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Robinsons-May is an industry leader with 56 department stores in 10 markets and year 2000 sales of $2.2 billion. If you are a graduating senior ready to embrace the kinds of challenges offered by a retail career, find out more about Robinsons-May and their Executive Training Program.

Offering an entry-level point of view is Malika Bleavins. Malika graduated from Cal in May '01 with a BA in Legal Studies/Women's Studies. She has been with Robinsons-May for just 7 months and has already completed her 10 weeks in the Executive Training Program. She is currently an Assistant Buyer in Children's Shoes.

Brad Weston, Cal BS BusAd '88, provides a successful senior manager's perspective. He's been with Robinsons-May for 13 ½ years and has progressed through various assignments to become the General Merchandise Manager for Men's, Young Men's and Boys' apparel for all 56 Robinsons-May stores.

Career Center (CC): How did you get your current job?

Malika Bleavins (MB): I submitted my resume at a career fair in the MLK Student Union. My first interview was on campus. For the second interview, I was flown to the corporate office in North Hollywood. Several weeks later I was notified that I got the job.

Brad Weston (BW): I began as an Executive Trainee in 1988 and moved up through the Merchandising ranks from Assistant Buyer to Buyer, then to Divisional Merchandise Manager. Before being promoted to General Merchandise Manager in 2000, I served as the Assistant to the CEO overseeing the implementation and execution of company strategies and priorities.

CC: What are your main responsibilities at Robinsons-May?

MB: I assist my buyer in all the aspects of running a retail business. This includes advertising/marketing, selecting new products, shopping the competition, and the financial analysis required to be profitable.

BW: I am responsible for Men's, Young Men's and Boys' apparel sold in our 56 stores throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. The total volume of my business is in excess of $400 million. In brief, I set the fashion direction and manage the buying, merchandising, pricing, advertising, distribution and overall profitability of these areas.

CC: Describe a typical day on the job.

MB: This may sound cliched, but there is no "typical" work day. My tasks are varied and specific to the demands of the current business. One day might be spent meeting with a vendor and planning the next season's product assortment, while another could be spent inputting orders, signing off on advertising, and planning how much merchandise we can afford to bring in to sell next month.

BW: The really great thing about my job is that no two days or weeks are the same. If there is anything they have in common, it is the general way in which they're spent. I participate in Senior Management Committee meetings in which I help determine the overall direction of the company. I interact a great deal with the merchants in my division, ensuring our strategy is executed according to plan. I spend a lot of time using all the analytical tools at my disposal to ferret out sales opportunities as well as surface and react to potential liabilities. But ultimately, this is a people business, and that's where I spend the majority of my time.

CC: In what ways did your academic major prepare you for your career?

MB: My Legal Studies and Women's Studies majors helped me to develop my critical thinking skills. Although my majors did not delve into retail business, the ten-week Executive Training Program prepared me for the job.

BW: In 1988, I earned a B.S. in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance and Marketing. Looking back, I can see clearly how my classes at Berkeley strengthened my analytical skills, enlightened me to different management styles and scenarios, enhanced my ability to communicate orally and in writing, and expanded my awareness of how to market to the large and diverse society we have become.

CC: What experiences or training were helpful in getting you where you are in your career?

MB: My senior year at Cal I co-founded the Berkeley Women's Studies Association. This was a great experience because I had the chance to work closely with faculty, administration, and my fellow students to form study groups, host guest speakers, perform fundraisers, and organize community service activities.

BW: First of all, the Robinsons-May Executive Training Program provided me with an incredible foundation to be successful. The classroom instruction I received, coupled with a number of carefully monitored on-the-job experiences, gave me a well-rounded perspective on how the retail business really operates. My supervisors took an active interest in my career development; one in particular had the patience and dedication to mentor me for a number of years, even after I had been promoted into other areas.

CC: What do you like about your work in retail?

MB: I like the immediate feedback you get on your work. Each day we come in the office and pull up the previous day's sales. In that moment you can see if your advertisement, floor plan, or new price point was successful and take appropriate action.

BW: It's a business that takes advantage of my quantitative skills as well as my ability to get work done with and through other people. The environment is constantly changing and the work is challenging. I also have the opportunity to exercise the entrepreneurial side of my nature exploiting business opportunities and niche markets. It's really great to work with a market leader like Robinsons-May.

CC: What are the drawbacks to a retail career?

MB: Sometimes, no matter how well you plan your business, the economy is affected by things outside of your control, which in turn affects your sales. In situations like these, it is important to keep up your morale.

BW: Although it may sound contrived to say I have found no drawbacks to a career in retail, I can also state emphatically that retail is not for everyone. It's a very competitive environment that demands the best from people. If you're not hungry, competitive and aggressive, this is not the career for you.

CC: Do you have any tips for Cal undergrads on how to prepare for a career in the retail industry?

MB: Get involved in team activities that help develop your interpersonal skills.

BW: Yes, work hard to develop your analytical reasoning skills and concentrate on improving your oral and written communication. Take classes in organizational behavior because they focus you on the management/interpersonal side of the business, which is very important in retail. I also advise Cal undergrads to get involved in leadership positions in clubs and organizations on campus. We look for leaders -- people who are highly goal-oriented and who are able to use their influence to move around obstacles in order to achieve results.

Additional Resources

What Can I Do With a Major in Business Administration

What Can I Do With a Major in Legal Studies