Last week The Cadre sat down with UPEI lead GCSC ambassador Patti Kibenge and GCSC ambassador Connor Mayhew to find out why students should consider participating in Great Canadian Sales Competition (GCSC).
The GCSC is based out of Toronto and it is the biggest Canadian student competition. As of last year, the GCSC reached 4,000 students and received applications from ten provinces.Â
The competition has three rounds. The first round is a 30 to 90 video second pitch that is submitted on the GCSC website. Kibenge and Mayhew have been promoting the GCSC on campus for the past month. “Improvisation is judged favorably,†said Mayhew, hoping to have students submit videos on the spot, although it is not mandatory to do so.
The top 25 percent of entries move on to the second round. These semi-finalists are given a sponsor-specific case study. They then submit a two-minute pitch online for a product or service that is assigned to them by their designated sponsor. Some of the competition’s sponsors include Google, Air Canada, Adobe, and Shopify. Â
Sponsors pick one student to represent them in the third and final round, who are then flown to Toronto to roleplay a ten-minute sales meeting. The GCSC has over $10,000 in prizes. The deadline to submit your first pitch is December 4th, 2017.
The real advantage of participating in the GCSC, Kibenge emphasized, is that applicants are given the opportunity to learn and network with major sponsors and meeting potential employers from across the country. “Developing your soft skills will be helpful to you no matter what you’re studying!†said Kibenge.
If you have any questions feel free to get in touch the UPEI GCSC ambassadors or visit the GCSC website.
pkibenge@upei.ca – Patti Kibenge
ctmayhew@upei.ca – Connor Mayhew
GreatCanadianSalesCompetitionWebsite
By: Daniel Timen
The Great Canadian Sales Competition logo is a trademark of Sales Talent Agency Inc.