Career Moves: Elon senior is ready to take on the PepsiCo challenge

A marketing major from Millburn, New Jersey, William Shiebler ’18 had a strong desire to find an internship that would allow him to understand first-hand the real-life implications of what he was learning in class.

With assistance from staff in the Student Professional Development Center, Shiebler was able to break down the rigorous process into attainable bite-size pieces. He did not have to look very long before landing a summer internship that would lead to a full-time job with PepsiCo.

Shiebler is one of several talented students featured in a series of E-net profiles on the recent experiences of students and alumni who work alongside professionals in the Student Professional Development Center to explore career interests, find job and internship opportunities, prepare for interviews, develop graduate school application materials, and more. 

William recently answered questions from the SPDC about his experience.

Who did you work within the Student Professional Development Center to prepare, and what help did you receive?

Throughout the recruiting and interviewing process, I worked with Jan Pagoria, Brooke Buffington and Danielle Golinski. Jan helped me restructure my resume, and Brooke was hugely instrumental in helping me find an internship.

We met biweekly to discuss various opportunities and companies recruiting on campus, and she helped me stay organized by keeping track of every target company. Danielle Golinski conducted multiple mock interviews with me that were incredibly helpful. My confidence and comfort grew with each one. When it came time for the interview, I was very prepared. 

How did your interest in the organization, company, or career develop?

I have always been interested in the selling/business development side of the business, and while taking Professional Selling, a course taught by Nawar Chaker, I learned about various business development jobs and the nature of entry-level sales positions. That is when I realized I wanted to work for a large organization.  

Tell me about your experience in landing a career at PepsiCo.

When Brooke Buffington contacted me about the PepsiCo position, I knew it would be a good fit. I’m excited about working in their Sales and Marketing role and want to do everything I can to be ready to make an impact.

What have you learned from the experience?

The real-world internship experience at PepsiCo made my business courses much more meaningful.  I learned the ins and outs of a large corporation, its policies, procedures, and structures. I learned how important it is to understand all aspects of a business, and the experience bolstered my understanding of the real-life implications and helped to make my classes seem less theoretical.

To a degree, communication between sales, finance, IT and many other areas occurs on a daily basis. I realized the importance of applying what I learned in class to my work including concepts and vocabulary.   

What recommendations would you like to share with other students about the Student Professional Development Center?

I would recommend utilizing the SPDC as much as possible and familiarizing yourself with the SPDC and its services as early as possible. 

Internship and job searching can feel very overwhelming. The SPDC staff helps students break down the rigorous process into attainable bite-size pieces. 

It is essential to keep an open mind when searching for an internship or job because it is difficult to know what you want to do until you do it.

Develop an ongoing relationship with SPDC advisors. Because job opportunities are continually flowing into Elon, it is vital that advisors know your career goals and the types of opportunities that are appealing to you.