One of the most valuable resources an office can have is college interns. These young, ambitious people bring a fresh perspective to the workplace, inspiring everyone with whom they come into contact.
Here at Auqeo!, we are fortunate to have a trio of dynamite talent in our tutelage. Meet Ricky, JP and Irina, three up-and-coming individuals with very bright futures, indeed. They told us what it means to be a part of our organization, and how their time spent here relates to future career plans.
Ricky, 22, is a UC Davis undergrad majoring in managerial economics. The senior came on board this past May, and has been soaking up information like a sponge ever since.
It’s nice to understand the process of bringing a product to market. The most important thing I’ve learned since working here is the process of sales. I started as a marketing intern doing research-related things like finding contacts and leads, and reading about chronic illnesses. I want to get more involved in the process, as sales is an important skill. You have to be able to pitch your idea and sell your products. I’d like to work with start-ups, and create my own tech company in the future. The coolest thing is learning from our president, Andrew Battistessa. You don’t usually get a chance to talk to the president in bigger companies.
We also have a really good team. Everyone is different, but we gel and connect well, partly because we’re small. Here, everything is practical. You can apply all you learn to the real world and see your results, which can have a huge effect. It’s helping me develop much faster. My goal is to understand all of our products, and become a full-time employee in a managerial position.
JP, 23, is a Sacramento State economics graduate student, and has been with us for two months. A natural speaker and diligent researcher, he brings a strong skill set to the Auqeo! table.
I love the company and what they do—growing business through a sales strategy. The way they do this is innovative and interesting. I’ve been working on market research and sales analysis. I can do sales, but it’s not what I want for my career. I’m more interested in management and product development. I want to learn about different markets, evaluate performance strategies and how to improve them. Data and analysis are my foci. Management consulting and business development are where my interests lie. I like how a product goes to market and how you do your best marketing your services to separate yourself from the rest.
It’s so collaborative and open-minded here. Every idea is analyzed. It’s an easy environment in which to work. My favorite thing about being here is the people. They’re easy to talk to, intelligent and understand their strengths. I enjoy how it’s very transparent; no one is trying to keep anything secret. They keep us updated. It’s the most collaborative place I’ve ever worked in my life.
Through in-depth marketing research of price points, competition and more, I’ve learned a lot about product development and what makes people want to buy something. I’ve also learned how to use Google calendar, and handle myself in a more professional manner. This is a step toward what I want to be doing—sales analysis, says the former lifeguard, whose attire has gone from bathing trunks to collared shirts and slacks.
Irina, 24, is a Sacramento State mathematics graduate student in her who works as a sixth through eighth-grade math and science teacher. Originally from Saint Petersburg, Russia, she has been with us since September, gracing us with her statistical and analytical gifts twice a week.
I really like this company. I saw the posting for the intern position on Sacramento State’s Web site and applied. When I had my first interview, I was very excited. I found it very interesting and felt like I really wanted to work here. This [type of position is] what I was looking for all summer. I saw the opportunity to learn many new things, like generating reports, analyzing data, etc. It’s a really nice team. I was kind of shy at first, but now am comfortable with what I’m doing and I really enjoy it.
Last month I got to know ACT! It’s very easy. It’s a great experience. My days consist of gathering and inputting data, working with statistics on sales call projections and analysis, and updating reports. I Google things and learn a lot from YouTube tutorials. You can always educate yourself with the Internet. I’m very happy that I am challenged here. It motivates me to learn new things and to grow. Being a teacher, you have to be very creative. It’s a nice outlet here to do something different. I would be pleased for this experience to lead to a full-time position.
Auqeo! 