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This summer, I was fortunate to finally get an internship, because as we all know, you will never, EVER, be employed without some sort of internship.

Being the marketing major I am, I decided to try out this thing called sales.  Sales is not for everyone, however with the attitude and sass I have, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me.  Naturally I think what I have to say, my opinions, and just everything in general should be seen and heard.  I have a knack at persuasion and getting what I want. Some people may call this aggressive, but I think it's just being a Rockstar 24/7.

This 12 week intensive cold-call sales position truly tested my capabilities.  Luckily, the week-long training in Chapel Hill, NC, prior to the start of the internship proved to be very useful.  We learned the entire structure of a sales call, from introduction to close.  Not only did I learn the sales call, but I learned the importance of each part of the sales call: why the first couple seconds is critical for gaining prospects, how to build rapport and a relationship, creating value in the product you are selling, and finally closing the sale with a confirmed agreement.

I was stationed in Blacksburg with two other sales reps – within Blacksburg, we created territories that were specific to each rep.  We were essentially selling advertising space in the back of the student planner for Virginia Tech.  Advertising spots came in different shapes and sizes, and depending on how much exposure the particular company wanted, different prices were allotted.

My first couple weeks in the field were very difficult.  Being in Blacksburg, I had this predisposed perception that everyone was friendly and wanted to talk to me. False.  Some of these owners in these mom-and-pop shops were brutal.  It's like, GIVE ME A BREAK. I am a college student, not a pterodactyl trying to come in your shop and wreck havoc!

However, once some hurdles were jumped (others humiliatingly shambled...) it was a cool learning experience once I got in the aspect of helping the business design their ads that would be run in the student planner. Working side by side with the owners, having their trust, and making big decisions that would eventually be 100% representing of their company was a awesome.  

And that's my little two-cents of my first sales position.

I was born this way.

xo
-Diva