University of Michigan-Dearborn
To: Lisa Grimble
From: Shannon Vaughn
Date: October 31, 2012
Re: Informational Career Report
Memo
This memo is to inform you of my career research. In this report, I explored a company that I am
interested in working for. My target career is one that allows me to utilize business strategies that I am
learning in college while pairing them with one of my biggest interests: fashion. When I think of successful
businesses in the world of fashion, Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the first that come to mind. Since the
University of Michigan-Dearborn lists Nordstrom as one of its internship partners, I decided to use their
company for my resume and career research. During research, I found humble beginnings, rich family
history, and a company culture built completely around consumer satisfaction. I was also able to interview
a Nordstrom salesperson to get an idea of what it is like to work in the company. With my findings, I
began to analyze how I could become an ideal Nordstrom employee.
Nordstrom’s Company History
Nordstrom, Inc. did not start off as the national department store and million-dollar corporation we
know today. Founder John W. Nordstrom traveled to the United States as a Swedish immigrant in 1887
at the age of 16. He arrived with only five dollars, and worked in mines until he moved to Alaska during
the Gold Rush where he made 13,000 dollars. He befriended a man named Carl Wallin who owned a
shoe repair shop in Seattle, Washington. He decided to go into business with him, and in 1901 the two
soon opened a shoe store together, under the name Wallin & Nordstrom. The exceptional service that was
John Nordstrom’s ethic created a loyal customer base, and a second store was opened in 1923. When he
retired in 1928, the business was left to Nordstrom’s two sons, and later on passed down to a third
generation of Nordstrom sons, through which the business has grown into the Nordstrom, Inc. that we
know today.
Company Structure and Culture
The culture at Nordstrom is clearly based on putting customers first. On the company’s website, a
reverse pyramid diagram is used to show the different levels of hierarchy, with customers at the top. The
diagram is shown below:
<http://about.nordstrom.com/careers/structure.asp>.
The inverted pyramid is a visual portrayal of Nordstrom’s attitude toward consumers and the
people that service them. This is why sales people are expected to maintain a friendly, positive demeanor
and be ready to help with any customer need. They are the closest to the customer, so they have the most
direct impression, and therefore hold a very high level of importance within the company. Underneath the
sales people, the managers and administrators work behind the scenes to uphold the legacy and reputation
of Nordstrom, Inc., always staying in tune with the latest trends and customer needs. Each section on the
pyramid works in harmony with the others to ultimately provide a one of a kind customer experience. In
The Nordstrom Way by Robert Spector and Patrick D. McCarthy, the older Nordstrom brothers emphasize
“the need for constant diligence.” They comment in the text, “Because of our experience during the war
years, we saw how easily a business could fall apart because of neglect” (17). The philosophies
accumulated through years of experience in this family-owned business carry on in the company today,
and a family-like relationship is built into the frame of the Nordstrom work environment.
What does it take to be a part of Nordstrom, Inc.?
One quality that is necessary whether on the board of directors or the department store floor is a
passion for fashion, and the accompanying knowledge that comes with it. An expansive knowledge of
fashion goes hand in hand with Nordstrom’s strong customer service ethic, because customers need to be
provided with effective information to assist them in making the right purchases. Nordstrom also looks for
employees who are self-starters and driven to accomplish sales goals. Ashley Ramson, a Michigan State
University graduate who has worked as a salesperson in Nordstrom’s BP Shoes Department for about
seven months, says, “To succeed at Nordstrom…you must be positive, motivated, and hard working.
They want people who can not only meet the goals set for them, but go above and beyond.” An ideal
Nordstrom team member thrives in a competitive environment, but keeps in mind that it is friendly
competition so as not to take away from the family-like culture.
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What methods does Nordstrom use to locate employees?
One major method I noticed is that Nordstrom offers two different types of internships on their
website, a retail internship and a Seattle Headquarters internship. Retail internships can be applied for at
many store locations across the country, for those who are looking to expand their experience in retail.
The other type of internship offered is the Seattle Headquarters internship. This opportunity is for
individuals who aspire to be on the administrative team of the company in departments such as marketing,
finance, information technology, and fashion merchandising.
Internship
Retail
Qualifications


College juniors/seniors
Seeking retail experience
Benefits


Seattle Headquarters




College juniors/seniors
Seeking administrative
experience
Enrollment in applicable
degree program at an
accredited university
Preferred GPA of 3.0




Hands on experience
with sales & customer
service
Exposure to
management
responsibilities
Gain exposure to
many aspects of
business
Meet company leaders
Work on challenging
projects
First-hand
understanding of
stores and customer
Other opportunities for employment can be sought by the standard online or in store application
process, after which interviews are conducted and the best candidates are selected. That is how Ashley
Ramson, quoted earlier, said she obtained her position. Also, opportunities are always available for
existing employees to move up within the company. “They tend to promote from within,” says Ashley.
“[Mostly] everyone in a high position started out as a salesperson. I feel that with determination it’s not
difficult to grow with the company.”
How do I fit in?
I feel that I have many of the necessary skills and attributes to work on the Nordstrom team, and I
am on the track to developing the rest. The passion for and knowledge of fashion, merging of creative
ideas and business strategies are what I consider as an ideal career. I would fit right into the friendly family
culture, and I am driven to reach the goals set before me. I still need to complete my sophomore year at
University of Michigan-Dearborn before I am eligible to apply for either internship, but within that time
period, I now have the information I need to transform myself into the ideal Nordstrom team member.
This career report has helped me to gain quite a bit of knowledge about the company that I was unaware
of before, and I will continue to look into this opportunity. As for Ashley, she states that she enjoys her
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current position at Nordstrom, but has plans to go further. “My degree is in Apparel and Textiles, so I
would love to move up. Ultimately, I think I would like to be a buyer for Nordstrom. On the other hand
though, there are so many different opportunities I am not sure where I may end up. I just know
Nordstrom is a great company and I am excited to see where it goes.” That makes two of us.
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Works Cited
"Company History." Nordstrom. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/company-history>.
"Nordstrom Careers." Nordstrom Careers. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://about.nordstrom.com/careers/culture.asp>.
"Nordstrom Careers." Nordstrom Careers. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://about.nordstrom.com/careers/structure.asp>.
"Nordstrom Careers." Nordstrom Careers. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.
<http://about.nordstrom.com/careers/internships_headquarters.asp>.
"Nordstrom Careers - Retail Internships." Nordstrom Careers - Retail Internships. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct.
2012. <http://about.nordstrom.com/careers/internships_retail.asp>.
Ramson, Ashley. Personal Interview. 30 October 2012.
Spector, Robert, and Patrick D. McCarthy. "What Managers Can Do." The Nordstrom Way: The inside
Story of America's # 1 Customer Service Company. New York: Wiley, 1995. N. pag. Print.