CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - SKILLS FOR LIFE STORIES
Former Sales Rep, Manager Relies On His CUTCO Experience
Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Sean Meakim believes that the job he took as an 18-year-old Duke University student is what gave him the footing he needed to maximize every position he's held throughout the years. That job was as a CUTCO Cutlery Sales Rep.
"With CUTCO I was in business for myself, but not by myself." - Sean Meakim
Sean recalls learning a great deal from his CUTCO managers as he progressed from Sales Rep to Branch Manager in three summers.
He said the experience of scheduling sales demos and setting up an office taught him communication, presentation, goal-setting and management skills.
"With CUTCO I was in business for myself, but not by myself," Sean said.
With that kind of experience under his belt it's no wonder he approached his first job as a merchandiser with confidence. Because he was running a small business within a business, just like a CUTCO Branch Manager, he faced the responsibility of preparing budgets and plans, developing product with his design and marketing teams, and coordinating the efforts of everyone, from administrative assistants to outside vendors.
Before long he was bumped up to a job in factory sourcing, giving him an opportunity to represent his company in places like China, India and Brazil. Again, he believes his experience selling CUTCO was behind the promotion. He stood out in the company because of the great relationships he developed with his overseas vendors, something he learned selling CUTCO.
Today, Sean is a Financial Advisor, helping his clients manage their personal and business finances. It's a move that appealed to him because he's able to work one-on-one with clients and offer them something they need, just like he did as a CUTCO Sales Rep.
Sean also has some advice for new Sales Reps. Be sure to set financial goals and immerse yourself in the CUTCO sales experience, he said. "You need to jump right in."
