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What It’s Like to Go from Frontline Intern to Full-time 3Mer
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At 3M, we're all learning, discovering, exploring and innovating together. Our internship programs allow students to join other 3Mers on their career journey. Here’s a deeper look at what it’s like to be a Frontline intern from someone who has experienced it firsthand.
Name: Caitlin Anderson
Title: Distribution Sales Specialist, Personal Safety Division (PSD)
Number of years and previous positions at 3M: Two full-time positions in four years: Frontline Administrator and Inside Sales Representative for the Medical Services Division
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Saint Catherine University in healthcare sales with a minor in integrated marketing, communications and design and an MBA with an emphasis in leadership and strategic change from Saint Scholastica
Office Location: St. Paul, MN
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Why were you initially interested in interning for 3M and the frontline program specifically?
My dad has always worked for 3M and is happy with his career. On top of that, while in college we had many guest speakers and previous Frontline interns from 3M, which made me realize there wasn’t a better company for combining my two passions of science and sales.
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What made you want to stay with 3M after your internship?
I couldn’t have asked for better colleagues, products, company culture and overall fit. Plus, I was so inspired by how much 3M invested in the Frontline interns. I also love that there is so much opportunity at 3M and that I could spend my entire career at one company while having the possibility to move between different divisions and functions.
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What types of projects did you work on in your internship(s) at 3M? What does your role entail today?
In my internship, I focused on CFM (cross-divisional sales) and was able to get into the field, interact with some of our channel partners and end users, and put different marketing campaigns together.
Today, I handle the business-to-business relationship with our channel partners in PSD. I help them with marketing and sales initiatives, ensuring that they are getting the best support and helping them grow their 3M sales.
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How did your internship prepare you for a full-time career with 3M?
The Frontline program supplied me with countless tools to set me up for success, including a robust training program that covered sales techniques, product training and systems/program training. It also provided me with a fantastic network of friends and colleagues who were going through the same internship program. I was also given a mentor who had gone through the internship and was there to help guide me.
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What advice do you have for those interested in a career in this area at 3M?
Reach out to other 3Mers, including me. Think outside the box and prove why you’d be the right fit and what you can provide to the company.
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What has been the most memorable part of your career at 3M?
One of the coolest things that I have gotten to experience was spending time in our 3M Paris location. I got the chance to work with our colleagues abroad sharing best practices, understanding their go-to-business model in France and better understanding how our subsidiaries run.
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Interested in an internship with 3M? Join 3M’s Talent Community and learn how your skills might be a fit at 3M when an opportunity opens up.
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