I need help answering the questions

Career Research Assignment

Job Title: Visual Merchandiser

Education and Training

1. Based on job descriptions, it looks like companies want a high school diploma or GED, 1 – 2 years of design or display experience and/or a design or interior design degree from an accredited institution.

Job Skills, Talents, Experience

1. Special skills and personality traits include an understanding of marketing; great communication skills; attention to detail; knowledge of what is in fashion; understanding the budget for displays and marketing materials and the ability to design something great within the budget; knowledge of how to make a display that is aesthetically pleasing and ability to present things and put them together; a creative mindset with a background in design and knowledge of color theory. It would need to be someone who does not mind working late at night or early in the morning since the displays are done when the customers are not there.

2. Being at The Art Institute is great experience because we take color theory and design classes. Volunteering to set up displays for nonprofit organizations at their events is another way to gain experience.

3. I enjoy designing displays and have a good eye for making presentations look good. Throughout grade school I always enjoyed designing my presentations and poster boards creatively so I think I would like this job.

Earnings

1. The average salary in Denver is $32,595 annually (Glassdoor.com). A starting salary in New York City is $30,000 a year (Complex.com). The average salary in Chicago is $29,000 annually (Indeed.com). The national average is $31,320 annually (Glassdoor.com).

2. It seems that compensation is based on performance and other factors including education level, experience, and possibly the need to travel between store locations.

Employment and Typical Day

1. Growth potential for this position includes moving from a junior to senior level position or becoming a manager.

2. Typical responsibilities include traveling to different store locations if it is a chain store; full merchandising and display creations and changes; daily styling of mannequins; maintaining relationships with store personnel; managing events and presentations; creating store visit reports; and managing shop opening merchandising process.

3. The most challenging thing would be keeping the displays looking new and fresh. Typically store windows are not that big so there is not a lot of space to work with. I think it would also be tough to work odd hours like late at night.

Conclusion

1. I learned that the salary for this position isn’t as high as I would expect. There is a lot more to this job including making reports and working with a team than what I originally thought. From first glance, I would assume this position is mostly independent work but based on my research it looks like a lot of teamwork.

2. I do not think this would be a good career for me. I could see myself doing this as a job while I am first starting out but wouldn’t want to make a career out of it. I do not like to work late at night or early in the morning and I want a career that I can work during the day and interact with my customers.

3. I would like to know if companies typically have a set way of designing their displays or if it is more based on the designer of the display being creative in their own way.

Works Cited

Visual Merchandiser. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2016, from https://furniturerow.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=139

DeLeon, J. (n.d.). 10 Entry-Level Jobs In The Fashion Industry - 8. Junior Visual Merchandiser. Retrieved July 18, 2016, from http://www.complex.com/style/2012/01/10-entry-level-jobs-in-the-fashion-industry/junior-visual-merchandiser

Salary: Visual Merchandiser. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2016, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/visual-merchandiser-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm

Visual Merchandiser Salary in Chicago, IL. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2016, from http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Visual-Merchandiser-l-Chicago,-IL.html

PT Visual Merchandiser - Chicago. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2016, from http://www.pcrecruiter.net/pcrbin/reg5.aspx?i1=WEBGUEST

Visual Merchandiser Job Information. (n.d.). Retrieved July 18, 2016, from https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/VisualMerchandiser.aspx