Work Experience

I have a lot of relevant work experience because I made the decision to take a year off after completing high school. That year off was the best thing that I could have done for myself. In addition to picking up valuable skills, the working experience made me value and appreciate my upcoming college education much more. I continued to work through my first two years of college and most recently completed an amazing summer internship.

Philip Morris USA Sales & Brand Management Internship June - August '06

I recently completed a sales internship for Philip Morris USA, the domestic tobacco operating company of Altria Group, Inc. This internship was, by far, my most exciting work experience yet. I learned a lot about the role of a missionary salesperson, the tobacco industry, the convenient store industry, and got the ultimate corporate experience. It was very exciting to work with Marlboro, the #10 most recognized brand in the world! During the first half of the internship, I assisted territory sales managers during their sales calls to learn about the business and the responsibilities of the field sales force. During the remainder of the internship, I was assigned a project which I completed with the help of the field sales force and made a presentation about my findings and recommendations at our region's summer sales conference at the conclusion of the internship. I also visited several of our distributors and made a trip to the PM USA manufacturing plant in Virginia. Philip Morris USA is an employee-focused company and has the highest values and overall integrity out of any company that I've worked for. You can't beat the experience.

Typical Activities Included:

-Sell and execute sales programs and promotions.
-Assist retailers with inventory management.
-Consult with retailers on profitability, presence and promotion.
-Collaborate with sales force personnel to complete assigned projects.
-Present findings and recommendations to PM USA management.

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American Cellular Retail Sales Associate March '02 - December '05

The majority of my sales experience comes from working for American Cellular, an agent of Cingular Wireless. I gained effective sales techniques and communication skills from being on the sales floor and interacting with customers. In addition to being responsible for meeting monthly sales quotas, our stores were frequently visited by mystery shoppers who were employed by Cingular to score sales associates on their performance. I was expected to greet every customer who entered the store, probe for their needs and suggest the best rate plan and equipment. I also had a sincere concern for customers and would do everything in my power to solve their problems with Cingular.

I always went above and beyond my duties as a sales associate and helped management whenever possible. For example, I enjoyed merchandising the store whenever I wasn't busy with customers. I arranged the phones and accessories on the wall, displayed official Cingular Wireless collateral and even created my own point-of-purchase displays on the computer. I enjoy any chance I get to show my creativity.

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After working at The Mobile Solution for five months, I earned the opportunity to become a store manager at another location, the Westfarms Mall. The store manager was responsible for creating the weekly schedules, filling out the weekly payroll reports, the hiring of employees, authorizing and processing returns, and of course, SELLING.