Guest Speaker Knowledge: Kohl's

An introduction to the internship program from the Kohl's website:

"At Kohl’s, we don’t want interns or trainees to blend in — we challenge them to stand out and make a difference. With a team and results-driven culture, we are dedicated to supporting growth through training and hands-on experience. During our 10-week internship or full-time trainee program, we do not waste time. You will hit the ground running on day one. Throughout your time with Kohl’s, you will learn to understand the fast-paced nature of retail and be trusted as a contributing member of the Kohl’s team. So if you like a challenge, some serious responsibility and a lot of fun, come check us out!”

And here are some key points from each program:

Stores:

• 10-week program with realistic retail management experience
• Learn how to manage a team, run a department in a store, work on a project to impact a $10-$16 million business, and present to senior leaders
• At the end of the of the program students know what it takes to run a Kohl’s store

Corporate:

• At the Kohl's headquarters based outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Housing in downtown Milwaukee and transportation to and from work is provided 
• Many opportunities for exposure to senior management
• Classroom training and the ability to work on projects that could affect all of Kohl’s stores
• Opportunities include: Buying, Product Development, Design, Textiles, Technical Design, IT-Business Analyst, IT-Programmer, e-Commerce, Finance, Marketing, Logistics, Purchasing and Human Resources

Distribution Centers:

• A challenging 10-week program to prepare you to take on the role of operations supervisor
• Learn day-to-day operations to gain an understanding of what it takes to manage, motivate and lead people in a Distribution Center
• Opportunity to attend a conference to learn about Kohl’s global logistics process and meet other distribution interns from across the country
• At the end of the program interns have an opportunity to present project findings to senior leaders

Contact Centers:

• 10-week program to prepare students to take on the role of supervisor in a contact center
• Spend time learning day-to-day operations to gain an understanding of what it takes to manage motivate and lead people

All of this and more information can be found on the company's website: http://kohlscareers.com/our-jobs/internships/

WWD Wednesday: Condé Nast Discontinuing Internship Program

In a breaking article WWD revealed that Condé Nast would be discontinuing its internship program beginning in 2014. The cause of the program termination is the lawsuit brought to the publisher this past summer by two former interns at W and The New Yorker who claimed they were paid below minimum wage. With further research it is revealed that the interns stated they were being paid around $12 for long days; one of the accusers comparing her experience to a real life “Devil Wears Prada” situation. In August it was reported by Huffington Post that Condé Nast was beginning to stop all pay to interns.

This seems to be a trend for many other media companies in the industry.  A former intern at Harper’s Bazaar sued the magazine in February of 2012 over violation of minimum wage and overtime regulations. The case needed to be appealed by the former employee because it was dismissed by a judge and continues to be unsettled. Two interns were successful in their case over similar desecrations of the Fox Searchlight Company this June. It was after this case that the man and woman who had previously interned at Condé Nast publications in 2009 and 2010 filed their lawsuit. Current interns will not be affected by this decision, and it is unclear how many an average class of the internship averages – the number that will no longer have this opportunity. Representatives from WWD, a part of Condé Nast, have not contributed any other comments. 

All information found on wwd.com, businessinsider.com, and live.huffingtonpost.com.

Condé Nast Enforces Internship Regulations

Just this week Condé Nast reports the new changes to intern policies and regulations. As I was reading the article I was so surprised to see all of the changes in effect for the company. As we all know internships has been such a big part of the industry and a great opportunity for students, but their must be certain guidelines and how much work an intern can really take in one day. Some of the new policies at Condé Nast include:

FYI: Job & Internship Fair! and KOHL'S

If you need a change of employment, a new opportunity, or fresh place to learn all about the industry you want to head into after school, consider checking out the FIT Job & Internship Fair on Tuesday, October 11th from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm in the Great Hall (Between D and C buildings). This fair is a great way to get out there and meet with people from the industry, pass out your resume, and set up some interviews!

Get to work!

Companies that will be at the fair include Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, Maidenform, Net-A-Porter, Chico's, PVH, and Kohl's. For more info click here.

How to Make a Great First Impression at the Career Fair:

M.S. Loves: Internships!

Hello MS members! I'd like to apologize for the delay, this winter is not so much a break for us all! However, I am back with a great article for you all on internships. We all know how critical they are for us to gain experience and land that dream job!

The CNN article entitled: Is an internship the new entry-level job? Follows college graduates and their journeys through the many internships necessary to land a job. Being in the fashion industry, one of the most competitive industries in the world, I would strongly recommend reading it for yourselves!

DID YOU KNOW:

"Full-time employment has dropped 9 percentage points among 18-to-29-year-olds since 2006, leaving only 41 percent of millennials with full-time jobs."

That figure is quite frightening.

Doin' it all for the dream job!

Do not fear though, MS is here! As members we will continue to give you updates on the latest internships available for you all.

If you are currently interning and know of an available position please e-mail me at Rony_Patzan@fitnyc.edu  so I can compile a list of options for those who have not yet secured a spring or summer internship!

Thanks and don't forget to check out the article!