THE 2023 PRO-AM SELL-A-THON®

The Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon is one of the largest sales competitions in the nation. Spots will fill fast.

OVERVIEW | STUDENT COMPETITION RESOURCES | FOR COACHES & EDUCATORS

WHAT THE PRO-AM PROVIDES TO YOU

  • Learn and practice the Sales Process in a B2B setting
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform in a competitive environment
  • Develop best practices to communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally
  • Gain feedback from industry professionals on performance strengths and areas to improve

PRIZES FOR THE PRO-AM COMPETITION

Regional Conference

First Place:
1st Place Trophy
Complimentary PSE National Convention
Registration packet ($325 value)
Reimbursement for airfare or
driving expenses to National Convention

Second Place:
2nd Place Trophy
Complimentary PSE National Convention
Registration packet ($325 value)

At Regionals of 45 competitors or more, 3rd & 4th Place will be recognized with trophy.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

First Place through Fifth Place – Trophy and National Recognition

YEARLONG COMPETITION

First Place of the Yearlong competition – Trophy + $1,500

Second Place of the Yearlong competition – Trophy + $1,250

Third Place of the Yearlong competition – Trophy + $1,000

Fourth Place of the Yearlong competition – Trophy + $750

Fifth Place of the Yearlong competition – Trophy + $500

For additional questions, please email the Pro-Am Committee at proam@pse.org or Joan.Rogala@pse.org or call PSE HQ at 414-328-1952.

PRO-AM COMPETITION INSTRUCTIONS & DEADLINES

Step 1: Register! Complete your event registration and select that you would like to participate in the Pro-Am Competition.

Step 2: After registering, you will be sent a link via email to access the Pro-Am Competition Smart Room (*New Resource!*). Here you will find everything you need to prepare for the competition.

Step 3:  Complete the Carew International training modules. Carew is a leading provider of sales training and will give you the framework to succeed in this competition and in the professional world! Completing modules by the due date below is mandatory to compete.

Step 4: Submit a video call requesting an appointment with the buyer by the deadline below. This video call is part of your overall score and is mandatory to compete. Develop this essential skill and start out strong in the competition!

Step 5: Showcase your sales skills during a 12-minute mock role play at the conference. At the conclusion of the role play, you will be given feedback from industry professionals to elevate your execution of the professional sales process. Invest in yourself now, and set yourself up for success at your internship/full-time career. See you there!

What is the Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon?

The Pi Sigma Epsilon Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon was founded in 1992 to provide your business advantage for life. This event is designed to develop professional sales and communication skills, as well as connect students with top companies offering internship and career opportunities.

The Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon is held at both the Regional Conferences and the National Convention. The competition is centered around a video call and 12-minute role-play simulating real-life business scenarios. Prior to the event, competitors are provided Dimensions of Professional Selling training modules from Carew International. Once on-site, competitors will receive industry leading training led by a Carew International facilitator as well as a coaching session with industry leading sales professionals!

The Pro-Am is the largest sales competition in the nation, with over 275 competitors from 35 universities in 2018. This hallmark event is an outstanding avenue to develop lifelong skills and connect with PSE’s 35 Corporate Members. You will not regret this opportunity to network, learn about career opportunities, and develop skills that will aid in any career!

What makes the Pro-Am different from other sales competitions?

A Focus on Your Development:

The Pro-Am exists first and foremost to help you. Whether this will be your 1st or 7th competition, the Pro-Am is specifically designed to provide you with the opportunity to grow, develop your professional network, and build skills that will help you be successful in any career. From the industry leading sales training to the judges feedback sessions, the competition is designed to help you conquer any fears and develop skills you will use for a lifetime.

A Yearlong Competition Component:

Two competitions, three ways to win! You have an opportunity to compete at two competitions: one at the Regional Conferences in the Fall and one at the National Convention in the Spring. Everyone has an equal chance at winning the Regional or National Competition, but those who have excelled at both will be recognized as the best of the best.

What will competitors gain from the Pro-Am?

The Pro-Am offers students a multitude of opportunities to enhance selling skills, learn to perform under pressure in a competitive environment, and dispel negative perceptions associated with a career in selling. The Pro-Am is unique just in the name itself: pairing Sales Professionals with Amateur students to coach, mentor and judge. On the day of competition, the students are provided one of a kind trainings by Carew International, the Pro-Am Committee, and corporate members to ensure they feel confident and prepared to complete their 12 minute roleplay.

In addition to gaining these soft skills that put them ahead of the competition in the job market, students are exposed to unique internship and full-time offers by our members. Just by competing in the Pro-Am, a student can land the career of their dreams!

How is the competition scored?

The Pro-Am is scored based on a comprehensive criteria sheet created based on the Carew sales methodology. The score is completely quantitative, out of 100 possible points, with the top 2 scoring students in each room being named a finalist.

Prior to the Competitions: Competitors will submit a short video call simulating reaching out to the decision maker to secure a meeting. Video communications is an essential skill and growing business trend, as such – it is a prerequisite to the competition on-site.

At Regionals: The top 2 competitors from each room advance to the finalist status. The students are then scored by a set panel of highly experienced judges. These judges will review and score the finalists roleplay videos, and the winners will be announced at Saturday night’s ceremony.

At the National Convention: Top 2 from each room will move on and complete a second sales call. In Round 2, students will meet with the final decision maker and try to win the sale. Top 2 from each Round 2 room will be reviewed and scored by a panel of highly experienced final round judges. The National Convention competition and Yearlong competition winners will be announced at Friday night’s ceremony.

What is a Sales Call?

The sales call is designed to help students prepare for selling in the professional world.

Each student is evaluated on their ability to successfully progress through the sales process and obtain commitment in a 12-minute selling simulation. Each role play is judged by a panel of sales professionals who are also in the competition room. To support continued skill development, each role play is recorded so that the student competitor can review it at the conclusion of the event (or share with recruiters, if desired). The competitor will receive immediate coaching from judges as well as the quantitative scores captured on the scoresheet after the competition. 

  • “The Pro-Am competition provides a competitive learning environment for aspiring sales professionals. Participants receive coaching from real sales professionals before the role play, and then receive instant feedback once the role play is completed--what could be better than that! You can read as many sales books as you want, but the Pro-Am sales competition is the best way to learn how to perform a sales call, identify your strengths, work on your weaknesses, connect with employers, and showcase your talent!"

    Pat Delehanty, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

  • "The Pro-Am Sales competition provides students the ability to strategically approach each situation within a real world business and leverage key features and attributes of a brand and gain knowledge of applications that can be utilized in a sales call."

    Donna Wertalik, Instuctor of Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

  • "The benefits of the PSE Pro Am are incredible for my students. The Pro Am gives them the opportunity to practice and apply their professional selling skills in a real world scenario including call preparation, client research, understanding client needs, handling objections and making the sale. It builds their confidence in their selling skills. Two of our students placed first and second in Regionals and one of them in the top 5 at Nationals. This experience put these students positions where they had lined up sales careers long before the end of their senior years, despite the economy. All four of the students that went to Nationals had positions lined up before we arrived-a lot of their success was due to the Pro Am experience. Three of them said that the National conference was the best experience of their college career."

    Kenneth Cherry, Assistant Professor-Marketing & Professional Sales, Central Michigan University

  • "From our very first experience with PSE’s Pro-Am Sellathon more than 15 years ago, I was impressed with the impact of this unusual sales competition. By combining strong sales training with coaching from active sales professionals, the Pro-Am, and its realistic role-playing scenarios, stands out among other student sales competitions. Vector Marketing Corporation is so proud to have been the initial sponsor of the Pro-Am Sell-a-thon and looks forward to the continued growth and success of this valuable program."

    Sarah Baker Andrus, Vector Marketing Corporation

  • “The Pro-Am is the one place where you can see sales done right! PSE put academics, street knowledge, and passion into sales like no other organization I’ve ever seen."

    Tony Parinello, award-winning salesman, sales trainer for Fortune 500 companies, and best selling author of Selling to Vito, Getting the Second Appointment and Think and Sell Like a CEO
Susie BlomquistPRO-AM SELL-A-THON