The person who embarks on a career in the area of textiles, apparel, and merchandising (TAM) today enters a field that is exciting, rewarding, and multifaceted. This field offers a freedom to grow, freedom to change jobs or direction, and freedom to move to different cities, or even different countries. The career path you choose and the success you enjoy is all up to you!! Below is just a small sampling of some of the opportunities available.
Department Store Executive Trainee: In stores such as Macy's, a typical training program consists of work experience in a variety of departments and formal classes conducted by senior executives and training department personnel. Training programs are followed by the opportunity to become a junior executive.
Department Manager: training, supervising employees, all department operations, e.g., opening, closing registers, scheduling, merchandising, customer service.
Assistant Buyer Trainee: job responsibilities include keeping unit control records, placing reorders, writing orders for basic stock, working directly with the assistant buyer and buyer, following up on shipments, appointment scheduling, and calculating markdowns.
Product Development Trainee: this position combines the business, technical, and creative aspects of the fashion industry. Responsibilities involve preparing product specifications, paperwork and follow up, fashion research, coordination of garment lines, communication with production firms, and travel to identify manufacturers.
Showroom Assistant; showing and selling apparel lines to clients, dealing with buyers, keeping sales records, writing orders, following up on orders, appointment scheduling, working apparel trade shows.
Salaries are as diverse in this field as are the opportunities. Entry level salaries range from approximately $26,000 for an Assistant Manager of a specialty store to approximately $35,000 for an executive trainee. Store Managers, Buyers, and Manufacturer's Representatives can earn in excess of $100,000 per year.
RECENT INTERNSHIP AND ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS OF TAM GRADUATES
| Merchandising Related |
Assistant Color Coordinator Market Research Assistant Public Relations Assistant Advertising Department Assistant Trade Association Aides (e.g. Wool Bureau, Cotton Council) |
Showroom Model Assistant and/or Showroom Sales Assistant to Marketing Sales Manager Assistant Public Relations Department Assistant Advertising Department |
Assistant to Market Research Manager Research Department Assistant |
| Marketing Staff or Selling Related | Assistant Stylist Production Assistant Mill Liaison Assistant Fashion Office Assistant |
Assistant Stylist Assistant to Merchandise Manager Assistant to Piece Goods & Trimmings Buyer Assistant Fashion Coordinator |
Executive Trainee Assistant to Assistant Buyer Assistant to Buyer / Department Manager Assistant to Branch Store Coordinator / Department Assistant Head of stock Buyer Office Assistant Buyer Chain-Distributor / Planner Trainee Assistant Fashion Coordinator |
| Sales Promotion Related | Advertising Department Public Relations Trainee Junior Copywriter Direct Mail Assistant Media Trainee Advertising Agency Liaison Trainee |
Sales Department Trainee Advertising Department Trainee Public Relations Department Trainee Sales Promotion Assistant Junior Copywriter |
Junior Copywriter Special Events Assistant Public Relations Assistant Display Assistant Sales Promotion Assistant |