SHARON, Pa. — Joshua Divens, a senior business major in the management and marketing track, is spending the summer of 2026 as an inside sales intern at Wheatland Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, located in Wheatland, Pa.
In this Q&A, Joshua shares his duties and responsibilities at Wheatland Tube, and discusses how this internship experience is preparing him for his future career goals.
Begin Q&A:
Q: How did your internship experience with Wheatland Tube come about?
A: I actively searched for internship opportunities that matched my career interests and applied for this position through LinkedIn. After completing the interview process, I was offered the internship and accepted the opportunity.
Q: What roles are you fulfilling as part of your internship experience?
A: As an inside sales intern, I am learning about customer account management, order processing, sales operations, and cross-functional collaboration within a manufacturing environment. Throughout the summer, I will travel to other Zekelman Industries locations throughout the country to learn more about different areas of the business and gain a broader understanding of the company's operations and meet with top company leadership. My primary summer project involves identifying target customer accounts, then evaluating multiple business metrics, including sales activity, gross margin performance, product mix, and customer purchasing trends, to compare the profitability and long-term value of each account type. Using this analysis, I will develop a data-driven report and present my findings and recommendations to corporate leadership at the conclusion of my internship.
Q: What classroom experiences at Shenango prepared you for your roles at this internship?
A: My business management and marketing courses have helped me develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and analytical skills that I use throughout my internship. In addition, my previous management and marketing internship at the Buhl Club gave me valuable experience working in a professional setting and collaborating with others to accomplish organizational goals.
Q: What are the key lessons you’ve learned during your internship experience?
A: One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of asking questions and taking initiative when learning something new. I have also seen how different departments work together to serve customers and how attention to detail is critical in sales and business operations.
Q: What career(s) are you interested in after graduation, and has your internship experience helped you towards reaching those goals?
A: After graduation, I am interested in pursuing a career in sales, or data analysis. This internship has strengthened my interest in those fields by giving me practical experience, exposing me to professional business operations, and helping me develop skills that will prepare me for a successful full-time career.
