Executive Trainee (Retail Stores)

Responsibilities. The type of training program varies with each store. Upon completion of the program, trainees are placed in various progressive assignments in merchandising and/or management. Often a new assign­ment may necessitate a transfer to a branch store. In recruiting executive trainees, a store's goal is to hire and train potential buyers and managers. All jobs in retailing require long hours, which include nights and week­ends.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising degree is necessary. Some stores may require a four-year degree. Applicants must have excellent grades, especially in retail math. Prior retail store experience is desirable.

Personal Qualities Required. Maturity, high energy level, flexibility, decisive­ness, initiative and leadership ability, stress tolerance, risk-taking ability, and self-confidence. Must be goal-oriented, a self-starter, and have excellent grooming and fashion sense.

Assistant Store Manager (Retail Stores)

Responsibilities. Assists stores, boutiques, and chain stores to hire candidates who have an interest in store management. Functions include supervis­ing and scheduling salespeople, seeing that merchandise is displayed properly, opening and closing the store, inventory and stock control, and so on. Candidates must be willing to function in a sales capacity as well. In most cases training is informal and occurs on the job. Advancement is u;ually to store manager and possibly area supervisor in the case of a chain store operation. As in any store job, hours include nights and weekends. These positions are management jobs and do not lead to buying in most cases.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising degree, ability to work with figures and deal firmly with suppliers. Previous work experience either in a retail store or of a clerical nature desirable. In some cases light typing is required.

Personal Qualities Required. Good memory, good handwriting, outgoing per­sonality, fashionable appearance, physical stamina, good communication and interpersonal skills.

Buyer's Clerical (Buying Offices)

Responsibilities. Keeps all clerical records for buyer, such as unit control, answers phones, follows up on shipments. Training is on-the-job and advancement can ultimately lead to buyer or market representative. This position is usually the entry job in the larger buying offices, absorbing many of the clerical duties, which are usually handled by the assistant buyer in a smaller office. Job is found both in chain and resident buying offices. In large central buying offices it is frequently the only entry position, with assistant buyer as the first promotional step.

Skills / Preparation Required. Same as for Executive Trainee (retail stores).

Distributor / Planner Trainee (Chain Offices)

Responsibilities. Responsible for determining allocation of merchandise to various store units. Works with computer printouts and unit control records. Has frequent contact with buyers, merchandise managers and store personnel. This is an office job found in large chain buying offices. Advancement can lead to a position as head distributor/planner, control­ler, or buyer.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising degree, prior work experience, excellent math, analytical and organizational skills.

Personal Qualities Required. The ability to communicate well both in person and on the phone, good memory, decisiveness, thoroughness.

Showroom Trainee (Apparel/Textile Firms)

Responsibihties. This entry position involves iversi ie duties depending on the sjze and nature of the company. Job can include any or all of the following duties: reception, answering phones, dealing with buyers on the phone and in person, writing up orders, follow-up work, filing, keeping records, learning to show and sell the line to clients, occasional modeling of garments. Job can lead to showroom sales, merchandising, production, or piece goods buying.

Skills / Preparation Required. Degree preferred but not always necessary. Pre­vious sales experience beneficial, course in salesmanship helpful, typing skills sometimes required.

Personal Qualities Required. Excellent appearance and grooming, strong fash­ion sense, outgoing personality, must be poised, articulate, quick-think­ing, socially at ease, and self-confident.

Merchandising Assistant (Apparel / Textile Firms)

Responsibilities. Works with the merchandiser developing the line for the coming season. Assists in determining the merchandise to be included in line and the price points of merchandise based on trends, cost factors, and production considerations. Has contact with clients, the design, production and piece goods staff, and the sales force. Recordkeeping responsibilities are usually included. Job can lead to merchandiser, stylist, piece goods buyer, or salesperson.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising or fashion design degree. Analytical and organizational skills.

Personal Qualities Required. Good fashion sense including style, color, and fabric knowledge, self-confidence, thoroughness, high stress tolerance, the ability to communicate well, good appearance, good at details.

Production Assistant (Apparel / Textile Firms)

Responsibilities. Assists production manager in keeping records that relate to production of merchandise such as sales records, cutting records, inven­tory control, shipping records. Keeps clients informed on progress of orders. Expedites work flow and deliveries. Job involves heavy phone contact, details, and figure work.

Skills / Preparation Required. Apparel production management or fashion buying and merchandising degree preferred. Mathematical and organizational skills.

Personal qualities required. Accuracy, assertiveness, thoroughness, high stress tolerance, neat handwriting, ability to communicate well over the telephone.

Shopper / Stylist Trainee (Apparel / Textile Firms)

Responsibilities. Major responsibility is to do market research, bringing back information on current trends in style, fabric, color, and to give direction for future line. May also be involved in production, merchandising, piece goods buying and even showroom sales. These jobs are ordinarily found in small companies that do not have a design staff, but may also exist as a supplement to the design staff in a larger organization. Can lead to position as stylist or merchandiser.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising or fashion desing degree. Sketching ability usually necessary.

Personal Qualities Required. Strong sence of fashion trends in style, color, fabric, good knowledge of textiles, resourcefulness, flexibility, imagination, assertiveness. Must be very observant and have excellent communication skills.

Assistant to Fashion Coordinator

Responsibilties. Assists fashion coordinator in a retail store, trade organisation, buying office, textile firm, pattern company or manufacturer. Responsibilities usually include heavy typing and clerical duties, follow-up and detail work, scheduling appointments, running errands. May also involve market coverage, booking models, assisting in writing of fashion forecasts and fashion show preparations.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising, advertising and communications, or fashion design degree. Organizational skill. Good typing, steno helpful. Previous work experience in some area of the fashion industry.

Personal Qualities Required. Excellent appearance, grooming and fashion sense, polished speaking voice, poise, thoroughness, flexibility, and the ability to communicate well.

Photo Stylist Trainee or Assistant Photo Stylist

Responsibilities. Job exists in photography studios and advertising agencies. While many of the jobs are free - lance assignments, there are some staff photo stylists. Duties include booking models, accessorizing clothing, obtaining props, pinning up hems, ironing garments, running errands picking up and returning merchandise. Long hours required during heavy work periods.

Skills / Preparation Required. Fashion buying and merchandising, photography, or fashion design degree, fashion coordination course helpful.

Personal Qualities Required. Enthusiasm, stamina, flexibility, resourcefulness, high stress tolerance, strong sense of style and color.