UNL College of Business Administration junior marketing majors Matt Sleister and Nate Stevens competed at the 17th Annual National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC) held at Kennesaw State University outside of Atlanta on April 7-10, 2015. The event is the largest and longest standing sales competition for university students.
Students from the best university sales programs from all around the world participate in the competition. Dr. Scott Friend, assistant professor of marketing, has attended NCSC for six years and believes the competition is one of the best avenues for top students to make connections in the job market.
“Students get so much from attending and participating. They get resources and training to improve their selling skills and they interact and network with sales faculty,” Friend said. “They are the best sales students from around the country and top organizations in the country are there to recruit them.”
In preparation for the NCSC, each university selects two students to compete. They spend months prepping for the event by meeting and practicing multiple sales scenarios.
“Each time you partake in a sales meeting or a role play you learn a little more which makes you better. I have learned repetition and confidence is key,” Stevens said, who is earning his certification in sales excellence at CBA.
Instant connections often occur at NCSC between the students and companies, through face to face networking, social media and texting students immediately after their role plays.
“Networking at NCSC is a great advantage. Our students had the opportunity to separate themselves from the crowd of graduates who want to work with these companies, and they receive numerous job opportunities,” Friend said.
The CBA students made it through round one and two of the competition, before staying to watch the final round. They experienced diverse networking events and gained tips for the future.
“I had the opportunity to meet a lot of business professionals while on the trip through lunch meetings and a golf outing. I had on the spot interviews at the career fairs. It was a great experience,” Stevens said.
Stevens, who is also in the Big Red Investment Club, recommends students to apply for the competition.
“At NCSC, you meet some of the most successful sales representatives in the world and have endless amounts of opportunity to pick their brains and even get considered for some of the best sales careers in the industry,” he said.
Published: April 23, 2015