The College of Textiles in collaboration with Sigma Tau Sigma Textile Honors Fraternity annually organizes The Real World Job Forum every fall. The Forum’s purpose is to gather a panel of former College of Textiles graduates who are currently working in the industry. Students from all majors in the college are invited to attend the forum and ask questions to the panel members in order to gain insight into their careers and a “real world” perspective of working in the industry today. This fall the college decided to organize two job forums: one focusing on retail, design, and merchandising, and the other focusing on engineering, chemistry, and manufacturing.

Retail, Design, and Merchandising Forum

The first of the Real World Job Forum series was held on November 10, 2004 and focused on retail, design, and merchandising careers. Belk, Inc, sponsored this forum with Audrey Abron, Human Resource Planner and Executive Recruiter for Belk, Inc., helping to serve as liaison. In order to provide attending students with a range of knowledge, the panel for the forum consisted of six members, who represented several careers relating to retail, design, and merchandising. The six panel members who graciously came to share their insight were (see photo caption):

(left to right) Missy Isaac, Assistant Product Manager of Private Brands, Belk, Inc.; Jeana Fitzgerald, Woven Fabric Designer, Cotton Incorporated; Quinerly Dees, Buyer, Belk, Inc.; Marilyn Cunic, Store Manager, Belk at the Streets of Southpoint; Geoffrey Blair, Merchandiser-Women’s Midtier Group, Sara Lee Branded Apparel; Amy Poole, Assistant Merchandising Manager, Sara Lee Underwear; Audrey Abron, Executive Recruiter, Belk Store Services

Throughout the evening students were able to interact with the panel members beginning with a social at 6 pm and ask questions during the question and answer session from 6 to 7:30. Panel members honestly and candidly answered questions by students. Several questions posed by students related to obtaining a job in the field and, the steps that the panel members took in order to get where they are today in their careers. Each of the panel members explained their process of obtaining their current job and explained the importance of having an internship and networking in order to help get their foot in the door. In addition, students questioned the corporate cultures of each of the companies. Several panel members explained the environment they work in and gave a descriptive explanation of duties they perform daily. Other topics of discussion included the application of textile degrees in daily job activities, how much travel is involved, how to negotiate salary, and whether or not to pursue a graduate degree to move up the corporate chain. Overall, the panel members were able to provide their knowledge and stress to students the importance of finding the right job and company where they can fit in and make the best of their education and abilities.

Engineering, Chemistry and Manufacturing

The Real World Job Forum allows students in the college to ready themselves better for entering into the workforce. Students can take away real experiences and advice from each of the panel members and use it in determining what is the best direction they should take to enter in retail, design, and merchandising careers.

	2nd Real World Forum Panelists Speakers: (From left to right) Todd Morgan, Senior Process Engineer, Sealy, Inc.; Nathan Fisher, Development & Applications Technician, Bozzetto, Inc; Rachel Raynor, Research Chemist, Cardinal Health; William Kimbrell, Process Engineer, Cotton Incorporated; & Martin Rossato, Quality Assurance Engineer, Central Carolina Products, Inc.

College of Textiles
P.O. Box 8301
Raleigh, NC 27695-8301
Telephone: (919) 515-6646
FAX: (919) 515-3733
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Last Site Revision:
November 11, 2004