Internship Experience | Zachary Pendergrace, JCBE Marketing Major Grad

Earlier this year, we highlighted Zachary Pendergrace, JCBE Marketing Major Grad, for his internship at ScanSource. After completion this internship, Zachary shared with us his experience at ScanSource, where he had the opportunity to dive into marketing operations and real-world industry experiences. In our interview, we’ve discussed his journey from the classroom to the workplace, the key lessons he learned along the way, and how his time at JCBE helped shape his professional growth.






Q: Hey, Zach, thank you for coming and letting me interview you. Please introduce yourself. You’re our recent grad, tell us a little more about your background and tell me about your internship, your role, what was your main responsibilities.

A: Yeah, so I'm originally from Columbia, South Carolina. I went to high school there and moved to Greenville in 2017. I got my associate's degree for transfer from Greenville Tech. Now transferred to USC Upstate. They have a direct partner program, so it was very easy and seamless.

Q: Very handy.

A: Yes, absolutely. And then, I worked on my bachelor's for about three years, going part-time primarily. So, it took a little bit longer, but now I graduated. It was definitely worth it, for sure, that's a great feeling.

As far as the internship, that was an amazing experience. It was a ten-week experience. The first week is primarily training and information about the company. Then you just get directly thrown into your role. The next week you meet with your team. They took me out to lunch. We had like a nice ‘meet and greet’ situation and just started familiarizing me with the different software that they use. There's a lot of customer relation management software. They use different, like ASP Salesforce, and things like that. It was nice to be able to see a lot of what's being used in the industry through the internship…

Q: Like first-hand experience.

A: Actually, yeah. Especially with having all the classroom knowledge from all the professors and being able to bring that and apply it. It was nice because they're very open with the interns, allowing them to voice their opinions, make recommendations. They very openly tell people, “Hey, if you see something wrong or think could be better - tell us that's what you're here for.” You know, they want a fresh mindset, so it seemed like a very mutually beneficial internship. They get fresh perspectives, and we get a lot of real world experience.

Q: Yeah, so you interned in ScanSource. What was your position?

A: So, my specific position was the Marketing Operations intern. They have a very unique marketing department for a large corporation, it could basically just operate on itself. You could take it out of the company, and it could be its own local marketing firm. They have the digital team, the copyright team, they've got all the steps of all the process for any kind of digital marketing that you can imagine. The operation side handles the reporting, the budgeting, and things like that for marketing and making sure t hat marketing dollars are being allocated properly and seeing the return from them. I was able to see that side of it and also manage a campaign project as well.

Q: Ah, that's what you did.

A: Yes, yes. So, my department didn't have the most for me to do, but it gave me a good opportunity to step out and shadow in other departments and see more about the whole marketing team instead of j ust one small aspect of it.

Q: Okay, got it. What skills did you develop or hone during your internship?

A: Yeah, so I mentioned some of those hard skills or like the softwares that we were learning.

Q: Like essentials.

A: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Because you know, you can develop all the soft skills outside, in school and everything but seeing the actual software and the hard skills that they used in the office. So, there was a lot of development of those. And also just kind of. I guess, work-life balance. They put a heavy emphasis on that. All of their positions are hybrid and remote as well. So, you know, there's an ease of access for their workforce. It allows you to if you want to come to the office every single day, or if you would prefer to work from home remotely. I guess being able to balance that because working from home is its own challenge: to be focused and stay on task. It helped me grow in that regard. And especially time management skills, 100%.

Q: Absolutely! So, because you already graduated, we cannot tell how your internship benefited your knowledge, but maybe you've noticed some blind spots during that internship. Like you missed kind of knowledge, and you complemented your skill set with this internship. If so, what was it?

A: So, are you asking was there are gaps between the classroom versus real life? Okay, um, so oh, that's a good question. Um. I would say…

Q: Or maybe our marketing program covers pretty much everything that we need.

A: I would say that the marketing program does a great job, especially with the courses where you get to do the extended learning outside of just the classroom. Those were great to prepare. But I'd say it's interesting because as a college student, I didn't really enjoy group projects, but you realize well, like everybody, when you get out into the real world, everything's a group project. You're going to work on a team. So, I'd say honestly just more of that. And it's funny to say now, but it just really helps people recognize that no matter what position you work in, you're going to be working on a team, and you need to develop teamwork skills.

Q: Collaboration.

A: Absolutely, yeah. I did one [test] at the university, and I also did one for my internship. It was a personality test, but it's more focused on how you work as a group member. And the internship did that for us. It provided us with an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, and how we work in groups. And it was pivotal because we had an internship project that we had to do. We had a group project and then also worked on our teams. I'd say that the teamwork mindset and just developing those skills was a little bit of a learning for me coming out of the classroom versus the workplace.

Q: Okay. So, we together completed the Leadership Program. Did it help you throughout your internship?

A: It was pivotal. All of the techniques that we learned from Dr. Campbell, and I mean from how you present yourself, your facial expressions, how to shake hands properly, it seems silly, but those types of things are important. And the other intangible skills that she talked about, just how to delegate properly, 100 percent. You know, this wasn't a leadership role since it was an internship, obviously. But everyone can still be a leader on a team. You don't have to have the title, but you can just assume that role and present yourself in that type of way. I would say that Leadership Institute was pivotal, especially for a business student.

Q: Oh yeah, absolutely. I think actually that knowledge could benefit every single body. I think, especially when you're doing this first step into the real business world, into your career, how you show yourself it is very important and crucial in your future. Did you have any challenges throughout your internship or maybe some obstacles, and how did you overcome them?

A: Adjusting to the corporate world because even though I am a little bit of an older college student and have a greater work experience, I've never worked in a corporate office, especially going back to the hybrid, you can either work from office or work from home. So, that was a big challenge, adjusting to that office life working in a cubicle. But it's a very open concept. They're more modern with their office concept, so it's more of a collaborative space which is very nice. You're never too far from someone else or you can go sit somewhere else in the office entirely, which is nice. So that was a challenge. But I adjusted eventually to the corporate lifestyle. And also, yeah, those software and hardware. There are a lot of different programs that they use at ScanSource, and there are so many you couldn't, even I could write them all.

Q: Learn forever.

A: Exactly. So, there's a lot to learn, especially going into a brand new industry that I've never been in either the tech distribution industry. I couldn't tell you anything about it before I started there. I couldn't even tell you what the company I was going to, but they did a great job informing us and everyone was super helpful with it. I mentioned the first week. They tell you a lot of information about the company in the industry. And then they also provide they call them Walk-a-Miles, it’s just a shadow program, and they require interns to do at least one. But you can do as many as you like. I did four different ones and got to go to different departments and shadows.

Q: That's great!

A: That really helps foster that learning environment…

Q: And open your mind, to see different perspectives of the same department.

A: Absolutely, absolutely, yeah.

Q: How has your experience helped you to grow professionally and personally?

A: Oh, so professionally, ScanSource does a lot of professional development for their interns. They have, man, I would say it was over six different workshops. Oh, there's usually one per week.

Q: How long was your internship?

A: Ten weeks. I believe there were, yeah, six or seven different workshops pertain. These workshops pertain to resume building, branding yourself, and whether it be from a personal appearance to your LinkedIn profile or if you have a personal portfolio. They also had interviewing, both a presentation about interviewing tips and other things you can do to be ready for that. And then they also had an interview round-robin session where they had ten different hiring managers set up in a room and the interns got to go around and do multiple interviews with different hiring managers.

A: So, it had to be stressful.

A: It was very stressful, but I felt so much more prepared to go into an interview after that because they gave you direct feedback about what you did well and what you did poorly in the interview, which I had some negative marks. But it was nice to know where I was deficient. I was able to correct those moving forward. So yeah, as far as professional development, all those workshops were astounding. Personal development, I got to network quite a lot while I was there, whether it be from people that I'm going to talk to. Even now, after the internship, and just build those relationships both personally and professionally. There are a lot of connections I made there that could help boost my career. There are also people I meant that I could just be everyday friends with, so there was a lot of development there.

Q: When you just started your internship, you definitely had some sort of like your professional goals. Does it change throughout your internship somehow? Maybe you saw something that captured your attention and you just like ‘Oh my God, I want to do this.’

A: I would say I definitely did. I saw multiple things. I realized that I've been doing B2C sales a lot of my life, and I realize I don't really want to do that any longer. B2B is much more approachable, working with other business professionals, other salespeople. They understand the goals that you're trying to maintain, and you have the same kind of mindset. Especially since ScanSource is a distribution company, you and the people that are supplying you, and the people you're selling to - all have the same goal: getting it down the line to the end user. Being able to also work in a marketing department, I'm a marketing major, it was great to be able to get into the field that I've worked so long to get the degree for it was nice to be able to get into that field and kind of just solidified that. Yes, that is the field I do want to be in. It was nice to be able to see that. But then it also changed my mind a little bit because I, through those other opportunities to explore, was able to see different departments and different positions that I think I could work as well. It was nice to see that. Yeah, I'm a marketing major, but I can also utilize my skills and other departments and open my eyes to things that I may not have thought I wanted to do. I did not consider before exactly and I may be able to do well and now.

Q: So, you have not received any job offers yet, but how it was, how was it after the internship? So, they just invited you to the interview and said, “Hey. We would like to hire you. Let's let's see what we can do?”

A: So, during the last three weeks of the internship, they have a heavy emphasis on trying to determine whether… they already know, but just get everybody on the same page, if the interns are graduating, when they're graduating, so informing them ‘Hey, if you graduate now, start applying. Now, if you graduate in December, start applying around this timeline.’ That was very helpful to start out. And then from there, I was looking for an opportunity there I was. There were no positions open that I currently qualified for until, I'd say, right about the end of week eight. So, I was very patient. I started looking externally and applying to other places as well just to have open options. But as soon as I applied for the position, I reached out to our recruiting manager who was one of the also intern managers. We developed quite a relationship. And it was funny. As soon as I sent him the message like ‘Hey. I applied for this’, just wanted close the loop and inform him. He was like, ‘Hey, I was going to reach out to you and tell you to apply for it anyway.’ There was a very open mindset of them knowing which interns are looking for a job now and trying to connect them to an open position. I do have that interview tomorrow, and here's hoping it goes well. But, an advantage of the internship is I have worked closely with multiple people who can speak for what my work quality and skills are, and they have also put in a good word for me. It was also another leg up.

Q: Did you have other internships doing your education in JCBE?

A: I did. I had another internship with Enterprise in their management training program during the spring semester at the beginning of this year.

Q: Were you also in marketing this one?

A: No, this was a management internship, so it was a little bit different. There are still some marketing aspects to it, but it's more of running a small team, running a specific location.

Q: Okay. When you were looking for your summer internship, how many companies did you approach?

A: I approached more than I’d say five or six. But that actually got back to me, and I got to the interview process, there were two companies. And then only one offered me, which was ScanSource.

Q: Oh great, okay, how hard was it to get this internship? What do you find the most challenging? Oh, maybe the interview process?

A: Yeah, yeah. I guess, starting at, like where I initially found out about the internship was actually at the USC Upstate Career Fair. Both of my internships…

Q: The one we had in February?

A: Yeah!

Q: Oh, great!

A: Yeah, and there was one. Oh, no, I'm sorry, not the one at the George, the one at the main campus That they do in September. But I did come to the one of the George as well, and I saw some familiar faces. But I found both of them there initially, and I had to apply and go through the interview process back in 2023. So, it was back in November and that includes for the summer internship. So that was challenging. It's trying to prove yourself for something that's so far in advance. But overall, I wouldn't say it was the most challenging process because I utilize a lot of the resources here at campus. You know, anybody who could help with career advancement, resume writing, anything above. I utilized those resources primarily to help me there. The interview process was challenging, especially for Scan Source. There were three interviews I had to do to get it.

Q: It's a pretty big company. They're very picky about their interns.

A: They are, they are, but they do have a large intern class. There were 26 of us. They have so many different departments. Luckily, you're not competing for just one spot. It was still pretty competitive. I know I believe they received over 150 applications for those 26 positions.

Q: What advice would give our students, business students, who are considering taking an internship during the summer or maybe during the fall?

A: Yeah, absolutely. It goes back to my previous point to start early. Start early, start very early, start looking for things that are going to be, you know, for next semester if you can. If that works for you, you know everyone's situation is going to be a little bit different. I would recommend that.

Something I wish I had done more is get involved more at campus.

Q: For example?

A: Any kind of job event that's going on, anything you can do on campus. That includes things like the Leadership Institute that we spoke about, any kind of associations or clubs that interest you. I didn't do it enough personally, but I'd realized through the interview process, a lot of interviewers love that stuff. You know, they love those things that you are going out of your way to do more, to get yourself extracurricular. They're not understated in the interview process, especially for internships, because they don't expect students to have a lot of experience in the job world, but they want to see them having experience in other places. I would definitely recommend those two things.

Q: I'm even surprised to hear that you weren't involved enough. Even though you're like in the leadership program, you're one of the best marketing students here. You are member, just correct me if I'm wrong, of the Student Marketing Association, you don't hold any other position?

A: That's correct.

Q: And it wasn't enough? Or you feel it wasn't enough.

A: I feel it wasn't enough. I think there’s just an opportunity for more and it goes back to my earlier part of my college career. Whenever I was a sophomore, junior. I wasn't doing those things. I only got involved in those in my senior year. Now, that's for me when they matter the most, but I think it could have just set a more solid foundation leading up to getting an internship, showing that I've been doing these things for a while, you can stay committed to things outside of education. That's the only reason I would say I didn't do enough.

Q: Okay. I get it. How can students make the most of their internship experience? What would your advice be?

A: Yeah, try to learn as much as you can. Try to ask questions. Ask questions, especially in an internship. No one expects you to come in with any knowledge, so there are no high expectations. And if you're with a good company, no one's going to be upset with you asking questions. They're there to see you succeed and hopefully become a future employee. So, ask questions is always a very good one. And I mentioned it previously, but shadow, sit with people, see what their day-to-day is like because someone can sit there and tell you about their position for an hour straight. Until you go and watch them do it, you'll never truly understand what they do. Take an opportunity to just see something different. Try something different. I, for example, had two different, entirely different internships to test the waters, so definitely just go in there with the mindset you're a college student, and there with the mindset to learn, just keep learning as much as you can.

Q: And what was the most rewarding part of this internship for you?

A: Most rewarding part so… I would… is it okay if I split this into professional and personal?

Q: Yeah, absolutely, yeah, okay, whatever way you prefer.

A: Okay, great. I would start with personal. I mentioned previously. They do a lot for their internships, and that includes outside of the workplace. We had a movie night, they took us to a Greenville Drive game. We went and did like a bonding experience at the beginning at the main event. So, there was a lot of like interaction and especially positive interactions, and being able to grow and develop with other interns at the same time.

Professionally, what it did most for me, I'd say the interviewing process both with them and the workshop that they put on just help get me ready for that. Because the interview process, I think is what's most stressful for most people, being put on the spot to talk about yourself, when most of us don't do that regularly. So that's what it did for me. Most professionally, it just gets me ready for that interview process and that next step up to interviewing for full-time career or not just a job.

Q: Okay, what advice would you give that would help students to prepare for this interview when they looking for an internship? What would be the most crucial?

A: Yeah, and this is actually something I learned through my internships. Research the company in advance. You don't need to come in as an expert and know, ‘Hey, I know you do this, this, and this,’ but be aware of what they do, be aware of the position that you're going into, whether it be an internship or a full-time position, know the ins and out as much as you can. Of course, you can only ascertain so much from the job description. And other advice I would give - don't be afraid to be yourself because no one wants to sit in on an interview with someone who's overly robotic. Show your personality because people want to hire people that they like and that they can interact with, and so just be genuine. Don't let your nerves catch you up, you know. Don't become overwhelmed. I know that's so much easier said than done, but take some breaths and just be genuine.

Q: Thank you so much, this is very good advice. I think our students will use it because I know this is true. I've been many times through the interview process, and just being yourself, takes a long way because you never know when you will be a great fit and maybe your personal qualities will be a game changer for a hiring manager.

A: We always know you have to customize to a certain degree your resume and yourself to a position, but again, don't become something that you're not. Don't try to make yourself fit into a role because in the end, you might end up not even liking the role because you're forcing it. I've been in this position where I just need a job. But I'm also still trying to be picky because I don't want to be somewhere that I'm unhappy.

Q: Yes! Zachary, thank you so much for coming and dedicating your time to enlighten our students about your internship. I think they will take your advice and use them for good.

A: Yeah, it was a great opportunity. Thank you for letting me share.