Careers & Internships
The Retail Supply Chain Management Concentration prepares students for a variety of careers within the consumer supply chain:
- Retailing
- Marketing
- Supply chain management
- Franchising
- Brand management
- Marketing research/data analysis
- Family businesses in retailing
- Selling to retailers
The Retail Supply Chain Management requires a minimum of 16 credits consisting of 2 required, 4 credit courses and 2 elective, 4 credit courses. There is a choice of 13 elective courses from which students can choose. Below are suggested choices for a specific career path within this concentration. If you would like to define your own career path, we can consult with you to choose the most appropriate courses.
Why Take This Concentration? The retailers and their suppliers who will be successful in the coming decades will rely on Retail Supply Chain Management. When a retail sale is made, information is transferred to retail corporate offices and onto their suppliers. This information is used to forecast sales, plan purchases and deliveries—to be certain that merchandise is available for customers when they want it, where they want it, and in the quantities that are demanded. Purchase information is also used to design special programs for loyal customers and other promotions. It provides retailers and their suppliers with information about consumer trends and future demand. Students with skills to help retailers achieve their goal of satisfying demand and delighting their customers are highly sought after by recruiters.
The Retail Supply Chain Management concentration is designed to provide students with direction for various career paths:
This track prepares students to go into executive training programs for major retailers. Managers then specialize in either store operations (management) or merchandising (buying.)
This track is recommended for students that wish to work for firms selling merchandise to retailers in either sales or brand management capacities.
This track prepares students to go into the more analytical side of retailing—marketing research, analyzing sales trends, and using scanner and panel data.
This track is recommended for students that wish to work for:
- major retailers
- firms that sell data to major retailers (e.g., IRI or Neilsen)
- retail software providers (e.g., Oracle, SAS)
- major retail consulting firms
This track prepares students to start their own business or go into an established family business involved in retailing or selling to retailers.
Retail supply chain management is the management of the flow of goods/services, information and financials from raw materials to the consumer. This track prepares students to work for retailers, their suppliers, or consultants in the areas of buying, transportation, distribution, merchandise allocation, and storage.
How do I get an internship, or find an intern in retailing or supply chain management?
The Retail Supply Chain Institute works with the Center for Career Development (CCD) to arrange internships. Students should contact CCD at 781.239.4215. Employers interested in sponsoring students should contact Monique Rose at 781.239.4379 or mrose1@babson.edu.
Students will find internships in retail and supply chain management by utilizing many of the available search resources such as:
Students should also search the websites of major brands such as TJX, the Neiman Marcus Group, Target Corporation, and the Walgreen Company. All of these brands and many others generally have a site which explains their internship programs and how to apply to them.
Although retail internships are more plentiful then those in supply chain management, various companies do have opportunities available such as Hormel Corporation, Kraft Foods, Quaker Oats, Raytheon and Sprint. Searching the website of companies such as these will be more beneficial than a general internship search engine.
Student can find other search resources by visiting the career development website at http://www3.babson.edu/offices/ug_ccd/students.cfm .
Students should also think about networking with family, friends, alumni, and faculty members who are close to the fields. One of the ways we encourage students to inquire about an industry is utilizing the alumni network database. Connecting with alumni in the field and acquiring helpful information that could lead to internships yields surprising results.
Lastly, Students who are unable to acquire internships directly in the field may consider other internships that utilize some of the same skills. Good communication and negotiation skills are key for both functions. The ability to see the big picture and take a systems approach to delivering a service or product is essential for potential supply chain managers. Student should be strategic in their internship search and look towards opportunities that will allow them to practice and acquire skills central to a particular function.
