Abbie Thomas '26 Retail Sales Intern

Abbie Thomas '26 (Marketing & Economics) was a Retail Sales Intern at General Mills in Minneapolis, MN.

I was offered a generous moving stipend based on miles of school from internship location and transportation method (flying or driving). I was offered subsidized General Mills housing that they found for us. We had the option to live alone, with a roommate in the apartment but separate rooms, or with a roommate in the same room. We still paid rent, but it was cheaper than if it hadn't been through the company.

What was the process for getting this internship, job, or summer experience?

I was introduced to the UofA alumni that were recruiting by a club advisor at the Eller career fair. That night they called me and I set up an in-person interview at Eller for the following day. I then had another virtual interview a week or two later. I got a call with an offer a week or two after that. I had about a week to accept.

What was a typical day like?

I worked with large datasets across retailers and categories, leveraging analytics tools to uncover trends, translate data into actionable insights, and create compelling visuals to inform retailer strategies. For my key project this summer, I developed a refreshable dashboard to track KPIs for category innovation, streamlining reporting and supporting product and category performance evaluation. In addition, there was a variety of team meetings, customer calls, and internship events (such as executives speaking on their experiences and doing Q&A).

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of the experience was the company culture. General Mills has an amazing culture, with their emphasis on work-life balance, team bonding, hiring great personalities, and competitive employee benefits. The culture shined through its people, even at the top executive level. An intern being able to speak with the VP of Sales or CEO at a company of its size was a unique experience.

If you worked on a big project, please describe it below:

I had a primary project of analyzing new item performance for the Meijer Desserts category. I used a couple of data software platforms to pull a variety of data into Excel and built refreshable tables and graphs that updated each week as new data came in. I ran analyses, such as dollar turns, distribution reach, and trial rates, to uncover trends in the data. I visualized data and included insights into a deck that I presented to a variety of employees, interns, and even executives. The deck was also used to present to internal and customer teams, and continued to be refreshed and used after my internship ended.

What did you find most challenging?

The most challenging aspect was actually navigating a 9-5 corporate job. I haven't had the experience of sitting at a desk and working all day, and I struggled to adapt my schedule and lifestyle to that.

What did you learn?

Data analytics and visualization was the primary focus on my internship, so I expanded my knowledge on that and was able to see how businesses use the skills I've learned in classes. I got to work with different software platforms and datasets, too. In addition, I learned a lot of soft skills, such as communication, navigating corporate culture, and networking.

What advice do you have for other students looking for a similar experience, or advice for future students to be successful?

My advice to getting an internship is to use your network and go to the career fair. I got my internship because I knew someone who knew the recruiters, and was able to make an impression after that. It is so much easier to get an internship in-person or through connections than applying online.

How did Eller prepare you for this experience?

I have taken a variety of analytics and Excel classes that have greatly helped prepare me for the the work I have done. The most useful class I think I have ever taken was the FIN360 L class, its dedication to mastering Excel was so incredibly useful and has transformed my ability to navigate Excel. Eller also emphasizes presentation, networking, and collaboration skills, which I think are the most important soft skills to have, especially in corporate settings.