After 11 weeks of summer, it’s officially time to say goodbye to our wonderful summer interns. On May 20th, we welcomed 21 interns into our program to work in Marketing, Merchandising, IT and everything in between. Over the course of the summer, they gained hands-on training, put on a charity fundraiser earning $23,000, and built friendships that will last for, well…forever.
Every year, we welcome a new group of interns to the team and every year, it’s so hard to say goodbye. Our amazing group of talented students traveled from all across the country to work in the fashion industry—and now they’re heading home with real-life experience in their fields and expert tips from our Wednesday coffee-and-donuts talk sessions with rue21 executives. If you’re out there looking for an amazing internship program, our door is open!
To celebrate the amazing accomplishments and general good times shared this year, we asked a group of the rue21 summer interns to talk about what makes the internship program at rue21 so awesome.
What has been your favorite part of interning at rue21?
“My favorite part of my internship is split into two parts, the first being that my personal/group project left me feeling like I really left the company with something that they are actually going to use for years to come. The second was how close our intern group was, I felt like all of the people I met were the exact type of people I wanted surrounding me for my internship spell. Overall, it was such a fantastic learning experience that helped direct me towards the path I want to take in the future.”
What is your biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 summer interns?
“My advice to future interns would be to create as many connections as you possibly could, and to really expand your horizons to different people/members of the rue team. Growing and expanding my circle really gave me a sense of belonging, as well as connections with people that I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
What has been your favorite part of interning at rue21?
“I had the opportunity to be a part of rue21’s first ever influencer photoshoot and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! From the beginning, I was pulling shot inspiration, choosing influencers to partner with and locations to shoot. I even got to be on-site the day of the photoshoot, shooting behind-the-scenes content for Instagram! Every day is great at rue21 (especially with the social team), but the hands-on experience I gained while preparing for this shoot was the most rewarding thing I’ve done.”
What is your biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 summer interns?
“Never be afraid to voice your opinion! Your team and every department at rue21 values your perspective and many times implements the ideas you have! The interns at rue21 are utilized every day and aren’t grabbing coffee (unless it’s their own!) Take advantage of the crazy opportunity you are given.”
What has been your favorite part of interning at rue21?
“My favorite part of interning at rue21 is meeting all the amazing people that work here and the other interns! Everyone is so friendly and wants you to really learn and help rue21 grow. On a day-to-day basis, I was doing the job of an actual Inventory Analyst, not being treated as “just an intern”. My department treated me equally as a full-time coworker since my first day!”
What is your biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 summer interns?
“My biggest piece of advice for future rue21 interns would be to be open-minded, ready to learn, and ask questions! This company wants you to leave with actual knowledge of the retail industry and to help you grow both professionally and personally. Take a lot of notes because you will use them every day! Good luck!”
What has been your favorite part of interning at rue21?
“The opportunities! rue21 gives you meaningful experiences that not only look great on a resume, but allows you to make a noticeable difference in the company.”
What is your biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 summer interns?
“Enjoy it, and soak it all in!”
What has been your favorite part of interning at rue21?
“My favorite part about interning at rue21 is the people I worked with! I really enjoyed collaborating with interns, associates, and executives of the company at the Support Center. I learned so much about rue21 in the few weeks working here that I will definitely miss it!”
What is your biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 summer interns?
“My biggest piece of advice for the future rue21 interns is to work hard! The time goes so fast, and there is only a few weeks to learn as much as you can! So take it all in and jump right in. rue21 is a fast-paced environment with every day being so different. What is so great about an internship at rue21 is applying what you are learning in the classroom to real-life scenarios!”
