CallSoHard

Sales Intern

If you took sales classes in college, how well did it prepare you? If you didn't take any in college, do you wish you did?

I'm an undergraduate student studying info systems and sales right now in school. So far, I feel like I've learned a ton from my sales classes at school and have definitely applied a lot of the skills I'm learning to my work in my internships. Would like to know if for those of you who also took sales classes while in school, did it help you? Is what you learned still valuable 5-10 years after graduating?

For those of you who didn't take any sales classes in undergrad, do you think you'd take some if you could go back in time / if they were available? I'm curious.

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LordBusiness

Politicker

Chief Revenue Officer

Went to 4 year school, major in communications, with minor in design and advertising. Don't remember a single class.

TheSolicitorGeneral

Politicker

Small Market AE

I don't think I'd go back and take sales classes. Like many others, I learn best through trial and error. Plus, it would've taken time away from my central passion (Pre-Columbian Latin American history) that helped me develop soft "sales" skills; learning more about historiography, how to convey a point to laypersons via relating a topic to them, and how to rapidly digest and analyze multiple topics when reviewing documents/conducting phone interviews (aka FTAs)

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

I don't think there is any real world value in sales classes. You may learn the flow of a sale, the sales process and such. But you will learn that in training in your first month on the job. I don't think anything can prepare you for your first call where you ask how someone is doing and they say not interested and hang up on you. Best way to learn your pitch and style in sales is through repetition on the phone.

NotInterested

Catalyst

Business Development Manager

Funny enough, I didnt even take a business course in college. I graduated with Allied Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. LOL wtf, am i rite?

With that being said, sure I wish I took a few business courses, but is it the reason I am successful? No. I am successful because of my personality, grit, and passion! Not because I took an average sales course in college.

SalesTrex

Member

VP of Sales

I was in a sales program my final year of school at UCF. They did an excellent job in prepping us theoretically what could happen and actionable items we could use in the field. We got introduced to multiple employers and had a chance to explore more than just the 'sales' day to day. It was almost business school for a select group of students. To the OP - I'd check to see if your school has a Professional Selling Program or something similar.

While I still got kicked in the mouth when I finally hit the field at 21, I was far more prepared than 90% of new hires and it also earned me an opportunity at a company that I wouldn't have elsewhere. I also still use a lot of the theory, tactics, etc. At the end of the day a lot of them at the core are the same, but are adjusted because the buying patterns change and the world changes.

If I had to do it again I would do it. Why? The skills you develop WILL make you stand out as a new grad - period. It's also a lot more than the skills that you begin to develop (no matter what some sales pros say learning in a room and failing at a role play does help - it's actual practice?) - it's the connections and opportunities that will be presented to you. Being in the right place at the right time could give you the one step up to get access to a high paying job (or a job you want) by the time you graduate - why would not want to take that opportunity?

I'd say I would definitely go back and do it again. If you have the chance definitely take it.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

I wouldn't remember jack shit. During undergrad, 90% of what you learn is junk, with 10% being time management skills, communicating, networking. That being said, I studied International relations and business. The only thing I can think of that helped was essay writing and brevity for policy briefs that are concise and to the point like cold emails. Other than that, I can't think of anything I learned in college that has helped me with sales.

Wellss

Tycoon

Channel sales

My degree is in selling & sales management so all of my courses were around sales in some form. We had one course super early on in our program that was all around preparing for a sales pitch. We were allowed to pick our product the first week & then from there had to find a mentor to help us prepare for this pitch. Each week we went through different parts of the sales cycle to help us prepare for a sales pitch in front of a real sales executive at the end of the semester.

This was the only class I remember gaining any sort of knowledge from & honestly think people could be ready for a sales job after this one class.

Through our program we also had sales competitions. Basically you would show up and they would give you an hour to prepare a high level sales pitch on their product, pitch it to one of their employees, and the best would advance to the next round. The last round would be a full on sales pitch that you had 24 hours to prepare. These also helped a ton & they gave out some pretty good prizes!

GDO

Politicker

BDM

We were not able to take sales classes at our uni. Generally these classes do not prepare you for real life.

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CallSoHard

If you took sales classes in college, how well did it prepare you? If you didn't take any in college, do you wish you did?

8 comments

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