Interviewer & Business Development Intern

Position Overview

Merchant Outlook is seeking an ambitious, outgoing, and professional Interviewer & Business Development Intern to join our growing team.

This role is ideal for students pursuing careers in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, media production, business development, entrepreneurship, or related fields. The selected candidate will serve as one of the public faces of Merchant Outlook, conducting interviews with business owners while also helping identify and secure new interview opportunities.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable both in front of and behind the camera, capable of building relationships with business owners, and eager to take initiative while representing our organization professionally.

This is an unpaid internship that offers substantial hands-on experience, portfolio-building opportunities, networking exposure, mentorship, and performance-based bonuses for exceptional contributions.

Key Responsibilities

Interviewing & Content Creation

• Conduct on-camera interviews with local business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Research interview subjects and prepare thoughtful questions.
• Represent Merchant Outlook and Capital Sense Funding professionally during all interactions.
• Assist with interview setup, filming logistics, and production preparation.
• Help create engaging and authentic conversations that highlight each business owner's story.

Business Development & Outreach

• Identify potential businesses and entrepreneurs to feature on Merchant Outlook.
• Reach out to business owners through phone calls, email, social media, and in-person networking.
• Schedule and coordinate interview opportunities.
• Build and maintain professional relationships within the local business community.
• Assist in expanding Merchant Outlook's network and visibility.

Team Support

• Collaborate with marketing, production, and leadership teams.
• Contribute ideas to improve content quality and audience engagement.
• Assist with various projects as needed to support team growth and operational goals.
• Take initiative on new opportunities while remaining coachable and receptive to feedback.

Qualifications

Required

• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable speaking with business owners and professionals.
• Professional, reliable, and personable demeanor.
• Ability to actively listen and engage in meaningful conversations.
• Comfortable appearing on camera.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Willingness to take initiative and work independently when needed.

Preferred

• Prior interviewing, public speaking, podcasting, journalism, sales, customer service, networking, or leadership experience.
• Experience creating content, hosting events, conducting interviews, or participating in student media organizations.
• Familiarity with social media, content creation, or video production.
• Interest in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, or storytelling.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

• A relationship builder who genuinely enjoys meeting new people.
• Confident but not arrogant.
• Comfortable leading conversations while being an excellent listener.
• Professional enough to represent our brand and business partners.
• Curious and naturally interested in learning people's stories.
• Self-motivated and willing to take ownership of projects.
• Adaptable, coachable, and eager to grow.

Benefits

• Real-world interviewing experience.
• Professional networking opportunities with business owners and entrepreneurs.
• On-camera and media experience.
• Exposure to business development and relationship-building.
• Mentorship from experienced professionals.
• Portfolio and resume-building opportunities.
• Potential performance-based bonuses for outstanding contributions.
• Flexible scheduling around academic commitments.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to develop communication, interviewing, networking, sales, and business development skills while helping tell the stories of entrepreneurs throughout our community.

About Merchant Outlook

Merchant Outlook is a business-focused interview series produced by Capital Sense Funding that highlights the stories behind local businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Through professional video interviews, we give business owners a platform to share their journey, challenges, successes, and advice while helping strengthen connections within the business community.

Our mission is simple: showcase the people behind the businesses and create meaningful conversations that inspire entrepreneurs and consumers alike.