Students ready to hit the trail for a summer selling all sorts of things

By Belinda Lopez

May 6, 2005 | "Summer is a time for relaxation and refreshment," said Maria Jones, a junior majoring in business. Many college and university students share the same view.

Andrew Israelsen, a senior majoring in business and agriculture science said, "Summer is the time that brings forth great opportunity to make some good money. That's what selling during the summer is all about, being able to take it to the next level."

For many students, this summer will not be filled with relaxation, and stress free work schedules, but will be filled with heat, rejection, mental frustration, hard work, early mornings and late nights, said Cameron Peterson, a junior majoring in engineering, who sold last year for the first time. These students will be leaving Utah for new adventures of there own, selling things from pest control, security systems, and Living Scripture videos.

There are many reasons why students give up their summers too long hours and hard work. "I went out last year to sell pest control in hopes for a lot of money," said Spencer Taylor, a junior majoring in political science and economics. "I only came back with $3,000 after living expenses and gas, but the job was a thrill."

Nate Younker, a junior majoring in business said he sold just to leave home. "I decided to sell because I wanted a new experience in a new place out of Utah," said Younker. "The place I was able to sell at looked really appealing, and the job seemed like a fun one."

Younker sold one year for Living Scriptures and then the next selling security systems. He said he believes that both things he sold had different perks and he would recommend anyone looking into selling to sell something that they believe in.

Many students will be going on their second or third year this summer, selling for different companies. Israelsen will be made a manager of a group this year in Portland, after two years of selling.

"I love selling, I love meeting and interacting with so many new people," Israelsen said. "I also love making goals and then having them achieved, that's the greatest feeling in the world." Israelsen was able to make $56,000 in the four months that he worked last year.

Trevor Johnson, a sophomore majoring in business, is returning to sell his third summer, said "Many people told me I would make a great salesman, I took the opportunity and ran with it." Johnson mentions how he loves the heat that he's able to work in. He thinks working with people is a plessure of his and also the potential for ownership he has keeps him energized and going to sell for endless summers.

Selling isn't always the most fun and satisfying work. There are many negative aspects that come with being a door-to-door salesman. Almost all sales representatives will testify to the hard work and determination that selling over the summer requires, said Israelsen.

Peterson, who sold for Living Scriptures in the summer of 2004 for 15 weeks said, "Selling was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life." He left home to sell for the money that was being offered to him, the experience he had hoped to gain, and the resume builder he had hoped to obtain. Peterson did not make the money he was hoping for, and said, "I won't be going and selling again this summer because of the stress selling would cause." He said it was mentally draining, and that it was an experience he would probably rather not have again.

Dustin Allen, a junior majoring in public relations, being a first year seller last summer said, "selling was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." Although Allen sold really well, he said that he wouldn't be going back this summer to sell because he didn't like the business of selling. He said he watched a lot of standards being lowered for the gain.

Most companies advertise on campus and on the internet about the opportunities that students have when deciding to sell their product for the summer. The companies always highlight the money that certain salesmen have been able to make and also the great experiences that are able to be gained throughout student's summers of selling.

Eclipse Marketing'swebsite highlights Michael Romney, a sales representative from their company that was able to make $180,000 one summer. While Preventive Pest Control highlights Jeremy Jackson, a salesman who made $72,000 in one summer. Capacity marketing advertises to have their best salespeople making up to 100,000 in a single summer also.

There are opportunities for students to be able to make a lot of money in selling over the summer. Trent Duffey, a junior majoring in social studies, said how important it is to know the facts of the company one is selling for.

Most representatives say that the average of what the companies are saying to entice students to sell are usually not realistic.

There are many different aspects to being successful when it comes to summer selling. "Selling is a talent but can also be a trained art," said Duffey. "Just hope you're one of those people that has a great personality for selling and if not, just make sure you're willing to work hard and make yourself a good salesperson,"

Most selling summer jobs are only commission based, with no hourly wage available. With that, there are still many students who go out and sell with excitement.

"I'm willing to take this risk this summer, I expect to make a lot of money this summer and also get my last chance to leave Utah before I graduate," said Ester Lopez, a junior majoring in social work, leaving to sell pest control for the first time this summer in Portland, Ore. "The work will show its results."

Whatever the reason students are leaving for the summer to sell, they are leaving. They are coming back with good and bad results, but the majority always say, as Peterson said for example, "Summer selling is a great way to build character and gain experience."

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