In my last meeting with Dr. Langan, I asked my final questions on subjects I was curious to hear her talk about. I started by asking how she spent her summers as a Wheaton College student. Dr. Langan was involved with many different Wheaton College Summer Programs like Wheaton in England and SnP cabinet. She advised me to spend my summers doing meaningful activities - valuable for my work experience or personal goals. She went on to bring up a piece of advice that she forgot to mention in our last meeting.
Dr. Langan reminded me of a conversation she had with someone that is high up in the sports industry at a sports job conference. She asked him what would be the best advice someone should hear that wants to make it in sports. The man replied that the door that is crucial for anyone that wants to make it in sports to go through is the sales industry. He explained that anything one can do to get sales experience is beneficial since it teaches the art of cold-calling and management. This was exciting to hear because I have been receiving my own sales experience working as an Admissions Student Recruiter at Wheaton College this past school year. Dr. Langan encouraged me to continue refining my sales experience.
Next we talked about how to best create professional relationships. As a Communications professor that is very familiar with the art of persuasion, she emphasized the need for ingratiation - flattery. She talked about how she wished this was not the case but just accepts it. Dr. Langan explained that the first touch of contact will be awkward, like it should be. Small talk is required to begin conversation. After this initial conversation, she stressed that the most important aspect of professional relationships is cultivating constant contact. She encouraged me to find ways to write up follow-up emails and continuously adding to the process. I loved this one specific thing she said and so I'm forced to quote her on this, "You think you're bugging them? Bug 'em."
In the last minutes of the meeting, Dr. Langan told me not to get boxed in thinking that "working in sports" is exclusively jobs in a specific sports organization or franchise. She mentioned that valuable work experience can be received working for non-profits that utilizes sports, minor sport leagues and other examples. I appreciated this insight because I only entertained the idea of big sports companies as legitimate work experience.
Though only three meetings took place through this mentoring relationship, I am glad to say that I learned so much. The amount of helpful insight that Dr. Langan provided was overwhelming. I am so sure that I will take her Sports and Communication class next Spring. Overall, I am pleased that I took the chance to introduce myself to Dr. Langan for the first time to start this mentoring relationship. As I continue to prepare for my professional career after college, I do not doubt that I will go back to the notes I took at these meetings. I am excited for what is ahead in my future and the process.
Hey Harry,
ReplyDeleteI was actually offered a job this summer to make approximately 50 cold phone calls a day. I ended up turning it down because I knew it would have probably been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life :) however I think if I had gone with it would have definitely come out with a very developed skills set. I ended getting something else im excited about but I definately commend you for making calls in admissions!