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UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL SALES CHALLENGE COMPETITION AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 6 THROUGH 8
—Students from 19 universities from 14 states to test their sales skills
Leading sales executives from major national companies will serve as judges for the National Sales Challenge, an intense series of selling competitions and workshops to be held at William Paterson University in Wayne from November 6 through 8. One of the few such competitions in the country, the event is sponsored by William Paterson’s Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales, which supports the only dedicated bachelor of science degree in professional sales in the country, and offers training programs for sales professionals.
Highlights of the National Sales Challenge include a speed-selling competition on November 8. Designed like a speed-dating event, students will “sell” themselves to prospective recruiters. Participants will prepare a two-minute self-sales pitch and, one after another, present the pitch to a round of sales executives, complete with a one-minute Q&A. The job hunters will be rated “hired,” “possible hire” or “no thanks.”
Throughout the week, students will participate in selling role-plays adjudicated by business executives. Each student will be scored on his or her ability to open the conversation, retrieve and identify needs, present information, provide solutions, resolve concerns, gain commitment and communicate effectively. The top three sellers will compete in a championship round that will be broadcast to the entire group on November 8.
In addition to William Paterson University, the following schools will participate: Ball State, College of New Jersey, Indiana University, Middle Tennessee State University, Minnesota State University, Northern Illinois University, Purdue University, Siena College, University of North Carolina, University of Louisville, University of Portland, University of San Francisco, University of Toledo, University of Wisconsin, Villanova University, West Carolina University, Western Michigan University and Widener University.
All students in the University’s professional sales degree program will be involved in the event, which will include “live-fire” field testing (mock interviews), a speed-selling competition, open round role-plays and championship role-plays. To prepare for the national event, RBI faculty and students will stage a Sales Triathlon competition on October 23 and 24. The Sales Challenge will take place in the Russ Berrie Professional Sales Lab, a unique computerized multimedia facility that simulates business office environments, and other locations in the University’s 1600 Valley Road building.
The Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales was created in 2002 when the late Russ Berrie, the founder and chief executive officer of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., announced that he would donate funds to establish the program at William Paterson University. Housed in the University’s Cotsakos College of Business, the Institute represents a unique partnership between the private sector and higher education designed to advance the field of professional selling.
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October 23, 2008
www.wpunj.edu
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