COMMENCEMENT
Change of plans helps marketing student land dream job
Published May 2018
A plan is an intended course of action – an orderly proposal for accomplishing an objective.
Talia Lucken’s plan was to major in zoology and to become an optometrist.
Sometimes, plans change.
“Let go of who you think you are supposed to be,” Lucken said. “Accept who you are, and show compassion to others along the way.”
That’s one of the lessons Lucken learned at NDSU. The native of Bemidji, Minnesota, will walk across the Fargodome stage this week to accept a degree in marketing. From there, she’s off to Atlanta to work at Hormel Foods Corp.’s Foodservice division.
She interned there last summer. She landed the internship in part due to a sales competition sponsored by Hormel at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. It was one of three competitions Lucken competed in.
Lucken earned a certificate in professional selling from the NDSU Center for Professional Selling and Sales Technology. It was an additional 16 credits beyond her marketing degree. She still completed both in four years. The program, which is the only one of its kind in the state, was established to help alleviate the area’s workforce shortage.
Lucken credits the center for honing her skills. Mock interviews and a sales role-playing process helped her become “comfortable with the uncomfortable.”
The experience was so positive, Lucken decided to work for the center and mentored younger students. She appreciated being able to help students shape their futures through internship advice and feedback and resumes.
“Sometimes the plan isn’t possible,” Lucken said. “Forget the plan and embrace the possibilities of life.
