One of the defining characteristics of students who are drawn to the areas of hospitality, tourism, and merchandising is their enthusiasm for creating unforgettable experiences for people. While it is clear that students from the College of Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism are unmatched in their customer service, it’s also their range of additional skills used behind the scenes that help make the world’s largest consumer-focused industries go ‘round. The skills attained by earning a degree from the College of Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism are highly valued by employers. For students seeking out opportunities to apply their knowledge outside the classroom, emphasize how your top skills will transfer to a variety of areas of the job market!
Think about these most valuable strengths that CMHT students bring to the table:
Understanding customers and consumer behavior
Students in all areas of CMHT develop sharp skills in profoundly understanding the customer, which is a valuable strength that every employer can benefit from. An insight on consumer behavior helps businesses make informed decisions about strategic ways to sell their products and how best to entice customers to make the decision to purchase. Students with this background can show employers that their skillsets help understand what draws in consumers and why they choose their business in order to attract more. In addition to understanding their motivations and patterns, students aiming for careers related to hospitality or merchandising know the importance of outstanding customer service and building loyalty. Making sure that their needs are met and that problems are resolved quickly contribute to a more positive experience overall.
Problem-solving through research
Students can use their applied market research skills to inform decision-making and identify areas of opportunity for a business. Especially in the current environment with the pandemic, it’s valuable to be able to analyze the data, research the industry and surrounding competition to understand how others are responding, and learn the relevant trends to enlighten how the environment impacts the organization. Furthermore, this market research can then be used to offer insight and recommendations for future course of action.
Leveraging technology and eCommerce-related skills
CMHT students are well-acquainted with the impact that online presence has on the selling of products and services over the internet. With the increased role that technology and online buying plays in businesses, hospitality and merchandising students are equipped with eCommerce expertise that give their employers a more competitive edge. For example, students can use their knowledge of marketing, SEO, information architecture, social media, or other areas to help organizations bolster their digital strategy. Students with this background understand the value of the impression that the company gives customers while online, as well as collecting data that can be used to inform future improvements to the customer experience. Home to the only digital retailing degree in the country, students of UNT can use their strengths in this area to optimize eCommerce sites for organizations.
Micro-Internships Add Practical Experience to Your Resume
For students wanting to practice these skills and gain applied experience to add to their professional portfolio, micro-internships are an excellent option. Micro-internships are short-term experiences and projects that students can complete (sometimes 100% virtually!) without the long-term structure of a formal internship. UNT’s partnership with Parker Dewey gives students the chance to apply for, and complete, Micro-Internships that can upgrade their resumes with relevant experiences. The skills that CMHT students develop through their courses can be used towards a variety of different micro-internship projects.
Projects related to marketing and social media are some of the most frequently posted projects on the Parker Dewey platform! Here are a few micro-internships previously listed, or currently available, through UNT’s partnership with Parker Dewey:
DATES 10/26/2020 – 11/30/2020
PAYMENT $270.00
DESIRED SKILLS: Event Planning, Project Management, Data Analysis
Social Media Support
DATES 11/09/2020 – 11/30/2020
PAYMENT $270.00
DESIRED SKILLS: Social Media Tools, Attention to Detail
Cause Relations Coordinator
DATES 10/14/2020 – 11/04/2020
PAYMENT $900.00
Google Analytics / SEO Analyst Paid Internship
DATES 09/14/2020 – 11/20/2020
PAYMENT $ 270.00
DESIRED SKILLS: Search Engine Optimization, eCommerce, Website Analysis
Social Media Awareness Campaign
DATES 10/30/2020 – 11/13/2020
PAYMENT: $360.00
Have you completed a micro-internship and want to be featured in our Soaring Beyond Success Series? Email Jeanette Hickl. We’d love to share your story!
