Are you looking to add a minor to your Kinesiology degree? Have you heard about the Sales Leadership Minor? Here is a link to the minor: https://salesleader.msu.edu/ If you remain interested, read through the FAQs below and get registered for MKT 313 this summer semester to get the ball rolling. The course that follows MKT 313, COM 360, is also being offered second half of summer, so you could complete two of the six required courses over the summer!
Q: This program sounds interesting. Where do I start?
A: Enroll in MKT 313 – Consultative Selling, offered first half of Summer, Fall, and Spring of every year.
Q: When do I apply to the Sales Leadership Minor?
A: Students apply at mid-semester while they are enrolled in MKT 313, so getting into MKT 313 is the first step. The course is restricted to students in the College of Business, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and AES students with the Technical Sales Concentration, so if you have a major outside of these, you will have to go to the College of Business website, request an override, and in the space provided state that you plan to apply for the Sales Leadership Minor.
Q: Wow, 500 hours of experiential learning outside of the classroom sounds like a lot, how hard is it to complete?
A: Most of the hours come from required activities that are built into the minor, so completing them is usually not a problem if you have at least a year to complete the coursework and outside hours.
Q: I heard you have 100% job placement, so that means if I show up I’ll get a job?
A: Yes, we do have 100% job placement, but it is because students complete 500 hours of experiential learning outside of the classroom, such as doing professional internships, going on the Made in Italy study abroad program, and taking part in activities to make themselves very marketable which gets them hired.
Q: When I think of sales, I think of telemarketers, door to door salespeople, and people in retail, is that what this is all about?
A: No. We teach students how to be creative problem solvers and business consultants for their clients, regardless to whom they are selling. Much of our selling involves B2B selling (business to business selling), which is very complex, sophisticated, and critical to most companies’ success, however, students are equally successful in B2C (business to consumer) selling situations.
Q: Do I have to be in the College of Business to apply to this program?
A: No. The Sales Leadership Minor is a partnership between Marketing and Communication and was designed for MKT and COM students, but our students come from a wide variety of majors, such as Advertising, Communication, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Human Biology, Kinesiology, and others; success depends on whether you want to develop the skills that will make you marketable in sales. We train you to be successful and our graduates ramp up about twice as fast as those without a sales education. MKT and COM courses double count for MKT and COM students for the major and the minor. See an advisor for details.
Q: How hard is it to find a job in sales?
A: Sales jobs are plentiful, and 70-80% of all entry-level jobs will be in sales, so why not educate yourself in this field? The Sales Leadership Minor has had 100% job placement the last 9/10 years.
Q: What kind of money can I expect to earn with the Sales Leadership Minor after graduation?
A: Average starting salary is about $60,000 + commission, and our alumni report earning well into the six figures within 5 years; your earning potential depends on your effort and is usually unlimited.
Q: I want to study abroad but I know I also need an internship. What should I do?
A: Let’s face it, you have the rest of your life to work, but very rarely will the opportunity come along to live as a resident in a foreign country and completely immerse yourself in its culture. Internships can be completed at any time once students have been admitted to the minor, fall, spring, or summer. Many local companies offer internships and if students are taking classes while also doing an internship, they are only required to work 20 hours per week. The Made in Italy study abroad program is offered the first half of summer, mid-May until the end of June, so many students also complete internships when they return from study abroad.