Internship Spotlight: From Career Fair Connection to Full-Time Offer

For Jason Schiltz, a senior marketing major, a summer internship at Keyence Corporation of America led to far more than professional experience to add to his résumé. The opportunity ultimately resulted in a full-time job offer and a clear vision for his future career.

As a tech sales intern at Keyence’s headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, Schiltz spent the summer learning the ins and outs of technical sales, working with 50 interns from across the country. His primary responsibility was to contact customers and inform them about one of Keyence’s newest products, a digital instant measurement machine designed for the manufacturing industry. His travel, transportation, and housing were all covered by the company for the duration of his internship experience.

Schiltz’s journey with Keyence began his sophomore year at Fisher’s Career Fair. After participating in a two-day program with the company, he was fast-tracked to the final interview stage and secured the internship during the fall of his junior year. 
One highlight from his internship was during Keyence’s Development Day. Interns competed in sales challenges in front of directors from different product lines and locations.

“I got first place in my group. Which was a big accomplishment since there were many talented students,” Schiltz said.

Beyond sales techniques, the experience taught Schiltz important lessons about personal growth. By actively seeking feedback from mentors and his fellow interns, he improved his professional and personal skills.

“Going into the internship, I was very confident about my abilities, but being surrounded in a group of people similar to me made me realize that although I thought I knew a lot about sales, there was still a lot for me to learn,” explained Schiltz.

Overall, he said the biggest lesson he learned was to be humble and to stay coachable.

“The lesson of having two ears and one mouth, or to listen twice as much as you talk, is a skill that is useful to anyone,” Schiltz continued.

His internship impact extends beyond the summer. Following the completion of his experience, Schiltz was invited back to Chicago for full-time position interviews. After meeting with national directors, he received and accepted an offer to join Keyence after his upcoming December graduation.

He will return to Chicago in the new year for training before beginning his career with Keyence in Rochester starting in March.

“Being able to have been part of that intensive internship helped me realize that it is the environment that I want to work in,” said Schiltz. “It ultimately ended in a full-time job which is very relieving.”

Reflecting on his experience, Schiltz’s advice is simple for students seeking internships and other opportunities: Do not be afraid to take chances.

“Get out of your comfort zone and be confident,” Schiltz said. “Going to a different city for part of the summer can be scary, especially when you know absolutely nobody there. I was also unsure if I would be able to handle the internship based on the requirements on the website, but I tried it anyway and had a great experience.”

This article was written by Olivia Bennett, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2026-2027 academic year.