Gabriel Anguiano ’20 Metal Bulletin -First and foremost, I’d like to thank the Andrew W. Mellon foundation for providing the funds necessary for this blessing of an opportunity for this summer internship after my freshman year. I can already say that this opportunity has placed me well ahead of my peers from high school and back home by being given a chance to develop and sharpen my skills in a professional environment. Most first-year college students from my hometown have not yet pondered the idea of an internship so soon, and for this I am most grateful for the help from Wabash College and the Andrew W. Mellon foundation for this rewarding experience. For this reason, my approach towards this learning experience is to take full advantage of such a privilege early on in my professional development.

Thus far, I have learned valuable skills here at Metal Bulletin. Learning proper sales and marketing techniques requires a competitive nature and drive, but most importantly, a strong willingness to learn. By being placed in a new professional setting, out of my comfort zone, I feel the urge to ask questions. At first I was hesitant to put myself out there, but my colleagues have made me feel particularly welcomed and have encouraged me to constantly ask questions, for only this will suffice my competitive willingness to learn and sharpening of my skill set. I have also had the opportunity to train individually with the Americas Head of Sales on ‘SPIN’ selling, or a strategic approach in sales communication, and effective marketing methods. The sales training has sharpened my communication skills by redirecting my thought process to reach a desired goal by structuring questions accordingly. These one-on-one training sessions have helped me develop a keen approach in uncovering needs and providing adequate solutions for potential customers and subscribed clients. This skill set was put in place while working account management with current customers and cold calls where communication is key to a prosperous service. Whether it is phone call, email, or interpersonal verbiage, such communication skills lead to the most effective work for an employer.

I have also had the chance to partake in video conference calls with London, New York, Pittsburgh, and Colorado where we, Metal Bulletin sales team, discuss potential market opportunities, sales strategies, and weekly check-ins/goals to maintain success in the industry. This experience has given me a feel of a professional environment, where questions and being put forth can only lead to answers and prosperity. My position here at Metal Bulletin has placed me out of my comfort zone, in an unfamiliar field, and helped boost my confidence in a new setting moving forward.

Overall, my experience thus far has been beneficial in every sense. Now, I can much more appreciate my partaking in Fullbridge@Wabash over spring break this past semester. Fullbridge@Wabash has taught me valuable skills such as conventional interaction with colleagues and the ability to work quickly while maintaining a strong eye for detail. This internship, so far, has already taught me some essential life skills that I will use both now, and in the future.