For eleven weeks, I worked as a buying intern in Los Angeles, California, for The TJX Companies in their Pet Department. I participated in vendor appointments, business analysis, and extracting key information from the data systems. Additionally, I analyzed a leading pet vendor and their performance within the company stores for my independent project.
Throughout this time, I developed as a working professional within the buying career. I began my internship with limited knowledge about the buying process and career responsibilities. I learned about the data systems utilized, different approaches to the buying process, and the importance of buyer/vendor relationships. This experience shifted and expanded my understanding of what it means to be a buyer. Prior to this internship, I had a high-level view of the role, with the idea that buying was simply purchasing products from vendors. However, I quickly discovered that the role of a buyer is much more complex and strategic.
As I participated in training and meetings, I gained insight into the many aspects of buying and its connection to other sections of the company. I visited many of our stores, competition stores, home office, and distribution centers. In my day-to-day tasks, I learned how to utilize pivot tables and databases to extract the information specific to the task I was working on. Through participation in vendor meetings, I learned the importance of maintaining positive, strong relationships with vendors. Communication between buyer and vendor is key and can be a delicate process to preserve the relationship through negotiation.
During my STEP Signature Project, the immersive experience of working closely with an experienced buyer at TJX was pivotal in shaping my professional growth. I was assigned to a buyer who has been with The TJX Companies for sixteen years. Through my time with her, she shared much of her industry knowledge and career advice that significantly influenced my understanding of the buying career path. Shadowing her allowed me to experience all stages of the buying process, from planning for seasonal trends to negotiating with vendors, and closing the final order. This involvement in daily meetings and decision-making processes allowed me to learn each aspect of buying and become comfortable with the job requirements.
The variety of activities I participated in during this internship further expanded my knowledge. Attending vendor appointments, participating in in-store visits, and conducting competition shopping offered a complete view of the buying career path at TJX. These activities allowed me to see how various elements of the overall business connect and how decisions are made in response to trends and customer behavior.
The weekly training sessions and the opportunity to travel to the home office in Framingham, Massachusetts, were key opportunities to experience the work environment at TJX. The training activities provided valuable insights into different teams within the company, such as logistics and planning and allocation. The visit to the home office allowed me to interact with the East Coast team and collaborate with them in regard to specific vendors and products. The exposure to the home office allowed me to fully understand the TJX company culture and environment.
These experiences contributed to a significant transformation in my professional outlook, specifically in regard to the buying career. The combination of direct mentorship, training activities, and exposure to various sections of the business expanded my understanding of the industry and my potential career path. The skills and industry insights gained through this project have been very insightful as I plan my next steps into the retail industry.
This change is significant to my life because the internship provided me with a complete understanding of the buying profession and the company culture at TJX. Working as an intern allowed me to develop important hard skills such as market analysis, vendor negotiation, and inventory management, while also refining my soft skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills are not only important for a career at TJX but are useful across various careers, making me more knowledgeable and competitive in the job market.
Finally, the opportunity to build connections with industry professionals and peers has proven invaluable. These relationships have provided me with insights and guidance that will be key as I navigate my career path. The connections I’ve established could lead to future collaboration, mentorship, and potential job offers. This experience has assisted with reaching my academic and professional goals, as it has provided new knowledge about my career aspirations and provided me with the skills necessary to potentially pursue a successful career in buying.
Here I am presenting my final analysis of a vendor to the California Buying Office. (Please note that company data has been removed from the image)