Sales, Acquisitions, and Mergers

What was the focus of your internship experience?

When I was considering what experience to pursue for my internship, I was applying to a wide range of opportunities. I was excited for the chance to test out a career for a semester before fully committing to something. I ultimately chose the internship with Triavo Health because I have always been interested in sales, and I had always been very interested in becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep. While this was a mergers and acquisitions firm, I still got a taste of everything I was interested in since the company's focus is on pharmacy and medical practices.

A sales job that specializes in mergers and acquisitions requires an extensive knowledge of the product and of the clientele. I spent a lot of time researching different pharmacy practices, and individuals that were interested in both buying and selling in this field. In order to be a good salesperson, you need to know who you are dealing with and the outcome they want from the exchange. In addition, we honed in on cold calling and building our book of business. My internship experience showed me that I can do anything I put my mind to.

Mergers and acquisitions is a very high stakes environment, with a lot of pressure being put on the individual who is trying to connect the buyer to the seller. I was able to learn the importance of reputation and having a strong book of business. Being able to build relationships with clientele was my favorite part of the work I did. Networking is something that humans naturally do, so to be able to go out into the workforce and connect with so many well known individuals was truly fantastic.

What did you find most challenging about your internship? 

My internship was very out of my comfort zone. I am not used to being in such a high stakes environment and talking to such well known people. On top of that, a lot of the business deals relied on very quick computations on matters I had never heard of before. It was honestly kind of nerve racking at first. Instead of shying away and being super intimidated by the experience, I faced it head on and gave it all I had to give. This ended up paying off. And while I still might not have enjoyed some of the details of the work, I proved to myself that I am able to do it. I am super thankful for the experience as it made me much more confident around others.

What advice do you have for other students as they search for or begin their internship?

Do not be hesitant to branch out. As soon as you graduate and jump into a career, the stakes are much higher. Finding an internship gives you the freedom to explore any avenue you might be curious about. I had always considered sales, but wanted to see how it fit for me before I committed to a full time job. This is your time to try before you buy!