Career Fair

Career Fair Paper

The reality of most situations is that they rarely turn out how one anticipates, often making one fall into one of two schools of thought: explicit planning or spontaneous action. My objectives for Fashion Group International (FGI) were quite simple; I intended to go and gather as much information about internships as I could. Previously, in relation to internships, I thought I had a good idea of what part of the industry I wanted to explore: clothing or softlines. However, after listening to certain panelists, I now know that I want to work with hardlines or homeware. While it is a little more difficult to procure internships with retailers of hardline items, mainly due to the specificity and lack of retailers in comparison to softlines, I gathered important information about future opportunities. Additionally, I plan to contact the various panelists that dealt with hardlines and other retailers I am interested in around the Twin Cities.

Other internships that interest me are offered by Herberger’s and Neiman Marcus in the area of visual merchandising. Unfortunately, the one retailer I desperately want to work for, due to many reasons, Nordstrom’s, does not offer a visual merchandising internship now. However, the representative assured me that Nordstrom’s is working on putting one together, and the program may be ready by next year. Overall, my objectives were met as I gathered much information on internship opportunities.

While I went to three panels and took in information from all, the first two sessions really resonated with me. The first panel I sat in on, entitled “In Durable Goods,” had representatives from Pottery Barn, Room and Board, and Lola Watson Interior Design, LLC. As a young girl, I had not one but two dollhouses where I enjoyed re-arranging the furniture and accessories to reflect my mood. For a long while, I thought of becoming an interior designer before changing my mind a dozen times over the years and...