Name: Shayna Manusos
Graduation Year: 2020
Major: Advertising and Public Relations
Current Position: Sales Account Executive
City and State: Aurora, IL
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
I am a Sales Account Executive at Diamond Envelope Corporation. My position is solely focused on bringing in new accounts which will ultimately expand the company. The company was looking for forward thinkers with a fresh perspective to diversify their 37-year-old corporation. I am so thankful that I was chosen to fill their position due to my digital advertising background training and recent graduation from Evangel University.
What is your favorite memory from Evangel?
My favorite memory I will cherish forever from Evangel was dorm life and floor activities. There was something so special about living amongst fellow sisters in Christ that all share the same goal- to glorify Him through our actions. There was truly nothing quite like it.
How did Evangel help you identify/develop your calling?
I knew I had a passion for sales and for people when Nancy Pace-Miller (Professor in the Communications Department) graciously offered me the position as the Advertising Manager for the yearbook (Excalibur). This position was not only managing advertising, but also negotiating new sales. I made countless cold calls and had many doors shut on me, but it only made me work harder to find other businesses to gain more sales. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I made a sale inspired me to make more deals. I also met some amazing people along the way and built strong connections that went past the
surface and deep into an interpersonal connection. This encouraged me to persevere through tough times and the obstacles that came my way.
How did your experience at Evangel prepare you for life after graduation?
My experience at Evangel prepared me to be an efficient multitasker. During my time at Evangel, I was working multiple jobs at once while being a full-time student. Like most students, I was taking various courses with very different learning materials. This allowed me to be an individual with multifaceted abilities which opened several doors for employment.
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
The advice I would recommend to a current student preparing for the workforce is to practice roleplay interviews. When I was a student, I was unaware that I would go through numerous interviews before I would land a job. After graduation, in my job search, every position that I interviewed for had at least five extensive interviews in the hiring process. I also highly recommend doing substantial research on the company before entering the interview, as this will set you apart from a majority of the candidates also applying for the same position.
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
If I were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel, I would look for candidates who encompass confidence, exude a strong work ethic, and radiate kindness. Without these three qualities, the work can be decent, but the work environment will not prosper. Without a positive work environment, employees will not flourish and do the best possible work. We all need to do our part in the team we are on, and the team will succeed if we all do our part in striving towards excellence.
Thank you, Evangel University, for not only preparing me well to be successful in my career, but also teaching me how to work towards excellence… For my good and ultimately, for the glory of Christ!