Career Appendix

RETAIL MANAGEMENT:

A STRATEGICAPPROACH,

9th Edition

BERMANBERMAN EVANS EVANS

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Opportunities in Retailing

As owner of a retail businessAs a retail employee

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Ownership

• Three-quarters of retail outlets are sole proprietorships

• Many of today’s retail giants began as independents– Wal-Mart– J.C. Penney– Kmart– Filene’s– McDonald’s

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Getting Your First Position as a Retail Professional

Search for OpportunitiesPrepare for InterviewsEvaluate Options

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Searching for Career Opportunities in Retailing

• Do not “place all your eggs in one basket”• Be serious and systematic in your career

search• Use directories with lists of retailers and

current job openings– Careers in Retailing– RetailManager.net– RetailRecruiter.com

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Searching for Career Opportunities in Retailing_2

• Rely on the “law of large numbers”– It may take 10-20 contacts to retailers to

get 2-4 interviews• Make sure your resume and accompanying

cover letter highlight your best qualities• Show your resume to at least one professor

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Preparing for the Interview

• Adequately research each firm• Anticipate questions and plan general

responses• Treat every interview as if it is the most

important one• Be prepared to raise your own questions • Dress appropriately and be well groomed• Verify the date and place of the interview• Have a pen and pad available to record

information after the interview is over• Write a note to the interviewer within a week

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Evaluating Retail Career Opportunities

• What activities do you like?• What are your personal strengths and

weaknesses?• What are your current and long-term goals?• Do you want to work for an independent, a

chain, or a franchise operation?• Does the opportunity offer an acceptable and

clear career path?• Does the opportunity include a formal training

program?

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Evaluating Retail Career Opportunities_2

• Will the opportunity enable you to be rewarded for good performance?

• Will you have to relocate?• Will each promotion in the company result in

greater authority and responsibility?• Is the compensation level fair relative to other

offers• Can a good employee move up the career path

much faster than an average one?• If owning a retail firm is a long-term goal, which

opportunity is the best preparation?

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For More Information

• The website offers– Tables describing 35 selected positions in

retailing– Career paths for Bon-Ton, Sherwin-Williams,

and Walgreens– Advice on resume writing, interviewing, and

internships– Information from the Occupational Outlook

Handbook– Links to retailer and popular career websites