How to Land a Merchandising Internship
Closely related to marketing, merchandising addresses product placement, display techniques, demonstrations, samples, pricing and other aspects of making products more attractive to consumers. If you’re a student or recent graduate looking for real-world experience in merchandising, an internship is an invaluable way to gain skills and get your foot in the door of the retail world. Landing a merchandising internship can take some work; however, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of finding the internship of your choice.
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Instructions
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Consult your school’s career planning center or a counselor in its business department. Retail employers often advertise internship positions directly to schools and some high schools and universities have internship placement programs which may require completion of certain classes and/or other prerequisites.
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Sign up with a national organization that specializes in connecting academic staff and students with the retail world, such as the American Collegiate Retail Organization. An organization such as this can provide valuable information on programs and events to students interested in merchandising.
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Join a professional retail organization such as the Retail Industry Leaders Association or the National Retail Federation. Members of these organizations receive information on press releases, events, trends and other trade information, which can help you to be at the right place at the right time for internship opportunities.
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Contact businesses and other retail organizations directly to inquire about available merchandising internship programs. Even if the company doesn’t usually use interns you may be able to convince them of your value as a potential merchandiser.
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