Outside Sales Internship – Building Materials Industry

Job Description

About the Company: Builders FirstSource (BFS)

Builders FirstSource (BFS) is described as America’s largest supplier of building materials, value-added components, and building services, catering to the professional market. They position themselves as the #1 name in their industry, dedicated to making the dream of home ownership more achievable.

BFS fosters a supportive, inclusive, and “people-first” culture that aims to build up and empower employees. They commit to equipping individuals with tools, training, and resources, encouraging new experiences, and providing opportunities for career growth with “unlimited horizons.” The company emphasizes continuous learning and development, allowing employees to “rise to new challenges, learn new skills, and add to your career tool belt every day.”

BFS offers competitive and affordable benefits designed to enhance the lives of its employees and their families, with more details available at www.bldrbenefits.com. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, BFS ensures fair consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. They also provide accommodation for individuals with disabilities in the application process.

About the Job: Outside Sales Internship – Building Materials Industry

This internship is designed for energetic, driven, and people-oriented students eager to gain real-world experience and launch a sales career within the dynamic building materials industry. It offers hands-on exposure to sales strategies, customer relationship management, and field operations, providing an overview of the entire process from sales to delivery.

Internship Overview:
As an Outside Sales Intern, you will be immersed in the fast-paced world of construction sales. The role involves shadowing experienced sales professionals, actively supporting customer accounts, and learning to identify and develop new business opportunities. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how relationships, service, and product knowledge are critical to success in this sector.

Internship Details:
• Duration: 12 weeks.
• Start Date (Target): May 18, 2026 (subject to adjustment based on school schedule).
• Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), which may include weekends.
• Location: Various BFS field locations throughout New England.
• Work Model: In-person, with expected travel within an assigned sales territory.
• Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not provided for this role.

Key Responsibilities (Other Duties May Be Assigned):
• Shadow outside sales representatives during customer visits, job site meetings, and account management activities.
• Learn the entire sales cycle, from prospecting and lead generation to quoting, order entry, and post-sale follow-up.
• Assist in the preparation of bids, proposals, and presentations for both residential and commercial construction projects.
• Support the tracking of sales metrics, customer activity, and follow-up actions utilizing CRM tools.
• Build comprehensive product knowledge related to lumber, engineered wood, windows, doors, and other building materials offered by BFS.
• Help resolve customer inquiries by collaborating cross-functionally with operations, inventory, and delivery teams.
• Observe and participate in pricing discussions, customer negotiations, and service issue resolution.
• Conduct research on local markets, construction trends, and competitor activity to identify new sales opportunities.
• Attend branch meetings and vendor training sessions to develop a broad understanding of the business.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• This internship position does not entail any supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications:
To be successful in this role, candidates should meet the following qualifications:
• Education: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• Skills: Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence in interacting with both customers and coworkers.
• Mindset: Demonstrate a desire to work in a fast-paced, customer-facing, and goal-oriented environment.
• Mobility: Willingness to travel within a local territory and occasionally visit construction job sites.
• Work Ethic: Highly organized, proactive, and coachable.
• Preferred: Junior or Senior standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

What You’ll Gain:
Participants in this internship will acquire valuable experiences and skills, including:
• Real-world experience in outside sales, customer service, and business development.
• Mentorship from experienced sales professionals within the building materials industry.
• A deep understanding of BFS products, services, and operational processes.
• Direct exposure to construction job sites, builders, contractors, and project workflows.
• Practical sales training and hands-on experience with CRM systems, quoting tools, and prospecting methods.
• A potential pathway to full-time employment with Builders FirstSource after graduation.

This internship is ideal for self-starters who enjoy problem-solving, building relationships, and prefer working in the field over a desk. It offers a unique opportunity to learn how BFS supports America’s builders and to contribute to the future of construction.