Resume Building, But Make It Fashionable: The Vault x Kohl’s Center for Retailing Workshop
Written by Theron Hilbert
On the evening of September 23rd, Vault members swapped thrifting racks and coffee chats for something every college student eventually must face: making a resume. We partnered with Kohl’s Center for Retailing (KCR) for a workshop that turned a typically stressful topic into an approachable one. By the end of the workshop, resumes began to feel less like work and more like a curated highlight reel.
The next topic was the “five golden rules” of resume writing. First tip: keep it simple– no clutter, no filler. Second, highlight numerical results instead of just tasks (numbers speak louder than buzzwords). This doesn’t necessarily mean emphasizing your GPA or test scores; it’s about showing off what kind of benefits you can give the company with your skills. For example, highlighting an increase in engagement on social posts you’ve made for previous internships. Third, leverage AI to your advantage while still maintaining your voice and authenticity. Fourth, every bullet point should support the story you want to tell in an interview. Finally, don’t discount any experience. A part-time job in retail or food service can demonstrate just as much valuable skill as a formal internship.
Additionally, the Q&A provided practical tips that students can implement into their lives as students.. They recommended attending the career fairs, even if they feel intimidating, considering that this is a great place to make connections. Next, always save your resume as a PDF. This makes your resume simplistic and easier to open than if it were in a Google Doc. Lastly, if you’ve got something unique, like a project, leadership role, or creative hustle that shows a bit of your personality, include it.The most unexpected line on a resume can be the one that stands out the most.
The resume building workshop with KCR wrapped up with a reminder that a resume isn’t just a list of jobs: It’s your story, brand, and proof of potential. The Vault’s mission is to bridge students with industry and help them build confidence in the process, a resume being one of the first steps. With Laura, Emma and Kohl’s support, the event showed the importance of preparing for future opportunities and inspired members to take the next step in their professional journeys. The energy and conversations that carried on long after the workshop ended reflected genuine excitement and newfound confidence; clear signs that The Vault’s mission to empower its members and connect them with industry insight was well on its way to being fulfilled. Judging from the buzz in the room, we’d say, mission accomplished.
Edited by Ruby Her, Isabella Zapata, Gabi Beard, Ava Palmieri, Claudia Rothberg and Safa Razvi.
The night began with stories from past Kohl’s interns, who disclosed the inside scoop on what their program is like. Based in Milwaukee, Kohl’s offers internships in finance, merchandising, creativity, and marketing. From their stories, it seems far from the stereotypical “busy-work” intern experience. Interns discussed working on meaningful projects, integrating themselves into the company as valuable team members, and connecting with leadership. There are additional perks, such as corporate housing and team outings that make the intern experience feel both professional, as well as personal. Our biggest takeaway was that Kohl’s internship program is less about fitting into a mold and more about giving students the space to grow and connect.
Along with the rules of resume-building came some myth-busting. No, you don’t need a big corporate internship to secure employment at a corporate brand. No, part-time jobs aren’t “irrelevant.” And a lack of internship experience doesn’t mean you’re behind. The real secret is knowing how to frame your experiences, highlighting what you can and will bring to the table.
Vault faculty advisor, Laura Hensen, and assistant director of the KCR, Emma Brandenburg, took the mic and discussed their retail and merchandising expertise with the room. They connected our work at the Vault to the larger picture of the retail industry, highlighting KCR's previous partnerships with Dior, SKIMS, and Louis Vuitton demonstrating the vast amount of possibilities that are within reach in the world of fashion.