Internship Spotlight: Carlos Alvarez-Macias, Techtronic Industries

Carlos Alvarez-Macias '23 BSBA (Marketing) was a Field Sales Representative Intern at Techtronic Industries in Tucson, Arizona.

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

I attended the Eller Diversity Mixer in Fall 2021, which is an amazing opportunity to network with many different companies. I spoke to the TTI recruiter, who reviewed my resume and talked to me a little bit about the company. I was then invited to interview with them the following day. A couple of weeks later, I was invited to the second round of interviews and offered a spot in their internship program. The process was simple, efficient, and fun!

What was a typical day like?

A typical day consisted in working with my mentor to meet objectives assigned to us such as setting up a display, learning more about a new product, creating advertisements/flyers, or hosting a demo event. Every morning, we would review our objectives and plan out our day. Some days we would focus on stocking up our products in stores while other days we focused on selling or setting up an end-cap. We essentially did one thing at a time to remain efficient. There was also daily communication between our team and store managers to ensure that both parties are benefitting from each other.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of this experience was the team I worked with; they were extremely welcoming! I had a lot of fun working with the current field sales representative and the event marketing specialist. We did many demo events in which customers were able to get some hands-on action on the power tools. I had nothing but fun memories working with my team on events such as these.

What did you learn?

I learned more about my strengths and identified new weaknesses. As a field sales representative, you are tasked to work in a fast-paced environment to which you are expected to adapt to. I identified this early on in my internship and it helped me acknowledge areas I must improve upon. Nonetheless, these weaknesses soon became strengths. I feel like I have grown more these past two months.

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

My advice to students looking for a similar experience or internship would be to take advantage of all opportunities presented to them. Even if it is something they do not like, it helps you know what career path you want to take and overall makes you a well-rounded individual. I like to think that every opportunity will benefit you, so make sure you network with recruiters at events such as the career fair and not be afraid to try something new!