Questions to Ask
How is the training program structured? Time/format
I read company is planning expansion into Mexico
…could you tell me about plans and opportunities for international placement?

Questions to Ask
Average time it takes to reach
_________ position?
Could you describe the employee evaluation system? How often will I receive a formal evaluation?

Questions to Ask
What opportunities are there to move from one functional area to another if I see an opportunity in which I am interested?

Career Fair Tips
Introduce clearly, smile, handshake, eye contact
Be confident!! Be positive
Ask questions
Dress professionally
Pick up brochures
Ask to set up interview
Handshake, thank you, business card

On-Site Interview
 Separate interviews
 Group interviews
 Testing
 Social skills
 Assessment center activities

On-Site Interview
 BIG MISTAKE
Lack of extensive company/ industry research
 Research people, too
Contact individuals
 More situational interviewing

On-Site Interview
 Focus on team skills
 Courtesy to all
 Most desired job, tell them
 Demonstrate how committed you would be (one/two minute commercial)

Refer to interview date/place and say thank you
Express desire to work for company
Reiterate qualifications
Close with phone # and action

Job Offers
 Get offer in writing
 Set decision date
 Questions
 Frequency of salary and performance review
 Promotional opportunities
 Professional development

Job Offers
 Total compensation
 Base salary
 Benefits
 % of base salary
 Compare benefits across companies – start dates
 www.datamasters.com/

Job Offers
 Negotiating salary
 Leaverage other offers
 Moving expenses
 Signing bonuses
 Acceptance letter
 Decline letters

The Merchandising
Portfolio
From Oklahoma State
University
Portfolio Examples Courtesy of
MSU and OSU Interns
Shiretta Ownbey, Associate Professor

Why Use a Portfolio?
 Differentiates you from other job candidates
 Highlights your skills, abilities, and experiences

Why Use a Portfolio?
 Makes your interview interesting
 Allows you to direct some of the interview conversation
 Demonstrates you are a professional

Case Recommendations
 Buy nice quality portfolio or presentation case
 Black or brown cases are preferred
 Use acetate sheets to protect contents
 Smaller size cases are best for merchandising portfolios

Think About This!
 Professional portfolio, not a scrapbook
 What does employer need or want to know about applicant?
 Pages should illustrate an ability, skill, or experience desired or needed

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Use cover page
 Introduce a theme and/or look
 Include name and contact info
 State degree, major, and minor
 Include college or university name

Portfolio Example

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Insert resume after cover page
 Use resume paper that coordinates with portfolio look
 Proofread resume carefully

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight industry field trips/tours
 Brief, concise caption and title
 2 photo edges are shaped (left)
 Background mats add color
 1 photo is cut within image
(right)

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight internship
 Caption focuses on:
 Project goals
 Project activities
 Project outcomes

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight education through a field trip
 Caption focuses on:
 global industry
 industry networking
 Note photo cuts
 May cut shapes from art paper for visual interest

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Evidence of experience related to technology is valuable
 Cut photos in various shapes

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Leadership in the community demonstrates initiative, character, and work ethic
 Communicate important aspects of experience in caption

Example Categories to
Highlight in Portfolio
 Communication skills
 Training others
 Technology
 Visual merchandising
 Management skills
 Leadership
 Tours and trips
 Internship experiences
 Networking
 Creative skills
 Customer service
 Market experience
 Promotional experience
 Special event coordination

General Recommendations
 Start collecting materials and ideas
 Search for, retrieve, and store ideas
 Use good craftsmanship
 Center items correctly
 Measure
 Cut straight
 Proofread resume, titles, and captions
 Attach materials cleanly

General Recommendations
 Buy good resume-quality paper
 Choose professional looking paper designs
 Use colored art paper for accents and photo mats
 Use professional lettering
 Choose appropriate adhesives for different materials

General Recommendations
 Plan page layout before laser printing or attaching materials to expensive paper
 Test it first on regular paper!
 Get feedback from other people first!
 Ask an expert to read captions first!

How to Get Inspiration
 Take a field trip to an art store and notice supplies
 Colored pens, X-acto knives, rulers, reprographic film, transfer lettering, decorative tapes, etc.
 Visit a craft store, notice supplies
 Scissors for unique edges, stickers that look professional, etc.

How to Get Inspiration
 Visit a stationery store
 Consider letter-writing paper as accent paper behind visuals
 Consider using an envelope on a page with a visual “rising” from it
 Consider textured papers for surface interest
 Consider laser-printable border papers

How to Get Inspiration
 Review page layouts in magazines /adapt good ones
 Find interesting quotes to illustrate your philosophy and use them as “pull quotes”
 Search the Internet, looking for great ideas

Content Recommendations
 Develop a look or theme
 Use the look or theme throughout
 Include variety of visuals
 Vary page layouts for interest

Content Recommendations
 Take many photos to ensure having a few good ones
 10-15 pieces is average number
 20 pieces is good maximum
 Focus on your skills, abilities, and experiences
 Develop brief, concise captions
 Think “impact statements”

Let’s Examine Some
Portfolio Examples

Portfolios of:
 Angela Schroeder, Apparel merchandising senior
 Internship Polo-Ralph Lauren Shop , Tulsa
 Keri Cain, Apparel merchandising senior
 Internship Target , Tulsa
 Nicole Shores, Apparel design/production senior
 Internship Vanity Fair Intimates , Atlanta
 Kelly Norvell, Apparel design/production senior
 Internship Anna Sui , New York

Kelly Norvell
Portfolio Example
 Tips
 May include Table of
Contents
(optional)
 No page numbers needed
 Notice use of hand sketches, “star” stickers, and gold tape for framing

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight activities you coordinated
 Take action photos
 Student should appear in some photos
 Note background mats
 Use color scheme throughout portfolio
 Note edge on mats
 May overlap photos
Angela Schroeder

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Extensive travel can show experience, knowledge of other cultures, and additional education
 Focus on professional aspects of such travel
 Notice “Harrods” store was cut around image
Angela Schroeder

Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight trips to market or other examples of real experience in business or industry

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight leadership in student or community organizations
 The caption mentions:
 Officer leadership
 Oral presentation on internship
 Doing on-campus display for her club
Angela Schroeder

Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight internship experience
 Photos show displays student designed
 Notice unique framing of photos

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlighting front window displays completed during internship
 Note overlap of photos
 Note use of art paper in background
 Note vertical caption
Keri Cain

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 “Watermarks” can be laser printed as background
 This portfolio has a
“Leadership” theme
 Pull quote is used on side of page
 Captions were laser printed
 Great action shots
Keri Cain

Keri Cain
Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Leadership in promotion of fashion
 Notice “framing” of photo with solid strips cut from art paper

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight campus leadership outside your department
 Cite an actual activity or event you helped coordinate
Keri Cain

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight campus leadership outside your department
 Use your caption to indicate the skills you developed
 Note the pull quote
 Note frame on photo
Keri Cain

Keri Cain
Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlight internship experiences
 Focus on merchandising or retail functions that are important to employers
 Communicate important aspects of experience in caption

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlighting retail experience from internship
 Use a variety of visuals such as floor layouts, as appropriate
Keri Cain

Portfolio Example
 Tips
 Highlighting creativity session led by intern
 Caption focuses on creative techniques used and presentation board developed
Nicole Shores

What Other Categories Can
You Suggest for Inclusion in a Merchandising
Portfolio?