Many college seniors are still months away from knowing what their post-graduation future holds.
Not Texas A&M University senior Faith Knox.
In September, she accepted an offer to start a full-time job with Levi Strauss & Co. when she graduates in the spring of 2020. That’s months from now. So how did she do it?
“One thing I hear so often is that your network is your net worth,” Knox says.
She credits the launch of her career to her participation in the NRF Foundation Student Program 2019, where she met the president and CEO of Levi’s, Chip Bergh.
In a bold move, she approached Bergh and asked how she could work for Levi’s one day. That led to her spending the summer as a merchandising intern with the company. Shortly after that came the job offer.
Knox was already standing out as a rising star in retail as a semi-finalist for the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship.
“I realized that I had the potential to change retail and others in the industry had recognized that potential,” Knox says.
Knox was among the more than 1,000 students who attend the NRF Foundation Student Program each year, which offers students the chance to explore various careers paths in the retail industry, meet with recruiters from their favorite brands and start to achieve the vision for their career.
She’s returning to the NRF Foundation Student Program early next year, once again as a Next Generation Scholarship semi-finalist.
“I can't wait to see who else I have the chance to connect with and learn from,” Knox says.
Students from all majors are invited to attend the NRF Foundation Student Program 2020, which runs Jan. 9 – 12 in New York City. Visit this page to learn more about the program.