What A Director Of Brand Partnerships At Neighborhood Goods Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Retail Industry
Christine, a Director of Brand Partnerships, wishes someone had emphasized the extensive on-the-job learning and diverse skill acquisition in the industry. The experience working with numerous brands and facets of the industry unexpectedly developed a "wide variety of skills," enabling application to various roles and industries beyond buying and merchandising.
Career Development, Industry Realities, Skill Development, On-the-Job Learning, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christine Waters
Director of Brand Partnerships
Neighborhood Goods
New York University, 2012
N/A
Entrepreneurship
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. The industry involves a lot of on-the-job learning.
2. Christine didn't go to graduate school but built a strong career through work experience, highlighting the value of practical skills.
3. Working in the field allowed her to develop a wide variety of skills applicable to various roles and industries.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I've learned that this role and the industry in general involve a lot of on-the-job learning. I didn't attend graduate school, though I considered it.
I started working during college and continued through my 20s, building a strong career in buying and brand partnerships. Looking back, I wish someone had told me I'd pick up such a wide variety of skills just through my work experience.
By talking to different brands, working with them functionally, and learning about many industry facets, I've developed a skill set far beyond just buying and merchandising. This has allowed me to gain experience and skills applicable to various roles and industries. Knowing this along the way would have been very helpful.