The semi-annual PES Career Fair brings more than 100 employers to campus and is a paramount project for second-semester students in Bauer College’s the Program for Excellence in Selling (PES), giving them the challenge of selling booths and running event logistics.

After students complete their first large sales challenge during the annual golf tournament, the Career Fair requires them to meet a sales quota with a more limited pool of prospective buyers. This semester, all 59 students met their quota, selling a record of 112 booths.

“They’re technically making a business-to-business transaction because they're trying to build value for recruiters to hit their recruiting goals and build value for the large companies that want to hire our students for their sales positions,” Marketing and Communications Program Manager Brittney Nguyen said.

“It's challenging because it’s a formal process in a professional setting where they have to understand what it's like to build corporate value,” she added.

By the time of the PES Career Fair, sales students wear many hats, both ensuring the event goes smoothly and building relationships with recruiters to further develop themselves professionally.

Before the PES Career Fair

Prior to the PES Career Fair, students in their second semester of the program must hit their quota by selling at least one booth to an employer. Sales are reviewed by the program staff and must be deemed as a credible organization.

For marketing and entrepreneurship junior Khushi Bhatnagar, selling booths was difficult at first, but prospecting and finding the right companies got easier over time.

“Once you get the hang of it, it’s a lot of fun,” Bhatnagar said. “I sold four booths and $3,625, so I finished second in my class. I would say the key to selling is to keep smiling and keep dialing.”

Setting Up

Bhatnagar, along with other sales students, arrived to campus early on Career Fair day to begin setting up the event’s final touches. Students in the program are divided into groups, each tasked with different jobs to ensure the Career Fair is a positive experience for student attendees and employers.

“I’m the team lead for marketing, so we handle all the signs and directions,” Bhatnagar said. “We also produce media from the career fair, including short videos and interviews.”

Game Time

By the time the Career Fair starts, not only are students continuing the tasks designated to their teams, but they are also nurturing the relationships they made with the companies.

Once the work is done, students are able to connect with the present employers that they are interested in.

“My booths that I sold are my priority,” Bhatnagar said. “Once I'm done with that, I do plan to talk to as many booths here as I can. I believe every company that came out is a great opportunity for any student, including myself. I have my résumés ready, my business cards ready, and I'm ready to network.”

Takeaways

In the aftermath of the Career Fair, Bhatnagar said she learned that anyone can be successful in sales. To her, it’s all about being motivated and determined.

“Failure is not a setback; it's a growth,” she said. “You're going to fail a lot, and if you keep letting failure get to you, you're not going to succeed. While selling for the Career Fair, I faced a lot of failures. I heard a lot of ‘no,’ but I also heard a good amount of ‘yes.’”