UNIQLO loves being part of the NRF Foundation Career Fair in NYC because it is our Super Bowl. As a college recruiter, I always look forward to this event.
The NRF Foundation Student Program hosts a Career Fair at the end of the weekend, bringing recruiters together with over 1200 retail undergraduate students. For recruiters, this is a huge opportunity to find new talent. Albert Tran, College Relations Recruiter with UNIQLO, told us "UNIQLO loves being part of the NRF Foundation Career Fair in NYC because it is our Super Bowl. As a college recruiter, I always look forward to this event."
UNIQLO's involvement with the NRF Foundation began as part of their strategic goal to become the #1 global retailer by identifying and developing future retail leaders. Recognizing the NRF Foundation's strong presence among retail-focused students in the academic community and on professional platforms like LinkedIn, UNIQLO saw an opportunity to connect with an organization whose mission closely aligned with their own in fostering future retail talent.
Albert tells us they feel the mission of the NRF Foundation closely aligned with theirs to foster future retail talent. “After participating in several events, we saw the significant value of partnering with NRF Foundation and knew it was a great choice for us to invest in the future of the retail industry through this collaboration!”
We asked Albert why UNIQLO chooses to come back to the NRF Foundation Student Program each year. He told us they find several significant benefits in participating. “Firstly, it has increased brand visibility and recognition within the student community. This program has also helped UNIQLO develop a strong pipeline of future retail talent, offering opportunities to mentor and support the next generation of retail professionals.” He continued saying the program has facilitated connections with industry peers, providing valuable insights and best practices.
Attending the NRF Foundation Career Fair has been particularly beneficial for UNIQLO, their Superbowl, as Albert claimed. The event allows UNIQLO to engage directly with students passionate about the retail industry, increasing brand recognition and recruiting for open roles. The career fair provides a unique opportunity to experience the motivation and enthusiasm of the next generation of retail professionals. “Since the workforce has made a shift towards a virtual world, the NRF Foundation Career Fair provided us the chance to have face to face interactions with the community! This was key in creating in-depth personal connections, receiving immediate feedback, and having natural conversations!”
UNIQLO continues to be involved with the NRF Foundation programs because of the valuable opportunities to connect with a nationwide community of students focused on careers in retail. Through initiatives such as the NRF Next Generation Scholarship, Emerging Leaders Summit, and the Student Program, UNIQLO can increase its brand presence while giving back to the student community. “These programs allow us to support future retail leaders through mentorship, professional development, and jumpstart their career within retail.”
UNIQLO has had the privilege of hiring talented individuals directly from the NRF Foundation Career Fair. The roles filled through this event include the Summer Store Management Intern and the UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC). The Summer Store Management Intern is a ten-week in-store internship designed to provide hands-on experience with a global apparel retailer, covering customer service, leadership, staff development, and business analysis. The UMC is a full-time, nine-month accelerated training program preparing candidates for store management, encompassing responsibilities such as sales and inventory planning, layout and visual merchandising planning, profit and loss management, people management, and customer satisfaction.
What UNIQLO appreciates most about the NRF Foundation Career Fair is the chance to connect with highly motivated and well-prepared students interested in their career opportunities. Students come prepared with polished resumes, thoughtful questions, and genuine curiosity about UNIQLO's roles, demonstrating the professionalism and preparedness fostered by the NRF Foundation community.
We asked Albert to give us some advice to pass along to those looking to grow in retail, and he emphasized the importance of gaining firsthand experience in a store environment. “Gaining firsthand experience in a store environment is essential because it provides operational understanding that can be applied to a wide variety of roles across the organization in the near future.”
For students preparing for a career fair, Albert advises thoroughly researching both the company and the role of interest. “When researching a company, take the time to understand its mission, values, and culture to ensure they align with your own. After all, by choosing to work for a company, you are also choosing to represent and support what it stands for.”
