For more than twenty years, Kohl’s college internship program has been an important part of our talent pipeline. This month, we’re both excited and proud to welcome more than 450 interns to Kohl’s for the summer. Our program provides students with real-world work experience to help launch their careers and is part of the foundation for building future leaders here at Kohl’s.
“Throughout your time here, I encourage you to be bold, ask questions, share new ideas, challenge the status quo and let your curiosity drive both discovery and growth,” said Marc Chini, Kohl’s chief people officer when welcoming this year’s class of interns. “Embrace all of the opportunities ahead of you, and be sure to cherish the meaningful relationships formed along the way.”
Kohl’s summer 2021 intern class consists of corporate, credit, e-commerce fulfillment center (EFC), and store interns, with programs running between eight to ten weeks, depending on the role. All of our corporate and credit interns will complete the internship entirely virtual, while store and EFC interns will be on-site. Similar to previous years, interns will have the opportunity to transition into full-time roles after their internship.
In addition to the work interns will complete on their individual teams, we’ll offer professional development opportunities, including hearing advice from our leaders through the Kohl’s Executive Speaker Series and exposure to our Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Interns will also be able to engage with their peers through networking events and “lunch and learn” events with department leaders, as well as participate in wellness and social activities such as virtual yoga, coffee chats and more. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to participate in Kohl’s Intern Innovation Think Tank series in which cross-functional teams of interns will collaborate and hone their strategic thinking skills by working through real business challenges and initiatives.
We recently spoke with four interns - working in a variety of roles across the organization - to hear about why they chose Kohl’s for their internship and to learn more about their experience so far.
Meet Miloni
Hi, everyone! I’m Miloni, and I’m participating in a virtual product development internship through Kohl’s New York Design Office (NYDO). I’m currently a senior at Indiana University - Bloomington, and I’m majoring in apparel merchandising with a minor in creative technologies in art + design.
Why Kohl’s
What drew me to Kohl's is the long-term relationships and stability the company provides, which gives me the opportunity for growth professionally and personally. The NYDO is filled with creative people, so I love meeting people (virtually) to learn about their roles and career.
I love how people at Kohl's build long-lasting relationships with one another. It provides me security knowing I can find friends here with similar interests as me. I have been able to get involved by joining a few Business Resource Groups (BRGS), including Women of Kohl’s, Young Professionals, and DiverseAbilities. It’s beneficial to see the resources that are available for me to absorb and use to my advantage. This summer, I'm most looking forward to being a sponge and learning as much as I can about Product Development to confirm that this is the right career path for me.
Meet Armando
Hi, I’m Armando, a software engineering intern working virtually out of Madison, Wisconsin. I’m a senior at the University of Wisconsin - Madison studying computer science.
Why Kohl’s
I heard about Kohl's initially through our career fair, and talking with previous interns sparked my interest in applying.
What surprised me the most about working here is that there is a team for everything, and the collaboration between teams is really cool, too. Also as an intern, I feel like the work I am doing actually matters and helps the team I'm on.
From a cultural perspective, I really like how people check on me and ask me how I'm doing. Despite working from home, there is always someone to talk to. I have joined the Hispanic Professionals BRG and am excited to get more involved with that. This summer, I'm looking forward to meeting new people through Kohl’s, working on projects that help the company, and gaining experience in my profession.
Meet Julia
Hello! I’m Julia, and I’m a store management intern at Kohl’s Creve Coeur store in Missouri. I attend the University of Arkansas where I’m studying communications and I’m in my last semester!
Why Kohl’s
This is actually my second internship with Kohl’s, and what draws me to Kohl’s is the company’s devotion to families and the community. One thing that surprised me so far during my internship is how intricate all of the behind-the-scenes tasks are that the store managers do. What I love about Kohl's culture as an employee is how much I feel like family. Everyone is always willing to help me learn something new. I’ve enjoyed getting involved through the Young Professionals and Black Professionals BRGs. One of the perks of being involved are the buttons you can wear on your lanyard; customers notice, and I love showing them off! This summer, I’m looking forward to seeing how much more mature and confident I will be at the end of this experience. With everyone being so willing to help and constantly teaching me things, all I want to do is apply that knowledge to be the best Kohl's employee I can be.
Meet Grace
I’m Grace, and I’m a marketing analytics intern for Kohl’s corporate, working virtually out of Orlando, Florida. I’m currently a senior at the University of Florida where I’m majoring in marketing and working towards a masters in information systems and operations management.
Why Kohl’s
I was interested in breaking into the retail space and knew that Kohl's was a reputable and innovative company. The role of marketing analytics specifically drew me in as I thought of it as the perfect intersection of what I was learning in college: marketing and data science. I was very excited to see that being virtual did not change the great culture that Kohl's has. I feel like I am getting as close as you can get to experience what being in person would be like. In working for Kohl's, I am proud to represent a company that is constantly looking for growth opportunities and driving innovation and change.
In speaking to different teams and interacting in meetings, I can truly feel the warmness, drive, and passion of Kohl's culture. Not only is everyone excited about the impact they are making, but genuinely loves what they do. It is my goal to have my job be my sweet spot (the intersection of my passions and interests) so it is great to see that so many have found that here at Kohl's.
I am most looking forward to applying what I have learned so far in my classes to my projects. Seeing it all come to fruition provides me a great sense of accomplishment. Also, I am shocked by how many connections I have made thus far with so many talented individuals. I am looking forward to building on those relationships throughout this summer.