Year-Round Internship - Partnerships Team at OpenSesame — Research Report

Introduction

The Year-Round Internship - Partnerships Team at OpenSesame offers remote hands-on experience in business development and strategic alliances within the corporate learning industry. Running throughout the upcoming season, this role immerses you in real partnership deals that drive company growth. It's a prime launchpad for careers in sales, partnerships, or edtech, building skills that top employers crave.

Overview of OpenSesame

OpenSesame is a leading provider of corporate learning management systems (LMS) and content libraries, helping companies deliver training to millions of employees worldwide. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the company specializes in off-the-shelf courses on compliance, leadership, and skills development, serving Fortune 500 clients like Chevron and IBM.

In the competitive LMS market, OpenSesame stands out against giants like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera for Business by focusing on customizable, ready-to-deploy content for HR and L&D teams. Its niche is enterprise-grade training solutions that integrate seamlessly with platforms like Workday and SAP SuccessFactors.

Key products include the OpenSesame LMS platform, a vast library of 25,000+ courses in 40 languages, and Sesame Prepare for compliance training. The company has grown rapidly, raising over $100 million in funding and expanding through acquisitions like Elucidat for authoring tools.

OpenSesame boasts a vibrant remote-first culture emphasizing innovation, work-life balance, and employee growth, with high Glassdoor ratings around 4.5 stars. Teams collaborate via Slack and Zoom, fostering a collaborative vibe without micromanagement.

People flock to OpenSesame for its mission to upskill the workforce, plus perks like unlimited PTO and stock options. It's ideal for those passionate about edtech's role in solving talent gaps in a post-pandemic world.

Year-Round Internship - Partnerships Team Role

Role Overview

As a Partnerships Intern, you'll support the team in forging alliances with content publishers, tech integrators, and resellers to expand OpenSesame's ecosystem. Your work directly boosts revenue by enabling new course offerings and market reach. This remote role for the upcoming season reports to a Partnerships Manager, blending research, outreach, and deal execution.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Research potential partners like course creators and LMS integrators using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Crunchbase.
• Assist in drafting partnership proposals and NDAs, tracking them in Salesforce CRM.
• Conduct outreach via email and calls to schedule intro meetings with 10-15 prospects weekly.
• Analyze competitor partnerships and market trends to inform strategy decks in Google Slides.
• Support contract negotiations by compiling data on deal terms and revenue projections.
• Track partnership performance metrics, such as activation rates and co-marketing ROI.
• Collaborate on events like webinars or trade shows to co-promote with partners.

Day-to-Day Workflow

Your day starts with Slack stand-ups to align on priorities, followed by prospect research and list-building in the morning. Afternoons involve outreach, proposal tweaks, and pipeline reviews in Salesforce. Expect ad-hoc tasks like prepping for partner calls or analyzing deal data, wrapping up with progress updates. Flexibility rules in this remote setup, with core hours from 10 AM to 3 PM PT.

Tools and Technologies

Expect heavy use of Salesforce CRM for pipeline management, LinkedIn Sales Navigator for lead gen, and Google Workspace for collaboration. You'll also touch HubSpot for email campaigns, DocuSign for contracts, and Zoom for partner demos. Basic Excel skills help with metrics tracking, no advanced coding required.

Skills and Requirements

Technical Skills

Familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce or HubSpot is a plus, along with proficiency in Google Sheets for data analysis. Knowledge of edtech or SaaS markets helps, but they're open to quick learners. No coding needed, but comfort with APIs for partner integrations scores points.

Soft Skills

Strong communication shines in outreach emails and calls, while adaptability handles shifting priorities. Team players thrive in cross-functional projects with sales and product teams. Curiosity drives research tasks, and a proactive mindset turns insights into actionable recommendations.

Experience Expectations

OpenSesame targets rising juniors or seniors in business, marketing, or communications programs, with a GPA above 3.2 preferred. Prior internships in sales or partnerships aren't mandatory, but campus involvement like business clubs counts. A portfolio of outreach campaigns or market research projects sets you apart—no grad degree needed.

Salary and Benefits

For this remote OpenSesame internship, expect a stipend of $22-$28 per hour, or about $18,000-$23,000 annualized for 20-30 hours weekly, aligning with Portland market rates for edtech roles. Paid hourly to match flexibility.

Perks include full remote setup with home office stipend, unlimited learning budget for courses on LinkedIn Learning, and wellness days. Networking events and mentorship pair with gear like noise-canceling headphones.

Top performers often convert to full-time Partnerships Coordinator roles, with 30% of interns transitioning based on internal tracks.

OpenSesame Hiring Process

Step-by-Step Hiring Stages

1. Application: Submit resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile via Greenhouse ATS.
2. Screening: 15-minute recruiter call to gauge fit and motivation.
3. Assignment: Complete a partner outreach mock task and research brief within 48 hours.
4. Interviews: Two 45-minute rounds—one with manager, one with team lead—focusing on behavioral and case questions.
5. Offer: Verbal offer within a week, followed by written terms and background check.

Application Timeline

Apply now for the upcoming season; postings fill fast with rolling admissions. Process takes 2-4 weeks total, with starts flexible from summer through fall. Early apps by May boost chances amid 100+ submissions per cycle.

Screening Methods

Greenhouse ATS scans for keywords like "partnerships," "business development," and "SaaS." Tailor your resume with metrics from past roles. No portfolio required upfront, but links help; video intros via HireVue may screen initial fit.

Interview Preparation

Example Interview Questions

• Tell me about a time you identified and pursued a new opportunity, like a partnership or lead.
• How would you research and pitch a content publisher to join OpenSesame's library?
• Describe a challenging team project and your role in driving it forward.
• What trends in corporate learning excite you, and how do they impact partnerships?

How to Answer

Use the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—for behavioral questions, quantifying impacts like "grew leads by 25%." For case studies, structure responses: clarify the problem, outline steps, propose solutions with data. Practice aloud to sound natural and enthusiastic.

What Recruiters Evaluate

They prioritize commercial awareness of edtech partnerships, hustle in outreach scenarios, and cultural fit with collaborative values. Metrics from past experiences signal potential; genuine interest in OpenSesame's mission trumps perfection.

How to Get Selected

Practical Tips

• Customize your cover letter with specifics like OpenSesame's recent Voxy acquisition and partnership angles.
• Build a one-page partner research sample using public data on edtech deals.
• Network on LinkedIn with current Partnerships team members—mention mutual connections.
• Highlight transferable skills from club leadership or sales gigs with real numbers.
• Apply early and follow up politely after a week.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Generic resumes lacking edtech or sales keywords get auto-rejected by ATS.
• Ignoring the assignment—rushed work shows poor attention to detail.
• Over-focusing on coursework without real-world examples tanks behavioral rounds.
• Missing remote readiness signals, like no home setup mention.

How to Stand Out

Create a tailored portfolio with a mock partnership deck or outreach email series. Attend edtech webinars and reference insights in interviews. Leverage alumni networks for referrals, which double selection odds. Follow up with a thank-you noting a specific discussion point.

Final Thoughts

Landing the Year-Round Internship - Partnerships Team at OpenSesame catapults your career into high-growth edtech partnerships, with skills and networks that pay dividends long-term. Don't wait—polish your app and dive in today. Your future in business development starts with one bold move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the salary for Year-Round Internship - Partnerships Team at OpenSesame?

A: Hourly pay ranges from $22-$28, equating to $18K-$23K annualized for part-time remote work, plus stipends and perks.

Q: How competitive is it to get hired at OpenSesame?

A: Moderately competitive with 100+ apps per role; strong referrals and tailored assignments boost your edge significantly.

Q: What skills are most important for this role?

A: Outreach savvy, CRM basics, market research, and proactive communication top the list for partnerships success.