Pilot Company’s 2022 summer internship program is almost halfway done! Since the program is all about providing interns with the real-world experience they need, we thought it would be best to ask some of them about what they have learned in the last couple of weeks. Read on to hear more about the valuable insight Pilot’s internship program provides, the difference between learning and application, and some exciting moments from the first half of the program!
Name: Samantha Germain
School/Major: UT / Retail & Consumer Sciences & Finance
Department: Merchandising
Favorite thing from the café: I’m a sucker for the salad bar!
Most exciting moment so far: Getting to speak to all of the vendors, interact with products, getting to experience the decision process of merchandising, and visiting the fieldhouse.
Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?
A: There are quite a lot of differences between my classwork and the actual work within the department, but at the end of the day, both my work and class work are consumer-focused and figuring out what is the best option. So, I am taking my studying of the consumer and implementing it when I analyze consumer trends and products that the customer would enjoy.
Name: Blake Curtsinger
School/Major: UT / Business Analytics
Department: Business Intelligence
Favorite thing from the café: Unorthodox salads from the build-your-own salad bar (especially with asparagus)
Most exciting moment so far: Moments that were shared with the entire group of interns, like the mountain challenge that reinforced innovation and teamwork
Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?
A: Being a business analytics major, I’d have to say the most obvious difference between the classroom and the real world is the data that I am using. Everything is prepped for you in school, but in reality, data is very messy and can be difficult to interpret. We also have a LOT of data here at Pilot, so I’ve had to spend a lot of time just getting to know how data flows through our organization and what it is representing. It’s been a challenge, but a fun one!
Name: Greer Giffen
School/Major: UT / Accounting
Department: Corporate Accounting
Favorite thing from the café: I’ve enjoyed the fountain drinks.
Most exciting moment so far: Doing the mountain challenge!
Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?
A: It’s different working with real money rather than imaginary amounts in an accounting textbook. Accounting at Pilot has been a more detailed and complex application of a lot of the content of my classes.
Name: Jacob Bisping
School/Major: UT / Marketing
Department: Business Integration
Favorite thing from the café: Definitely the giant Rice Krispies Treats. They make for a great pre-workout snack.
Most exciting moment so far: When my director told me that she used my visualizations in her presentation to the higher-ups of the company. It felt good to know my hard work was being implemented.
Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?
A: The biggest difference between the classroom and the work environment are my views toward meetings. In school, they teach that meetings will be very professional and nerve-racking. I hosted my first meeting the other day and it just felt like a conversation with friends. I love that I feel at home with Pilot and get treated as a friend first.
Stay tuned for more intern spotlights over the summer, and best of luck to all our interns in their departments for the rest of the program! If you’d like to read the first post about our 2022 interns, click here.
