Due to the recent recession and records of high unemployment, the question regarding a college student’s future has become a little more uncomfortable to contemplate.
Add in the stress of graduating and some people begin to realize they need a little help getting their foot in the door with possible careers.
This is where the David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research steps in to help students on their quest for employment opportunities.
The Miller Center does everything from getting students placed in paid internships with top retailing companies to securing jobs for graduates in corporate and higher management careers. Even though the majority of students who use the Center are in the Warrington College of Business Administration, there is no discrimination and every major is encouraged to stop by and inquire about available opportunities.
A common misconception is that someone’s major cannot be incorporated into retailing and he or she shouldn’t bother using the Center. Last summer, the Center assisted 157 paid interns who had majors ranging from advertising to industrial engineering. Many of these interns also received job offers for graduation after the summer internship.
Another focus of the Miller Center is to get students interested in and prepared for the retailers at the Career Showcase, which will be Sept. 21 and 22 at the O’Connell Center. The first day has retailers from across the country looking for future interns and job candidates. The Center helps candidates by critiquing retail resumes and providing questions students should be prepared to answer when interviewing with retailers.
Want a state-of-the-art place to study and learn? The Miller Center will be even more appealing to visit next semester as it relocates into a new building with more than 2,100 square feet dedicated to students interested in retail.
Still don’t know if retailing is for you? Here are some facts. Retail is an industry that has never had a negative growth and has actually started to increase after the recent financial hardship. In addition, starting salaries are comparable to other industries and the compensation of top management ranks among the highest in any industry.
If you have any questions about retail careers or obtaining a possible paid internship, contact Cecilia Schulz, director of communications and student programs, at 352-273-3289 and set up an appointment to discuss your possible future. You won’t regret it.
Jonathon Arton is a UF finance major.
