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5/16/12 6:25 PMAdrian Dennis - Southwestern - Summer Programme • Real World

Page 1 of 3http://www.realworldmagazine.com/page/10890/case-studies/articles/adrian-dennis-southwestern-summer-programme

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Graduate Case Studies - Adrian Dennis -Southwestern - Summer ProgrammeHOME > CASE STUDIES > ADRIAN DENNIS - SOUTHWESTERN - SUMMER PROGRAMME

Name: Adrian Dennis

Age: 22

Degree & Occupation: Adrian graduated in 2006 with a degreein economics from Nottingham University. During his finals hewas recruited by Southwestern to join their sales and marketingprogramme. On it, students run their own business, whichinvolves direct door-to-door sales.

What was your motivation in applying?

To get some practical experience of the real world. I wasn't putoff by the prospect of going door to door to sell: I was up for achallenge. I am a competitive guy and was involved in sport atuniversity. I liked the idea of competing against other students inthe UK and US, but I mainly wanted to see how I got on with myown business.

What did the application process involve?

For me it was slightly different because I was in the middle of exams, but normally it is about a 10-14 day process. Forme the initial point of contact was a survey I did. I thenwent to a presentation which outlined the programme. The selection process involved three informal meetings, althoughone was a bit more formal, with interview questions. For more information visit www.southwestern.com.

What did you do?

I was managing the finances of my own business. I was involved with a whole varietyof things, but mostly direct sales. I had to give sales presentations to families. It was pretty demanding and I had toovercome and face rejection. It was tough, but character-building. It is not an easy scheme: over 10-12 weeks in thesummer you could be working 70 or 80 hour weeks, working six days out of seven.

How did you sell the experience on your CV?

I haven't yet, but I will be doing in the near future. The over-riding factor is the self-confidence you gain in makingpresentations and public speaking. A lot of the time at university they don't really encourage you to make presentations.My self-confidence is 1,000 times higher than it was at university.

Did you enjoy it?

Very much. It is quite tough, especially the first three weeks where you are on a steeplearning curve. But once you start making sales you feel like you are doing a good joband get an amazing sense of accomplishment.

What did you learn?

The ability to read people. You also need the ability to read a situation.

5/16/12 6:25 PMAdrian Dennis - Southwestern - Summer Programme • Real World

Page 1 of 3http://www.realworldmagazine.com/page/10890/case-studies/articles/adrian-dennis-southwestern-summer-programme

Realworldmagazine.com

Graduate Case Studies - Adrian Dennis -Southwestern - Summer ProgrammeHOME > CASE STUDIES > ADRIAN DENNIS - SOUTHWESTERN - SUMMER PROGRAMME

Name: Adrian Dennis

Age: 22

Degree & Occupation: Adrian graduated in 2006 with a degreein economics from Nottingham University. During his finals hewas recruited by Southwestern to join their sales and marketingprogramme. On it, students run their own business, whichinvolves direct door-to-door sales.

What was your motivation in applying?

To get some practical experience of the real world. I wasn't putoff by the prospect of going door to door to sell: I was up for achallenge. I am a competitive guy and was involved in sport atuniversity. I liked the idea of competing against other students inthe UK and US, but I mainly wanted to see how I got on with myown business.

What did the application process involve?

For me it was slightly different because I was in the middle of exams, but normally it is about a 10-14 day process. Forme the initial point of contact was a survey I did. I thenwent to a presentation which outlined the programme. The selection process involved three informal meetings, althoughone was a bit more formal, with interview questions. For more information visit www.southwestern.com.

What did you do?

I was managing the finances of my own business. I was involved with a whole varietyof things, but mostly direct sales. I had to give sales presentations to families. It was pretty demanding and I had toovercome and face rejection. It was tough, but character-building. It is not an easy scheme: over 10-12 weeks in thesummer you could be working 70 or 80 hour weeks, working six days out of seven.

How did you sell the experience on your CV?

I haven't yet, but I will be doing in the near future. The over-riding factor is the self-confidence you gain in makingpresentations and public speaking. A lot of the time at university they don't really encourage you to make presentations.My self-confidence is 1,000 times higher than it was at university.

Did you enjoy it?

Very much. It is quite tough, especially the first three weeks where you are on a steeplearning curve. But once you start making sales you feel like you are doing a good joband get an amazing sense of accomplishment.

What did you learn?

The ability to read people. You also need the ability to read a situation.

5/16/12 6:25 PMAdrian Dennis - Southwestern - Summer Programme • Real World

Page 1 of 3http://www.realworldmagazine.com/page/10890/case-studies/articles/adrian-dennis-southwestern-summer-programme

Realworldmagazine.com

Graduate Case Studies - Adrian Dennis -Southwestern - Summer ProgrammeHOME > CASE STUDIES > ADRIAN DENNIS - SOUTHWESTERN - SUMMER PROGRAMME

Name: Adrian Dennis

Age: 22

Degree & Occupation: Adrian graduated in 2006 with a degreein economics from Nottingham University. During his finals hewas recruited by Southwestern to join their sales and marketingprogramme. On it, students run their own business, whichinvolves direct door-to-door sales.

What was your motivation in applying?

To get some practical experience of the real world. I wasn't putoff by the prospect of going door to door to sell: I was up for achallenge. I am a competitive guy and was involved in sport atuniversity. I liked the idea of competing against other students inthe UK and US, but I mainly wanted to see how I got on with myown business.

What did the application process involve?

For me it was slightly different because I was in the middle of exams, but normally it is about a 10-14 day process. Forme the initial point of contact was a survey I did. I thenwent to a presentation which outlined the programme. The selection process involved three informal meetings, althoughone was a bit more formal, with interview questions. For more information visit www.southwestern.com.

What did you do?

I was managing the finances of my own business. I was involved with a whole varietyof things, but mostly direct sales. I had to give sales presentations to families. It was pretty demanding and I had toovercome and face rejection. It was tough, but character-building. It is not an easy scheme: over 10-12 weeks in thesummer you could be working 70 or 80 hour weeks, working six days out of seven.

How did you sell the experience on your CV?

I haven't yet, but I will be doing in the near future. The over-riding factor is the self-confidence you gain in makingpresentations and public speaking. A lot of the time at university they don't really encourage you to make presentations.My self-confidence is 1,000 times higher than it was at university.

Did you enjoy it?

Very much. It is quite tough, especially the first three weeks where you are on a steeplearning curve. But once you start making sales you feel like you are doing a good joband get an amazing sense of accomplishment.

What did you learn?

The ability to read people. You also need the ability to read a situation.

5/16/12 6:25 PMAdrian Dennis - Southwestern - Summer Programme • Real World

Page 1 of 3http://www.realworldmagazine.com/page/10890/case-studies/articles/adrian-dennis-southwestern-summer-programme

Realworldmagazine.com

Graduate Case Studies - Adrian Dennis -Southwestern - Summer ProgrammeHOME > CASE STUDIES > ADRIAN DENNIS - SOUTHWESTERN - SUMMER PROGRAMME

Name: Adrian Dennis

Age: 22

Degree & Occupation: Adrian graduated in 2006 with a degreein economics from Nottingham University. During his finals hewas recruited by Southwestern to join their sales and marketingprogramme. On it, students run their own business, whichinvolves direct door-to-door sales.

What was your motivation in applying?

To get some practical experience of the real world. I wasn't putoff by the prospect of going door to door to sell: I was up for achallenge. I am a competitive guy and was involved in sport atuniversity. I liked the idea of competing against other students inthe UK and US, but I mainly wanted to see how I got on with myown business.

What did the application process involve?

For me it was slightly different because I was in the middle of exams, but normally it is about a 10-14 day process. Forme the initial point of contact was a survey I did. I thenwent to a presentation which outlined the programme. The selection process involved three informal meetings, althoughone was a bit more formal, with interview questions. For more information visit www.southwestern.com.

What did you do?

I was managing the finances of my own business. I was involved with a whole varietyof things, but mostly direct sales. I had to give sales presentations to families. It was pretty demanding and I had toovercome and face rejection. It was tough, but character-building. It is not an easy scheme: over 10-12 weeks in thesummer you could be working 70 or 80 hour weeks, working six days out of seven.

How did you sell the experience on your CV?

I haven't yet, but I will be doing in the near future. The over-riding factor is the self-confidence you gain in makingpresentations and public speaking. A lot of the time at university they don't really encourage you to make presentations.My self-confidence is 1,000 times higher than it was at university.

Did you enjoy it?

Very much. It is quite tough, especially the first three weeks where you are on a steeplearning curve. But once you start making sales you feel like you are doing a good joband get an amazing sense of accomplishment.

What did you learn?

The ability to read people. You also need the ability to read a situation.