists to secure a sought-after spot in this competition, where they not only competed against top Sales students from many first-rate institutions in the U.S. and around the world, but won several individual awards in the process, is a testament to the strength of Niagara College’s Sales and Marketing program,” she said.
Niagara College’s Sales and Marketing program is one of two in Ontario that offers sales-focused business program. Sales and Marketing students have opportunities to participate in sales and marketing competitions. The program incorporates project-based learning through class projects with real-life clients, making presentations to industry professionals and sales and marketing simulations. It also works on students’ presentation skills.
