The First Annual Fall Quarter Retailing Reception
by Jessica Travis '07
Retail Studies students along with other SCU students and retail companies attended the RSSA retailing reception event on October 5, 2006.
|
|
At the beginning of the fall quarter, the Retail Studies Student Association (RSSA) traditionally holds a recruiting event to refer underclassmen to the program and to get our name out on campus.
This year, the club took a different approach to its recruiting efforts by providing a networking opportunity for retailers, our students, and the greater Santa Clara community.
While the seniors usually begin interviewing for jobs in early February, companies now are starting to recruit graduating college students as early as the fall term. RMI felt it was wise to gear up all of our retail students, lower and upperclassmen alike, and get them thinking about careers or internships. Additionally, we wanted to take a new angle to our recruiting efforts and really position the Retail Studies Program as a viable minor for all business majors.
With the Santa Clara University Career Center hosting the annual Fall Career Fair on October 5, the RSSA decided to hold its own Retailing Reception in conjunction with that event. Our event took place after the Career Fair, and provided a more intimate and casual setting for students to network with retailers and to learn about corporate and management opportunities. Retailers participating in the career fair were very eager to take part in our event, and RMI partner companies were also in attendance. With over 14 companies in attendance, students were able to follow up in more detail with companies that attended the earlier Career Fair, as well as network with companies that attended our event exclusively. Some retailers were new to our campus this year and attended both the Career Fair and the reception. Retailers such as Polo Ralph Lauren, The North Face and Nordstrom were grateful to have an opportunity to gain double exposure to our students.
Kate Katri ('07) speaks with Cost Plus World Market corporate HR assistant Heather Ferguson at the RSSA retailing reception.
|
|
To publicize this new event, we advertised around campus in the Santa Clara newspaper and the TV screens in both Benson
Center and Kenna Hall. As a recruiting event, we targeted the other business school associations and business fraternities to publicize the event in their networks. Facebook.com, the top social networking Web site for college students, was also used to publicize the event and target new students. With over 40 students in attendance, it was also one of our most successful recruiting events to date.
Freshmen and sophomores were able to speak with companies directly as well as learn more about RMI. Senior Colleen Carr thought the event was beneficial to her since she “could meet with the retailers all at once” and learn about career opportunities after graduation.
Students crowded around tables for Gap Inc., DFS, and MGM Mirage due to the reputable Executive Training Programs they offer their entry-level hires. In most training programs new hires rotate to various job functions, get exposure to senior management and find their best fit within the company. An opportunity like this results in a promotion by the end of the program and establishes our graduates on the fast track at these companies. The Retailing Reception proved to be a successful event this quarter for both our current and prospective students, and we look forward to hosting it again next year. n
RMI Newsletter
