Seminar to offer retail information

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. \nKelsea Foist, a senior majoring in retail studies and a career seminar officer, has been attending the Retail Student Organization Career Seminar since her sophomore year and has found this cliche to ring true. Making small talk at the seminar her sophomore year led to a business card that ultimately led to starting her career at Target Corporate as a business analyst in Minneapolis following her graduation in May this year.\nNetworking, Foist said, is a major benefit in attending this year’s Career Seminar. \nThe RSO’s Career Seminar will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3:55 p.m. Thursday in the Tree Suites at the Indiana Memorial Union. Following the seminar, the RSO will host a retail industry panel and reception from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the Frangipani Room at the IMU.\nFoist said going to the seminar is “a fabulous opportunity to learn about retail and related industries.”\nThe seminar will consist of 20-minute speeches from various company representatives, followed by five minutes of questions based on the speaker’s content and background. The industry panel will be formatted as an interactive question-and-answer session allowing students to dictate the topics desired.\n“Instead of just listening to them, you get to interact with professionals,” said Jackie Daniel, a career seminar officer.\nThis event is open to all students, regardless of their major or class. Annie Cornett, marketing officer for RSO, said there are many departments within the retail field; for instance, marketing, finance, psychology, informatics, business and fashion design.\n“It’s great for freshmen because you can’t start networking too early,” she said.\nThe purpose of the Career Seminar is to demonstrate what the industry has to offer. Students will be able to pick the brains of successful professionals, which is something that cannot be easily grasped in the classroom. This seminar is for educational purposes only.\n“It’s not a recruiting event, but they will give students an idea of what is offered,” Daniel said.\nHowever, Foist and Cornett both landed internships and jobs through the seminar.\nProfessionals, such as the vice president of Macy’s and the chief executive officer of Dimension Furniture, along with representatives from a variety of other companies, will be attending Thursday.\nThe RSO will launch the organization’s new name, changed from Apparel Merchandizing Organization to the Retail Student Organization. The new name also parallels the changed major, Retail Studies from Apparel Merchandizing and Interior Design. In addition, RSO plans to present the organization logo and introduce the new faculty sponsor, a former senior executive of The Gap and Paul Harris Stores, Rick Bomberger, who will bring the real world into the classroom.\nThere is no set dress code, but professional dress is suggested. If you have questions at the seminar, the RSO officers will be wearing red polo shirts and the directors will be wearing black polo shirts, both shirts featuring the new logo.\n“You have to take advantage of this,” Daniel said. “There aren’t many opportunities at other universities where you can talk to the president of a retail company.”