Employer
Otis Elevator Company
Internship Title
Sales Intern
What were your duties?
I worked closely with our Account Managers and Business Development Specialists. I helped with meeting prep, data entry, sales proposals, and reaching out to potential new clients. I often attended meetings with them and helped represent Otis at many networking and recruiting events.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
What I enjoyed most about my internship was learning how to build professional relationships. Not only with clients, but with my co-workers. I think that those skills will stick with me forever through my future careers.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
The most difficult aspect is learning to have the confidence to put yourself out there in a sales career. I obviously did not come into this internship knowing everything about elevators, which made me even more determined to learn everything I could so that I sounded knowledgable when speaking with clients and co-workers.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
The College of Media prepared me for my experience by teaching me how to work with a team. We do a lot of collaborative projects and that is a huge skill to have in the world place.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
Having an internship was crucial during my full-time job search. Having that experience gives you so many speaking points during interviews and allows you the chance to show employers why you would be a valuable asset to their company.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I recommend going to the Career Fair and doing your research on all of the companies beforehand. The Career Fair is where I first interacted with Otis. I would have never expected myself to work for an elevator company, so it's important to not rule out any companies because it's a name you might not recognize.
