With graduation just around the corner, seniors are busy searching for positions that will be lucrative, rewarding, and give them the opportunity to go out into the culture and “restore all things in Christ.” One career field perfect for many alumni is sales and customer service, with the soft skills bolstered by a liberal arts education — namely communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills — proving a huge asset.
Alumni Leif Pilegaard (’15), Dominic McFadden (’21), and John Briggs (‘21) have all found success in the field since graduation and returned to campus for the final Life on Tap event of the academic year, giving students insights into how they also can use their education to find success in the field of customer service and sales.
The alumni began by sharing how they knew they wanted a career in sales. For Pilegaard, he initially wanted to be a teacher, but quickly found that academia was not his passion. But he still wanted to be in a person-to-person work environment, so he pursued sales.
“Educating your client plays a major role in sales,” said Pilegaard. “This proved to be a merger of my initial desire. Taking a client from point A to point B on a path is a key part of sales, just like taking a student from point A to point B is a key part of teaching.”
McFadden explained that his desire to be in sales began with his work while a student at Christendom, working in the college’s admissions office, and as a three-year summer program counselor.
“There are so many opportunities for you to sell yourself at Christendom,” said McFadden.
He explained how personally challenging sales can be. In his current job at Enterprise, he has been able to use his drive and conversation skills to excel as a Sales Management Trainee, working with customers daily to meet their needs and help add revenue to the company’s bottom line.
Briggs, who works as a sales associate for Roofsimple, gave some helpful suggestions to those interested in eventually entering the sales field.
“Go out of your comfort zones — this is a huge thing to practice now,” said Briggs. “I personally wish I had done this more at Christendom because trying things will build your character. Be proud of your experiences because they give you valuable skills to succeed in sales.”
McFadden seconded Briggs’ recommendation and encouraged students to pursue leadership roles at the college.
“My time at Christendom offered so many opportunities to prepare me for sales,” he said. “As a general rule, take advantage of any leadership opportunities. Practice setting goals and meet them.”
Pilegaard told the students that a huge way to practice for sales is by asking questions in class.
“Do this on a daily basis and be an active listener because 80% of life in sales is listening, not talking,” he advised.
Another aspect to consider when pursuing sales roles is networking, said McFadden,
“Enterprise, like a lot of companies, hire within the company. So, find every opportunity you have to put yourself out there and meet people within the company that you don’t know. Own the room and start conversations because networking is key. You never know what connections will lead you both in sales and climbing the ladder.”
Pilegaard stressed that students need to recognize the value of their education and how it helps set them up for success in any career field.
“Your discipline, education, and formation is nothing compared to what the world is getting,” said Pilegaard. “Use this to your advantage but at the same time be humble and don’t undersell yourself. Hit your marks, be a person people can know and trust and you will succeed.”
Christendom’s Life on Tap series provides students with the chance to learn from and speak to successful alumni about their careers. While discerning a career can be daunting, the Life on Tap series gives students opportunities to learn more about potential paths towards finding their vocation.
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This story was contributed by Ashlianna Kreiner (’22).