Get Your Students Hired
Which of the four elements (product knowledge, sales skills, people skills, and attitude) do you believe are most critical to the admissions professional? Why do you think these are critical to serving students in an ethical fashion?
Kevin, Thank you for posting. In what way are these four elements essential to admissions?
Elizabeth Wheeler
Sandra,
Thank you for your observations! Ultimately, it takes all four of the areas to be successful. However, you're correct that people skills and attitude comprise a very large part of what makes an effective admissions professional!
Elizabeth Wheeler
Product Knowledge is going to allow me to get them into the best class to fit their needs.
Having the right attitude combined with good people skills(keeping others best interest first) which requires strong listening skills, are the two most important keys when assisting prospective students. Having product knowledge is more important than having sales skills however, they do play a part in best program matching students & learning if the school you represent is the right fit for your prospective student.
Charlene ,
Each of the elements helps to contribute to your overall success in a variety of ways, as you've pointed out. To be at your most effective, it is essential to develop and utilize each of the elements to help your students move forward toward their own best course of action!
Dr. Jean Norris
I think attitude is first, people skills, product knowledge, then sales skills. A person's attitude is essential in the enrollment/admissions process. People can be turned away just by the tone of someone's voice or their nonverbal communication.
People skills are important too. You must know how to relate to all types of people and find some common ground. If you're a people person this should come pretty easily.
Product knowledge is important because you are the expert on your school. A student will initially get a huge impression of the school based on your interaction with them. It's important to know the ins and outs of your institution too.
If you have the first three, then sales shouldn't be much of a problem. I'm not big on selling, but I'm able to develop a rapport with people so the selling is not the hard part.
Shawn, Very well said, and you are correct! Where does Sales Skills fit in?
Elizabeth Wheeler
People Skills and Attitude are the most important. Product knowledge, although important as well, is something to be expected by anyone who is talking with potential students. The students have to believe in you and trust that you are the right person to help them make such a big decision that is going to affect the rest of their life. Encouragement and trust, I believe, are 90% of their decision.
Lisandra, What about attitude and people skills? Do you think a student will listen to what you are telling them if you don't have a great attitude and positive people skills?
Elizabeth Wheeler
Scarlett, Interesting! According to Tim Connor, People Skills and Attitude are the most important. Much of your product information can be found online by the student. A positive attitude and being able to connect with your student will make an excellent admissions representative. Do you agree?
Elizabeth Wheeler
I completely agree with you! great potential in life is to have a great attitude because its impact on your work performance.
I totally agree with you, Even if we have knowledge in the product we are selling, attitude is more important, since prospects always prefer to go in a process with a professional that is capable to reach their hearts and transmit them the positive energy and encouragement they need during the Admission process.
It was really surprising for me to know that those four elements were critical for the success of the enrollment process. Honestly, I think I only have the product knowledge and the attitude for my process. So this training have help me to be more conscious about the importance of all the four elements.
knowledge, attitude, people skills.
you must have knowledge of the product that you are selling.
All elements are important but I believe that People Skills and Product knowledge among the four are most important. You want to make the prospect feel at ease and showing confidence in yourself and that you know your product will help them trust in you.
Angela,
Product knowledge is an important component for your success. Ultimately, it takes all four of the areas to be successful. However, understanding your product does affect your confidence level, which in turn affects your attitude!
Elizabeth Wheeler
Learning and knowledge. The more comfortable we are with our product knowledge, the more comfortable we will be with a prospective student. Our comfort level often impacts the attitude we have in any given situation. I encourage admissions representatives to be a student of the industry, learn all they can, and find what motivates them to help prospective students reach their goals.
Cecilia,
Absolutely! Having the right attitude is definitely the foundation for all of the other elements of success. Thank you for posting!
Elizabeth Wheeler