2027 Management and Sales Intern (Chicago Metro - South Suburbs and NW Indiana)

The Sherwin-Williams Management & Sales Internship is a paid, 10-12-week summer program offering hands-on experience in our retail stores, providing insight into management, sales, and store operations as well as meaningful customer experiences. Our store internship program is designed to provide you with a comprehensive learning experience through practical business-to-business and retail experience working in a paint store. You will gain insight into a career in outside sales by traveling with a Sales Representative and spending structured time with your management team. You will also complete a project that addresses critical business issues alongside your peers and with the support of leadership.

Our intern experience provides professional-level learning in the following areas:

• Sales
• Marketing/Promotions
• Merchandising
• Customer Relationship Management
• Business Management

Following successful completion of the program, interns are highly encouraged to apply to the Management & Sales Training Program (“MTP”) and further grow their career with Sherwin-Williams!

College graduates are not eligible to participate in the internship program but are encouraged to apply to our Management and Sales Training Program (“MTP”) instead.

Job duties involve contact with customers, which may include minors; and access to cash and other payment methods, electronic equipment, personal information, store merchandise and other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s customers, staff, employees, vendors, contractors, and the general public.

Responsibilities

• Customer Service: Provide friendly and professional assistance to customers in-store and over the phone. Ensure a welcoming environment and positive customer experience.
• Sales Support: Maintain product displays and assist customers by recommending items that meet their needs. Contribute to sales goals through effective support.
• Product Knowledge: Develop a strong understanding of store merchandise to answer customer inquiries and ensure inventory accuracy.
• Inventory & Merchandising: Restock shelves, support inventory management, and contribute to visual merchandising efforts.
• Store Operations: Assist with point-of-sale transactions, product preparation/mixing, and general store maintenance.
• Logistics Support: Help with unloading deliveries, organizing stockrooms, and ensuring efficient inventory flow.
• Training & Compliance: Participate in required training sessions and adhere to store policies, including safety, HR guidelines, and loss prevention protocols.
• Team Collaboration: Support team members in resolving basic customer concerns and completing shared tasks.
• Project Responsibility: Collaborate with fellow interns on a team-based project that addresses a real business challenge or store initiative. Contribute ideas, share responsibilities, and present outcomes, demonstrating teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future
• Must be enrolled in a college or university at the time of the internship or co-op program
• Must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to retrieve material from shelves and floor stacks and lift and carry up to 50 lbs. frequently and up to 70 lbs. on occasion
• Must be willing to work all scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, with or without reasonable accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a valid, unrestricted Driver’s License
• Have at least one (1) year experience working in a delivery, retail, or customer service position
• Have previous experience working in a team-oriented setting including work experience, extracurricular activities, military service, etc.
• Ability to read, write, comprehend, and communicate in more than one language
• Ability to read, write, comprehend, and communicate in Spanish
• Be a rising or current Junior or Senior in college or university at the start of the internship program

#SHWEarlyTalent

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life … with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
Career … with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
Connection … with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities
It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

What is the Process to get Started?
Step 1 – Online Application
Find the role(s) that interest you on our Careers page:
Set aside 15 minutes to create your profile by entering or importing your details from one of our job board partners

Step 2 – Digital Interview
Upon review of your application, qualified candidates will be invited to complete a digital video interview via HireVue, our interview partner. The interview will consist of a few behavioral based questions
You’ll be able to record and complete your video interview anytime, anywhere! While you can complete this video interview on your own schedule, we ask that this step be completed within 7 days of receiving an invitation

Step 3 – In-Store Interview
Your video interview is reviewed by a member of our Recruitment team and our top candidates are invited to meet with our team in a store, specialty wholesale branch, floorcovering facility or delivery service terminal.

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute—it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at Click on “Candidates” to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.