杏吧原创

The first time business major Julia Marino stood in front of an audience and talked about herself for 60 seconds was in her Professional Communications course.

The experience proved beneficial for Marino when she participated in the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition at Bryant University during her senior year. Squaring off against 228 students from 25 schools, Marino finished in the top 12 in the speed sell competition, which requires students to deliver a one-minute elevator pitch about themselves.

鈥淚t was definitely a bit nerve-wracking, but it was a good experience and I鈥檓 glad I did it,鈥� says Marino, who plans to pursue a career in sales.

Originally a health science major at Merrimack College, Marino discovered an interest in sales after transferring to UMass Lowell鈥檚 Manning School of Business.

鈥淚 really like all the different opportunities in the sales industry,鈥� says Marino, a native of Winchester, Massachusetts, whose concentrations are in finance and marketing.

During the fall semester of her senior year, Marino landed an account manager at ALKU, a consulting services firm based in Andover, Massachusetts. Working in the pharmaceutical regulatory sciences division, Marino helped connect consultants with hiring managers.

鈥淚 learned a lot, especially about cold calling,鈥� she says.

Marino is maximizing her two years at UML, serving as secretary of . A licensed Realtor, she is also a member of the student organization and completed an internship with Project Destined, a program that introduces college students to real estate careers.

鈥淚鈥檓 making the most of it, which is what I wanted to do,鈥� says Marino, a commuter student whose sister Angela earned a mechanical engineering degree from UML in 2022.

Drawn to UML by its affordability, diversity and wide range of extracurricular opportunities, Marino is sold on her experience as a River Hawk.

鈥淲ith my real-world internship experience, I鈥檓 able to apply what I鈥檓 learning in school and put it all together,鈥� she says.