PRT 4828- Nordstrom City Creek
For my large internship, I have been selected to participate in the Retail Management Program with Nordstrom. Nordstrom is a very successful company and they are proactive in training their teams to achieve success within their company. They provide a wide range of opportunities that are always inclusive to maximizing the talent within their organization. I want to grow and learn with them. Their management style is very motivating and positive and the method I’d like to incorporate into my future management event planning. I started working for Nordstrom as a sales associate a couple of months ago and quickly realized; this is a company where I can build a career. Nordstrom offered me the opportunity to participate in their Retail Management Internship program which is highly competitive. The program is designed to raise awareness of and help prepare you for the role and responsibilities of an assistant department manager.
I am aware this is not the traditional internship taken in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism major but I am anything but traditional. Participating in this internship program will allow me to demonstrate my talents and obtain new knowledge for future advancement within Nordstrom. And, eventually make it possible for me to do what I really want to do with my commercial recreation emphasis which is plan events. The Parks, Recreation, and Tourism major is a wide-ranging major and that prepares you to do exactly what you want to do. Included in this major is the idea of being a part of people’s recreation and leisure activities. Not all people would consider shopping a leisure activity but I definitely do. I love the awareness of fashion trends and helping people create an identity through their wardrobe. Being in tune with societal trends makes me more aware of what people want and is going to help me have a successful future.
Working with a well-known company such as Nordstrom is not only going to add credibility to my resume but get me one step closer to my aspirations. Nordstrom is committed to providing the ultimate experience to its customers, and being able to work and learn with Nordstrom is going to help me build my knowledge for future opportunities. I am very excited to begin this new journey.
I am aware this is not the traditional internship taken in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism major but I am anything but traditional. Participating in this internship program will allow me to demonstrate my talents and obtain new knowledge for future advancement within Nordstrom. And, eventually make it possible for me to do what I really want to do with my commercial recreation emphasis which is plan events. The Parks, Recreation, and Tourism major is a wide-ranging major and that prepares you to do exactly what you want to do. Included in this major is the idea of being a part of people’s recreation and leisure activities. Not all people would consider shopping a leisure activity but I definitely do. I love the awareness of fashion trends and helping people create an identity through their wardrobe. Being in tune with societal trends makes me more aware of what people want and is going to help me have a successful future.
Working with a well-known company such as Nordstrom is not only going to add credibility to my resume but get me one step closer to my aspirations. Nordstrom is committed to providing the ultimate experience to its customers, and being able to work and learn with Nordstrom is going to help me build my knowledge for future opportunities. I am very excited to begin this new journey.
Internship Goals
My internship goals were as follows:
This internship has been very helpful and eye opening in terms of getting me closer to my dream job of a concert festival planner. Having done this internship I am confident I can succeed in with this company and build my career through Nordstrom and then beyond Nordstrom. This company is all about promoting within and having done the internship I am set up to take on the next set of responsibilities in the company. The next step is an assistant department manger. I have been on the look out for job postings on the Nordstrom career page but nothing has opened up for me so far. As far as an artifact go to prove I have completed that goal would not exist because nothing is available yet.
That leads into my next goal of becoming a assistant manager at the end of my internship. I have not been able to complete that yet because nothing has been posted yet and and I am not ready to relocate for a position availible. However, jobs are always opening up and I am checking daily. I cannot necessarily provide an artifact for that either.
My next goal is making sure that I have my managers support to move onto my next position on my Nordstrom career path. I have expressed interest to my department manager, who was my main supervisor as well as my store manager that I am interested in a assistant manger position. Both of them of have verbally assured me of there support. They are certain that I am ready to move onto my next set of responsibilities.
My last goal is a more of an "end goal," which is becoming the manager of the visual and merchandising department at Nordstrom. However, I have expressed my interest to my department manager, store manager and the visual and merchandising manager currently my interest in that department. All three of these managers are on board and think that visuals would be a great fit for me, which was the greatest news!
- I want the work that I do in my internship to bring me at least one step closer to my dream profession of concert/festival planning.
- I want to become an assistant manager at the end of my internship.
- I want to have my managers support that I am ready for the next step in my Nordstrom career path.
- I want to be the manager of the visual and merchandising department.
This internship has been very helpful and eye opening in terms of getting me closer to my dream job of a concert festival planner. Having done this internship I am confident I can succeed in with this company and build my career through Nordstrom and then beyond Nordstrom. This company is all about promoting within and having done the internship I am set up to take on the next set of responsibilities in the company. The next step is an assistant department manger. I have been on the look out for job postings on the Nordstrom career page but nothing has opened up for me so far. As far as an artifact go to prove I have completed that goal would not exist because nothing is available yet.
That leads into my next goal of becoming a assistant manager at the end of my internship. I have not been able to complete that yet because nothing has been posted yet and and I am not ready to relocate for a position availible. However, jobs are always opening up and I am checking daily. I cannot necessarily provide an artifact for that either.
My next goal is making sure that I have my managers support to move onto my next position on my Nordstrom career path. I have expressed interest to my department manager, who was my main supervisor as well as my store manager that I am interested in a assistant manger position. Both of them of have verbally assured me of there support. They are certain that I am ready to move onto my next set of responsibilities.
My last goal is a more of an "end goal," which is becoming the manager of the visual and merchandising department at Nordstrom. However, I have expressed my interest to my department manager, store manager and the visual and merchandising manager currently my interest in that department. All three of these managers are on board and think that visuals would be a great fit for me, which was the greatest news!
Internship Final Project
During my internship at Nordstrom, my fellow interns and I had to present a final project to all of the managers in the store including the store manger. The topic of the project was "How to hire and retain the best employees." As many people know in the retail industry there is an extremely high turn over rate. That being said Nordstrom wanted our thoughts being interns how they could improve their percentage. One of our main points was that people assume Nordstrom is just a retail sales job, however after working here, there are so many career paths for all different kinds of specialties. Moreover, millennials are going to make up 75% of the workforce in 2025 so if Nordstrom is going to want to retain employees they need to start in colleges. In our research we found that millennials are not so much about a good salary but about working for a company that aligns with their values. We created two mock brochures that could be handed out at college fares to try and connect to students and the future millennials. Those examples can be seen below as well as our powerpoint which we presented.
FRONT: BACK:
FRONT: BACK:
FRONT: BACK:
OUR POWERPOINT:
This internship has honestly been an amazing learning experience. I am working and learning with an amazing company.
The program is
designed to raise awareness of and help prepare you for the role and
responsibilities of an assistant department manager. As an intern, you will attend a series of
classes to enhance your skills and increase your knowledge. The internship is a combination of classroom
training, manager-led learning and self-guided projects.
You work in the classroom 1-2 times a week sometimes on your final project and sometimes on leadership building activities. You learn so many awesome things about the company and skills to prepare you for the future. You also get the opportunity to work at the Nordstrom rack store for a day as well in the visual department as well as logistics department of the store. The rest of the time you are selling and building your business in Nordstrom so you can develop the skills to take on the next challenge.
During my Nordstrom experience I have learned that I have a very creative and visual mind. I have great customer service skills and am very personable that why I was good in sales, however my heart lies in the visual side and I will do everything I need to to get there. Nordstrom as a company is incredible to work for, my mangers are amazing and same with my co-workers. We are all a big family. I would most definitely recommend this internship to fellow classmates, who maybe want a less traditional route to Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
As far as issues with the internship that I found would be more time learning in other departments. However, I think I am a bit jaded in that sense because the day after we worked in the visual department, my heart was set.
I have great work attitude and am always ready to work and be there. One thing I can work on though would be making sure I keep busy. There is always something that can be done around the store but you just need to make yourself do it.
I would be okay with continuing on the work I have been doing with the company for a few months but I would like to move onto the next thing. Want to switch into a the visual and merchandising department or move to an assistant manger position. I think with have already putting the man hours in with this company is is going to be easier for a promotion. Key things to remember are always be confident, have a good attitude and absurd everything you can.
All of these activities have been so helpful in finding out what I like and what I don't like and what the next steps are to get where you want Nordstrom to take you. This internship has definitely prepared me for my future and I am so excited it has already begun.
You work in the classroom 1-2 times a week sometimes on your final project and sometimes on leadership building activities. You learn so many awesome things about the company and skills to prepare you for the future. You also get the opportunity to work at the Nordstrom rack store for a day as well in the visual department as well as logistics department of the store. The rest of the time you are selling and building your business in Nordstrom so you can develop the skills to take on the next challenge.
During my Nordstrom experience I have learned that I have a very creative and visual mind. I have great customer service skills and am very personable that why I was good in sales, however my heart lies in the visual side and I will do everything I need to to get there. Nordstrom as a company is incredible to work for, my mangers are amazing and same with my co-workers. We are all a big family. I would most definitely recommend this internship to fellow classmates, who maybe want a less traditional route to Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
As far as issues with the internship that I found would be more time learning in other departments. However, I think I am a bit jaded in that sense because the day after we worked in the visual department, my heart was set.
I have great work attitude and am always ready to work and be there. One thing I can work on though would be making sure I keep busy. There is always something that can be done around the store but you just need to make yourself do it.
I would be okay with continuing on the work I have been doing with the company for a few months but I would like to move onto the next thing. Want to switch into a the visual and merchandising department or move to an assistant manger position. I think with have already putting the man hours in with this company is is going to be easier for a promotion. Key things to remember are always be confident, have a good attitude and absurd everything you can.
All of these activities have been so helpful in finding out what I like and what I don't like and what the next steps are to get where you want Nordstrom to take you. This internship has definitely prepared me for my future and I am so excited it has already begun.