Professional Selling

Interested in a marketing career working with people in a fast-paced environment solving unique problems companies and organizations face? Learn about opportunities in professional selling with classes and real-world projects to prep for internships and entry-level career opportunities.

group photo of marketing students in the PSAMA club

Professional Selling Opportunities in the Marketing Major

Gain a flexible foundation to hit the ground running and pursue your passions

Interested in a marketing career working with people in a fast-paced environment solving unique problems companies and organizations face? Marketing students at the Penn State Smeal College of Business will enhance their portfolios for career opportunities in professional sales management, consulting and business selling as a part of the Business Development and Sales specialty track in the marketing major..

Employment of advertising, promotion, and marketing managers is expected to grow significantly by 2026

Smeal marketing majors entering the workforce after school secure competitive starting salaries which are dependent on industry, location and company. Many alums become managers and executives later in their careers.  More on career options and salary statistics of marketing careers and Smeal marketing graduates

 

Smeal Marketing Alumni in Professional Selling

Some of our Marketing Alumni that built careers in Professional Selling are, but not limited to:

  • Sales consultant for media companies and digital media companies
  • Strategic planning in project management to consult companies on sales, advertising, and promotion
  • Client management sales roles solving business customer problems
  • Corporate ticket sales and sponsorship sales for sports teams and collegiate athletic departments
  • Developing business relationships and act as a liaison for your clients to the agency
  • Various sales consulting roles in industries with retail and shopper trends, fashion, fast-moving consumer goods, lifestyle brands, digital companies and technology
  • Marketing manager and senior management roles in the aforementioned roles

 

Core Courses in Professional Selling

MKTG 410 (3): Personal Selling Principles underlying the selling process and practical application of these principles to selling situations.

MKTG 428 (3): Advanced Sales Management Approaches to planning, organizing, staffing, training, directing, and controlling the sales force in support of marketing objectives.

Full Marketing Course List and Descriptions offered at the Smeal College of Business

 

Opportunities Outside the Classroom

Penn State American Marketing Association (PSAMA)

Picture of Penn State chapter of the American Marketing Association club at the national conference.

PSAMA earned the AMA International Chapter of the Year award in 2020-21

About PSAMA, including a Sales division

Marketing majors concentrating their studies in Professional Selling have opportunities to further their experience participating in PSAMA. Penn State American Marketing Association includes a Sales Division that aims to provide members with hands-on experience in the sports industry that will set them apart when looking for internships/jobs. The sales division is one of PSAMA's newer divisions, established in Fall of 2018. The sales division was created out of the executive board’s and alumni member’s recognition of the importance for students to understand sales and have knowledge surrounding the topic.

 

Learn more about the Business Development and Sales specialty track or the Strategic Insights & Analytics specialty track in the marketing major at Smeal.