Senior communication student Ella O’Neill took on the world of sales after her summer internship with Thomson Reuters, a technology company in Ann Arbor.
During her internship, O’Neill cold-called prospective customers, built leads in CRM systems, worked on building and delivering value propositions to potential clients, helped execute steps in a sales call by overcoming obstacles with prospects, and worked with top sales reps to learn more about solution-based selling.
“This experience showed me how rewarding it is to see your hard work pay off,” O’Neill said. “I now know I thrive in an environment where my efforts directly contribute to meaningful outcomes.”
O’Neill faced challenges of rejection and failure, especially during the cold-calling process, which taught her valuable lessons in resilience and perseverance.
“I learned how to stay motivated despite facing multiple setbacks, understanding that each 'no' brought me closer to a 'yes,’” O’Neill said. “This experience helped me develop a thicker skin and a more positive outlook, enabling me to push forward without letting disappointments bring me down.”
She is particularly drawn to a career in sales, specifically in an industry where her motivation comes from the desire to make the most positive impact possible.
“As I move forward, I hope to build a career that offers the same sense of fulfillment, where my hard work and dedication drive real, positive change,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill wants others pursuing a career in sales to take advantage of challenges and motivate them to develop their abilities.
“In this field, rejection is inevitable; it’s how you respond to rejection that matters,” O’Neill said. “Instead of viewing failure as a setback, see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and refine your approach.”