Name: Jessica Prescott
Year: Senior
Major: Professional Sales
Hometown: Clearwater, FL
Age: 20
Her Campus (HC): So, sales team huh? Tell me about that! Are you involved in any other activities on campus?
Jessica Prescott (JP): Yeah! I’m actually the president of the sales club and on the sales team. The sales club is open to everyone. We accept people in all majors and there are no fees to join. Our meetings occur at random, but we always give plenty of notice in our Facebook group. Meetings usually focus on how to be professionally successful and we also bring in many top recruiters from great companies. Apart from that, I’m a member of Zeta Tau Alpha’s executive council and I participate in Relay for Life every year. I’m also pretty involved in Zeta’s fall philanthropy event, Race to Live.
HC: Awesome! What is Race to Live and how have you been involved in it?
JP: Race to Live raises money for breast cancer education and awareness. I’ve been responsible for hospitality and registration for our two big on-campus events in the past. Last year’s Race to Live had over 2,000 runners.
HC: Does your involvement in sales club overlap at all with your involvement in the philanthropy?
JP: Actually yeah! The sales club is sponsoring Race to Live this year, allowing 10 sales club members to run in the race on behalf of our club.
HC: Nice. It sounds like you’re doing a great job as President of sales club. What exactly made you want to go into sales?
JP: I really enjoy meeting other people and helping them achieve success. In sales, there’s the opportunity to really make a difference for a consumer or a business. I also have a strong work ethic and something special about sales is really the opportunity to determine your own destiny.
HC: What has been the most challenging part of balancing schoolwork and your involvement on campus? The most rewarding?
JP: Sometimes it feels like I don’t go out or hang out with friends as much as other college students because I’m very focused. But what I’ve learned is that I’m able to surround myself with other people who have similar aspirations as me and by choosing to spend our time in different ways we have just as much fun. For example, our upcoming sales competition is the same weekend as the Clemson game and we will be spending our time in Orlando at a competition. Nothing is more rewarding than representing Florida State University and we still get to go to Universal afterwards! The students I have been able to mentor in the sales institute and especially in ZTA are a constant reminder that my desire to give back and help others is very rewarding.
HC: That’s a great perspective to have. Besides all of your school related activities, have you had other experiences off campus related to your field?
JP: I write press releases for a company called GlobalEdge Media just to earn some extra spending money while in school, and I’ve done an internship in New York City the past two summers with Rosenzweig Financial Services.
HC: That’s amazing! Do you have any tips for scoring an internship and living in NYC?
JP: My first summer I actually went through a company called Dream Careers. They set me up with housing, transportation and interviews. I highly recommend it. I worked extremely hard that summer to prove to the company that it was worth it to bring me back the next summer. After that, I asked for what I wanted and negotiated compensation. I think it’s all about setting goals and determining what it takes to get there. After that, the choice is already made. New York is a competitive city and very fast-paced as I’m sure you’ve heard. It’s exciting and challenging which was perfect for me.
HC: I’m sure you have a lot of advice to give about school and internships, but let’s talk a little bit about you! What are some things you do to unwind after a long day? Hobbies and interests?
JP: I’m really into yoga! I go to Hot Yoga Tallahassee. I also live in the ZTA house so I try to spend a lot of time with my friends there. I would say mostly working out and spending time outside. My family comes up to most of the football games as well because they have season tickets. I have three younger sisters, so it’s nice to see them so often. My most valued hobby is being a self proclaimed foodie. I love trying new restaurants especially while traveling.
HC: That sounds so nice. What was growing up in Clearwater like?
JP: Great, living near the beach was really nice.
HC: What are three things you can’t live without?
JP: My family/closest friends, chapstick and chocolate!
HC: That makes two of us! What are some of your goals for the future?
JP: Someday I would love to own my own business. I hope to continue making trips back to FSU to help students transition into careers, possibly through recruiting. I’d love to have a family and I hope to travel more.
HC: Where can people reach out to you for more information about the sales world?
JP: I actually have a blog! I’m always open to helping anyone who wants a mentor or just needs advice. Just check me out here.