In this presidential election year, perhaps the only thing both sides agree on is the importance of jobs for Americans in this still challenging economy.
The issue of jobs for its graduates is not an election-driven concern at The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, which has achieved remarkable results, even in today’s economy. Year after year, the college is able to assist about 85 percent of its students to secure employment upon graduation.
One tool successfully used by the UT College of Business for its students is to host semiannual job fairs, the fall event to take place Friday, Sept. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union, where 95 companies — including Chrysler, Eaton Corp., Owens-Corning, Ernst & Young, Whirlpool, Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Kraft — will participate. Employers will be looking for students to participate in business internship programs as well as for seniors and graduates seeking full-time employment.
“Owens Corning recruits at The University of Toledo to find extraordinary talent,” said Otto Steele, roofing sales and operations planning process leader at Owens Corning. “Each year, The University of Toledo provides Owens Corning with future leaders for our company. Owens Corning is fortunate to have The University of Toledo in our community, and we are delighted to continue our relationship with UT.”
Marte Salmi, manager of IT at Eaton Corp., said Eaton consistently has recruited at The University of Toledo — one of nine campuses across the Midwest — for both internships and full-time positions since 2005. “We recruit at UT because of our involvement with the University; the locality, since the majority of assignments are in the Midwest; and because of the students themselves because there is a lot of great talent.”
“The fact that so many well-known companies are coming to the UT College of Business and Innovation to find the talent they need reflects very positively on the quality of both our programs and our students,” noted Dr. Terribeth Gordon-Moore, senior associate dean of the UT College of Business and Innovation. “It also demonstrates the extremely dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship enjoyed by our college and the business community.
“This semiannual job fair is part of what we do to prepare our students for their futures,” she explained, adding that the college’s Business Career Programs office works year round to assist students in acquiring internships and jobs upon graduation. “We strive to provide the necessary resources so our students can conduct their own tailored job searches.”
The College of Business and Innovation Edward Schmidt School of Professional Sales will host its eighth annual Networking Night Tuesday, Oct. 23, where 38 companies — including 3M, Automatic Data Processing, SSOE Group, Hilti and the Ed Schmidt Auto Group — will meet the college’s professional sales students. Additional companies are willing to be on a waiting list for the opportunity to reach the UT sales students.
“Networking Night is designed to be more intimate than a typical career fair,” said Dr. Ellen Pullins, director of the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales. “This career recruiting event offers students the chance to learn how to navigate in a social and networking environment.”
Brad Carson, base market manager at Hilti, said, “I get most of my top sales talent at The University of Toledo. The students are such a good fit and field-ready, and the sales faculty and staff team are dedicated to seeing the students and Hilti succeed.”
“The Edward Schmidt School of Professional Sales is consistently recognized as one of the top sales programs in the United States,” Pullins said. “Our students are always in high demand and are being successfully placed. In fact, our career placement rate is approaching 100 percent, which is a particularly significant achievement given recent economic conditions. Demand has been strong throughout the entire economic downturn, and it is getting more intense. ”
A study by the Sales Education Foundation reported that firms deliberately are seeking out professional sales students because they “ramp up 50 percent faster” than non sales-educated peers, experience less turnover, and actually save money for employers.
In terms of the job outlook, the opportunities for sales professionals are increasing, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting up to a 43 percent growth in the field within the next 10 years.
Pullins explained that among the benefits provided within professional sales education are the use of role playing and simulations that offer hands-on training; internships that build competence and confidence; and a faculty with sales experience providing knowledgeable guidance.
“The Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales is very engaged with the business community, as is the entire UT College of Business and Innovation,” Pullins said. “We see that firms are ready to hire, and we are here to help them achieve their goals while preparing our students for great success in the field of professional sales.”
