Realities of Retail

On April 10^th The Career Center hosted an event called Realities of Retail. The purpose of the event was to introduce students to the retail industry.  I use the word “introduce” because while many students think they know what it means to work in retail, they really are unaware of the vast career opportunities that are available in this field.

The panel consisted of Niki Tonnessen, District Team Leader for Target, Awilda Wasielewski, Store Manager for Kohl’s, and Grace Daly, a retail professional and author of The Seven Success Keys for the Retail Facilities Professional.

Each panelist had a unique perspective on the retail industry and spoke about things such as work/life balance, career path, most rewarding and most challenging aspects of their jobs, and even salary (which is much higher than the students realized.)

We also discussed areas of retail that are lesser-known, such as loss prevention, real estate and construction, engineering, human resources and finance. Any entry-level job in retail can lead to a career path in one of these areas.

The bottom line is that you have leadership skills, enjoy working with people, like a flexible schedule, and have the ability to think on your feet, a career in retail may be right for you!

Darlene Johnson, Senior Associate Director