Alexandra Sitka
- Market Development Representative
- Cintas
School Information
School: University of Minnesota
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2014-2017
Career Information
Working For: Cintas
Title: Market Development Representative
Industry: Consumer Goods
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Work with current customers to audit the products on their account and sell them into products that make more sense as their business changed over time.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Financial freedom post grad.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting opened doors I never knew existed.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I would not have been offered the job at Cintas since they rarely hire fresh college grads. Ironically, on my first ride along days with a Cintas rep, we sold to one of my favorite clients businesses to italize our uniforms. That rep sold the deal, because of the relationship I had built with them during College Works Painting. Also, I have had the opportunity to consult alongside an entrepreneur who I met by selling to him through College Works Painting. You never know when you will utilize the relationships you build here.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
It was the clients in the green house. They were the happiest couple I had ever met and made me dinner two of the nights we were on the job. If I ever needed anything I know I could reach out to them and get sound spoken advice.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
It is not your successes that define you, but how you handle the failures along the way.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
My best friends and closest relationships are from College Works Painting, hands down. If you want to be a part of a crowd that will succeed in life, this is the place for you.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
College Works Painting, the best that there can be.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Embrace the challenges because this internship will tell you more about yourself than anything else you have done this far in your life. You will be pushed to your limits and that is where your true character comes out.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
It does not matter. You want options, sell paint jobs. You will have more job offers after your intern year and job connections than anyone else coming out of college. Get real experience, not the same things your friends do. When has anyone made a a true impact by following the crowd?
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Do not think. Just do it.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
When Marc bought the entire bouquet of flowers from the guy in the street in Cancun for the North Star division, because “everyone deserves a flower.”
Last words of wisdom?
Do not think what could go wrong, think what could go right.