Hello for the last time,
Overall I would have to say that this semester has been a success for me. Being able to attend this internship with Benoist Company has allowed to me grow a lot. I have found it extremely beneficial when looking for a job that I have an internship on my resume. I feel fortunate that the BIS program requires a student to take an internship program. I feel that the biggest thing I learned was how to work as a team and brainstorm. I the people that I worked with have given me great insight in going forward with my business career. Even though I will not be joing Benoist Company after I graduate I know that the people I have met will always have something good to say about me, if I ever need a reference. I learned how to work with people in a fast paced setting dealing with marketing and sales. I will take away alot from this internship and I give Benoist Company the credit on getting me the job I will have after I graduate.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
We need to advertise
Hello friends,
This week I would like to discuss a little bit about an organization at my internship that could be improved. Improving our marketing and advertising strategies could play a big role in future success of the company. Although it is unlikely that I will be working with this company after I graduate I still feel obligated to help them in any way that I can. Our current advertising system seems to only target the current clients that we have. Sending out catelogs has slowly come to an end as I have explained before, but I feel that many more clients can be tallied if we pay a little more attention to the advertising section of the business. The company needs a "word of mouth buzz" so to speak in order to potentially get more clients. I believe that a group brainstorming session could really benefit the company. Usually there are only 2 or 3 of us that come together to try and figure out cool ways to market the company. I believe that there are many smart minds that I work with and I know that they possess the ability to come up with some good ideas. Even if the brainstorming session would take place once a week, we could see if what methods we believe could work. If i were the boss I would have a meeting with all the employees at least once a week. I would make it an after work activity where a happy hour or dinner theme would be applied. Having it like this makes people a little more relaxed in that good ideas can come about without the pressure of the workplace. After developing some ideas that could potentially work, I would take an intern that I have brought on and have them do a little cold calling and or field work in order to spread the word. I do not think I will bring up my idea to my boss though, at least the last part about the intern, because I do not want to be stuck doing that. I mean it will be 100 degrees next week!
This week I would like to discuss a little bit about an organization at my internship that could be improved. Improving our marketing and advertising strategies could play a big role in future success of the company. Although it is unlikely that I will be working with this company after I graduate I still feel obligated to help them in any way that I can. Our current advertising system seems to only target the current clients that we have. Sending out catelogs has slowly come to an end as I have explained before, but I feel that many more clients can be tallied if we pay a little more attention to the advertising section of the business. The company needs a "word of mouth buzz" so to speak in order to potentially get more clients. I believe that a group brainstorming session could really benefit the company. Usually there are only 2 or 3 of us that come together to try and figure out cool ways to market the company. I believe that there are many smart minds that I work with and I know that they possess the ability to come up with some good ideas. Even if the brainstorming session would take place once a week, we could see if what methods we believe could work. If i were the boss I would have a meeting with all the employees at least once a week. I would make it an after work activity where a happy hour or dinner theme would be applied. Having it like this makes people a little more relaxed in that good ideas can come about without the pressure of the workplace. After developing some ideas that could potentially work, I would take an intern that I have brought on and have them do a little cold calling and or field work in order to spread the word. I do not think I will bring up my idea to my boss though, at least the last part about the intern, because I do not want to be stuck doing that. I mean it will be 100 degrees next week!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Interview...
Hello friends,
I have found that when talking to my friend Sasha, it seems that we pretty much invision the same work aspects. I have been known to be a total team player and love to work in groups and so does Sasha. Sasha feels that if everyone puts in ideas, then it seems much easier to come to conclusions and solutions. Sasha's ideal work environment is exactly what he is doing right now with the company. He does not spend a whole lot of time in the office, but instead he is constantly out meeting with clients. This is something that I would really enjoy doing in my job as well. I feel that I am a people person and enjoy meeting with people face to face instead of having to cold call and or talk to people on the phone. It was interesting when I asked Sasha if the education he received has helped him at all. He told me that being in the business world teaches you more than anything in school. He has a marketing degree and basically said that when he started work, his boss told him to forget everything and learn how to market his way. After all, Sasha said that with many jobs there will be training programs to help familiarize you with the company. Sasha said also that he respects our current boss the most because of the path he took to be where he is today. Our boss did not even graduate from high school, and sure enough he owns a company worth millions. I really enjoyed talking with Sasha like I always do, and I have learned a lot.
I have found that when talking to my friend Sasha, it seems that we pretty much invision the same work aspects. I have been known to be a total team player and love to work in groups and so does Sasha. Sasha feels that if everyone puts in ideas, then it seems much easier to come to conclusions and solutions. Sasha's ideal work environment is exactly what he is doing right now with the company. He does not spend a whole lot of time in the office, but instead he is constantly out meeting with clients. This is something that I would really enjoy doing in my job as well. I feel that I am a people person and enjoy meeting with people face to face instead of having to cold call and or talk to people on the phone. It was interesting when I asked Sasha if the education he received has helped him at all. He told me that being in the business world teaches you more than anything in school. He has a marketing degree and basically said that when he started work, his boss told him to forget everything and learn how to market his way. After all, Sasha said that with many jobs there will be training programs to help familiarize you with the company. Sasha said also that he respects our current boss the most because of the path he took to be where he is today. Our boss did not even graduate from high school, and sure enough he owns a company worth millions. I really enjoyed talking with Sasha like I always do, and I have learned a lot.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Shadowing/Creeper
Hello to you all,
The person that I chose to shadow and follow is a person that has become a close friend of mine. His name is Sasha and sure enough I use him for my conversation partner as well. His job activities would equal what I would be doing if I were a full time employee for the company. The thing I love about his days are that he spends as much time out in the field as possible. So, getting a chance to get out of the office and not do boring stuff all day was exciting none the least. Sasha's typical day does not consist of all that much, but just a lot of repetition. The activities are not to difficult, but I am slowly learning what it takes to be a successful outside salesman. On Friday of this past week Sasha allowed me to ride around with him to attend meetings and meet with clients as well as some potential clients. The day would consist of calls in the morning to confirm meetings and then meet for lunch. I felt like we ate lunch five times that day and Sasha's wallet soon became thin. He told me that that was what it takes for clients to feel comfortable with you. To break away from the phone every once and a while and have a face to face meeting ensures them that their business is important to you. I am learning a lot and am sad that it will come to an end soon.
The person that I chose to shadow and follow is a person that has become a close friend of mine. His name is Sasha and sure enough I use him for my conversation partner as well. His job activities would equal what I would be doing if I were a full time employee for the company. The thing I love about his days are that he spends as much time out in the field as possible. So, getting a chance to get out of the office and not do boring stuff all day was exciting none the least. Sasha's typical day does not consist of all that much, but just a lot of repetition. The activities are not to difficult, but I am slowly learning what it takes to be a successful outside salesman. On Friday of this past week Sasha allowed me to ride around with him to attend meetings and meet with clients as well as some potential clients. The day would consist of calls in the morning to confirm meetings and then meet for lunch. I felt like we ate lunch five times that day and Sasha's wallet soon became thin. He told me that that was what it takes for clients to feel comfortable with you. To break away from the phone every once and a while and have a face to face meeting ensures them that their business is important to you. I am learning a lot and am sad that it will come to an end soon.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A resume that I have created...
HUNTER BLAIR
2929 No. 70th Street Apt. 1035 ● Scottsdale, AZ 85251 ● C (214) 642-6539 ● hunterhblair09@hotmail.com
SUMMARY
· Leader who builds strong relationships with clients to provide superior service and ensure further associations
· Team player who collaborates with fellow employees to achieve company objectives
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Drift Infusion Lounge Scottsdale, Arizona
Bartender 2007-2008
· Organized and controlled inventory for the restaurant bar
· Created flyers and led an advertising team into the field to promote the restaurant.
· Analyzed potential investment in additional properties
One Stop Foods, Inc. Rockwall, Texas
2002-2005
· Involved in franchise expansion including site evaluations for convenience stores
· Looked for possible real estate that would be beneficial to the company
· Organized maintenance, signage changes, and painting for multiple locations.
Benoist Company Phoenix. Arizona
Intern Spring 2009
· Learn both inside and outside sales.
· Attend meetings with contractors and potential clients
· Learn additional communication skills to gain experience in the workplace
· Learn how the company is marketed and the process utilized
· Develop skills in create relationships in the workplace
EDUCATION
Arizona State University, BA Tempe, Arizona
School of Interdisciplinary Studies Fall 2004 – Present
Study Concentration – Business & Communications
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Rockwall High School Rockwall, Texas
Graduated with honors 2001-2004
Rockwall Baseball team
2929 No. 70th Street Apt. 1035 ● Scottsdale, AZ 85251 ● C (214) 642-6539 ● hunterhblair09@hotmail.com
SUMMARY
· Leader who builds strong relationships with clients to provide superior service and ensure further associations
· Team player who collaborates with fellow employees to achieve company objectives
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Drift Infusion Lounge Scottsdale, Arizona
Bartender 2007-2008
· Organized and controlled inventory for the restaurant bar
· Created flyers and led an advertising team into the field to promote the restaurant.
· Analyzed potential investment in additional properties
One Stop Foods, Inc. Rockwall, Texas
2002-2005
· Involved in franchise expansion including site evaluations for convenience stores
· Looked for possible real estate that would be beneficial to the company
· Organized maintenance, signage changes, and painting for multiple locations.
Benoist Company Phoenix. Arizona
Intern Spring 2009
· Learn both inside and outside sales.
· Attend meetings with contractors and potential clients
· Learn additional communication skills to gain experience in the workplace
· Learn how the company is marketed and the process utilized
· Develop skills in create relationships in the workplace
EDUCATION
Arizona State University, BA Tempe, Arizona
School of Interdisciplinary Studies Fall 2004 – Present
Study Concentration – Business & Communications
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Rockwall High School Rockwall, Texas
Graduated with honors 2001-2004
Rockwall Baseball team
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hello again,
Getting this blog to post has stressed me out more than anything else in the past two days. Having this issue created problems for me today in the workplace in which people could see and tell that I was flustered. It got me to thinking about the different communication concepts that I have learned during my schooling here at Arizona State. I learned that non-verbal communication was big in the workplace, and something that you have to be conscious of. For example, I was on the phone and a co-worker noticed my face and could simply tell that the person on the phone was irritating me. The co-worker happened to be my boss's assistant which was not good in the sense that she might have felt that I did not want to be there and particularily on the phone. We deal with communication issues all day and every day in the workplace and I need to be more aware of that. I need to learn that things that have occurred outside the workplace do not need to brought in, as it is not fair to everyone else. Having said all of this, the marketing strategies I have learned have had a positive impact on me thus far. Since our company is currently going through a marketing/advertising change I am able to give a little imput without sounding completely ridiculous. The market growth rate is effecting our ideas in terms of determining if any money can be made in the market at that specific time. The market profitibality is also key in determining how we want to change our catelog situation. We are currently looking to change from catelogs to USB ports. The USB ports are less expensive to make, but the current economy has given us reason to think that everyone else is trying to save money as well. I have enjoyed the challenges brought on by this and am learning new information everyday.
Getting this blog to post has stressed me out more than anything else in the past two days. Having this issue created problems for me today in the workplace in which people could see and tell that I was flustered. It got me to thinking about the different communication concepts that I have learned during my schooling here at Arizona State. I learned that non-verbal communication was big in the workplace, and something that you have to be conscious of. For example, I was on the phone and a co-worker noticed my face and could simply tell that the person on the phone was irritating me. The co-worker happened to be my boss's assistant which was not good in the sense that she might have felt that I did not want to be there and particularily on the phone. We deal with communication issues all day and every day in the workplace and I need to be more aware of that. I need to learn that things that have occurred outside the workplace do not need to brought in, as it is not fair to everyone else. Having said all of this, the marketing strategies I have learned have had a positive impact on me thus far. Since our company is currently going through a marketing/advertising change I am able to give a little imput without sounding completely ridiculous. The market growth rate is effecting our ideas in terms of determining if any money can be made in the market at that specific time. The market profitibality is also key in determining how we want to change our catelog situation. We are currently looking to change from catelogs to USB ports. The USB ports are less expensive to make, but the current economy has given us reason to think that everyone else is trying to save money as well. I have enjoyed the challenges brought on by this and am learning new information everyday.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Working in an interdisciplinary workplace
Hello again,
For the students that go through the BIS program the terms multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary are clearly defined and understood. When I think about where I am working for my internship the word interdisciplinary stands out to me. Seeing as though the company is smaller than most, I have had the advantage to meet all the employees at this particular office and see what happens during their average day. When working around the office you notice that many disciplines are being used and being brought together to get things done. The company works successfully when interdisciplinary actions take place. For example, the company is working on a new marketing scheme to try and save a little money in these bad economic times. The current catalogs that the company sends out has become thought to be too expensive and nothing but a dust collector on someones desk. The employees came together through communication and marketing ideas to create an idea that would better serve our company and potential clients. Different groups within the company are brought together despite what discipline that might have a specialty in. It has helped me to listen to what goes on in meetings to see how my disciplines are presented, if at all. You will be amazed the communication aspects that I gather while listening to people or looking for that matter. I can tell who has an idea and whether or not someone thought it was a good idea just by the look on their face. This internship has been a great experience for me so far, as well as really fun.
For the students that go through the BIS program the terms multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary are clearly defined and understood. When I think about where I am working for my internship the word interdisciplinary stands out to me. Seeing as though the company is smaller than most, I have had the advantage to meet all the employees at this particular office and see what happens during their average day. When working around the office you notice that many disciplines are being used and being brought together to get things done. The company works successfully when interdisciplinary actions take place. For example, the company is working on a new marketing scheme to try and save a little money in these bad economic times. The current catalogs that the company sends out has become thought to be too expensive and nothing but a dust collector on someones desk. The employees came together through communication and marketing ideas to create an idea that would better serve our company and potential clients. Different groups within the company are brought together despite what discipline that might have a specialty in. It has helped me to listen to what goes on in meetings to see how my disciplines are presented, if at all. You will be amazed the communication aspects that I gather while listening to people or looking for that matter. I can tell who has an idea and whether or not someone thought it was a good idea just by the look on their face. This internship has been a great experience for me so far, as well as really fun.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
A little about me!
Hi,
My name is Hunter Blair and I am studying business and communications in the BIS program. I chose these two fields because I come from a very business oriented family and enjoy being around people in the workplace. The site of my applied study is located in Phoenix, with offices in Honolulu, Los Angeles, El Paso, Seattle, San Diego, and Sacramento. There are many things I hope to learn from my applied study site. I want to gain confidence in meeting with people face to face in the case that he or she may be a potential client. I hope to learn about inside and outside sales and what it takes to be a successful sales person. Developing my marketing skills is what interests the most, however, because marketing is an area that I wish to get into at some point in the future. Meeting with contractors and fellow co-workers will allow me to strengthen my communication skills as well. I have accomplished responsibilites of keeping in contact with potential clients as well as keeping the employees up to date on current events that may be coming up. Some future goals that I have for myself are to be doing work with this company or joining my uncle's company back in Dallas, Texas. My uncle owns several Aaron's furniture and appliance stores in the greater Dallas area, and wants me to come learn the business and perhaps take over a couple when I learn a little more. The applied study site that I am working at right now is definately something that I would be interested in working for after graduation if they will have me. As everyone knows the economy is going to determine whether or not I will be able to stay on board, and since it is a smaller company it is tough for them to add people and throw out the kind of money that I feel like I should make.
My name is Hunter Blair and I am studying business and communications in the BIS program. I chose these two fields because I come from a very business oriented family and enjoy being around people in the workplace. The site of my applied study is located in Phoenix, with offices in Honolulu, Los Angeles, El Paso, Seattle, San Diego, and Sacramento. There are many things I hope to learn from my applied study site. I want to gain confidence in meeting with people face to face in the case that he or she may be a potential client. I hope to learn about inside and outside sales and what it takes to be a successful sales person. Developing my marketing skills is what interests the most, however, because marketing is an area that I wish to get into at some point in the future. Meeting with contractors and fellow co-workers will allow me to strengthen my communication skills as well. I have accomplished responsibilites of keeping in contact with potential clients as well as keeping the employees up to date on current events that may be coming up. Some future goals that I have for myself are to be doing work with this company or joining my uncle's company back in Dallas, Texas. My uncle owns several Aaron's furniture and appliance stores in the greater Dallas area, and wants me to come learn the business and perhaps take over a couple when I learn a little more. The applied study site that I am working at right now is definately something that I would be interested in working for after graduation if they will have me. As everyone knows the economy is going to determine whether or not I will be able to stay on board, and since it is a smaller company it is tough for them to add people and throw out the kind of money that I feel like I should make.
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