This assignment aims to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, offering students a firsthand opportunity to navigate the intricacies of sales processes while building essential skills and networks for future professional endeavors. $$ L$.$O$.$ #$1$ Acquire and Develop skills in cold calling and prospecting, scheduling appointments, and proficiently conducting a B$2$B sales$/$information interview., $$ L$.$O$.$ #$2$ Participate in a "real$-$world" assignment that simulates authentic working experiences, providing hands$-$on exposure to the dynamics of professional sales environments. $$ L$.$O$.$ #$3$ Expand professional networks by establishing contacts through the interview process, fostering valuable connections within the business$-$to$-$business sales domain. Requirements of Assignment: $$ Students will design and implement a strategic prospecting plan aimed at identifying and securing a B$2$B sales professional for a structured video$-$recorded interview. $$ This assignment requires the creation of targeted questions aligned with the course content. $$ Following the interview, students will compose a comprehensive report detailing their key takeaways and insights derived from the conversation. $$ The selected B$2$B sales professional must possess a minimum of $3$ years of B$2$B sales experience in the field and should be unfamiliar to the students. $$ Students have the option to participate individually or form teams of two, allowing them to choose their own partners. Each student is required to sign up to a team $($individual or pairs$)$ and submit their assignment under their team number. MPORTANT: Before you start the In$-$Field Assignment, decide if you want to work on your own or in a team of two. Sign up in a team $($max two students per team$)$ in our $$group section$$ of our course shell, before you start this assignment. PART $1--$ In Field Information Interview Report Page $1$ of $5$ SECTION $1$: Strategic Prospecting Plan: $(1/2-$page minimum$)$ Detail your strategic prospecting plan, outlining specific approaches and channels for sourcing contacts. Clearly write your step$-$by$-$step approach to how you will leverage cold calling, emailing, networking, or a combination of these methods. Speak to the different cold call methodologies discussed and review form the textbook nd class discussion. Be precise in articulating your strategies for effectively identifying and engaging potential contacts. Go to he Student Resource folder to see examples of previous semester assignments. $$ Embed a video recording of your cold call script. Each student is required to create their own video recording and submit one link per student regardless is you are a team of one or a team of two. SECTION $2-$ Target Prospect List: $(10$ prospective B$2$B sales professionals$/$company$$s$)$ List the companies and the B$2$B salesperson$$s contact information $($minimum of $10$ qualified companies$).$ List how you sourced out the candidates on your list $($see textbook for prospecting sources$).$ See $$sample below for the required format. $$ Fill in all the boxes with appropriate information. $$ Do not only use only one source $($i$.$e$.,$ but LinkedIn also only$)$ in gathering your prospect contact information. Use LinkedIn and other sources of data bases from the Sales representatives are often referred to as sales managers, territory managers, account managers, sales consultants, district managers, business development managers, etc.$).$ Do not forget to qualify them, regardless of their title, to ensure that they are business$-$to$-$business $($B$2$B$)$ sales professionals. $$ When prospecting we ask that you do not contact people you know. The intent of this exercise is for you to conduct cold calls, and thus experience the true nature of prospecting. SAMPLE TARGET PROSPECT LIST: Company Name Full Name of Prospect Full Title of Prospe ct Telepho ne number OR LinkedIn Profile link Email Address $($you can find this usually on the company website$)$ How$/$ where did you find this prospect? $12...$ SECTION $3-$Interview Questions: $(22$ questions$)$ Remember it is important to draft good open$-$ended questions, not ones that can be answered with $$yes$$ or $$no$.$ Create two open ended questions for each of the following categories $/$themes $($a total of $20$ questions$)$: Page $2$ of $51)$ Career in sales. How did they get into the sales profession? $2)$ How they prospect for new clients $3)$ How they uncover needs, when probing with a prospect$/$client $($SPIN$)4)$ Features, Advantages, Benefits, $($FAB$)5)$ Unique Value Proposition $($UVP$)6)$ How they are dealing with objections $7)$ Closing strategies and or techniques $8)$ Key attributes that make a professional B$2$B Sales professional a success $9)$ Recommendations for students who want to succeed in sales$/$marketing$.10)$ Formulate a question directed towards an experienced sales