Retail Internships
Retail internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in merchandising, buying, and store operations, mentorship from working retail professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover Consulting & Professional Services, with Hy-Vee, The Guthrie Clinic, and LOFT among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 34+ Retail Internships
Who We Are
We are a tech-enabled growth firm–at the intersection of marketing, consulting & data intelligence–igniting revenue and brand recognition for leading and emerging companies around the world. As a people-first firm, we value diversity in backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe our people and culture are key to our success. Our vision is to be recognized as the most valued and respected private growth marketing firm in the world–with a scalable brand, culture and services. Our mission is to power the relentless pursuit of growth and redefine what’s possible through a team of growth-obsessed experts who demand innovation and results - driven by integrity, autonomy, and grit. As a full-service growth marketing firm, we offer best-in-class services including: SEO, Content Marketing, Paid Media, Social Media Marketing, Programmatic + CTV, Public Relations, Influencer Marketing, Email + SMS, Conversion Rate Optimization, Retail Marketing, and Creative. Here at Power Digital, we are hyper-focused on helping brands drive revenue growth and brand recognition, ultimately driving irrefutable value for our clients. At the heart of Power Digital is our proprietary technology, nova, which analyzes businesses through first-party data, simplifying investment planning for marketing and diligence in M&A––putting marketers in a strategic seat at the table––and providing value in unparalleled ways. Managing billions in media, our dynamic team––of consultative marketers, creatives, analysts and technologists––challenge traditional ways of planning and measurement through meticulous testing and data science across each milestone of the customer journey.
Position Title: Retail Marketplace Display Advertising Intern
Internship Term: Fall 2026
Compensation: College credit [MUST be enrolled in college course]
Desired Fields of Study: Marketing, Digital Advertising, eCommerce, Social Media
Hours Desired: 15-20/week
A Day In The Life
Unleash your passion for retail display advertising! This internship offers hands-on experience helping clients thrive across Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers with online display advertising. You'll collaborate on cross-channel marketing strategies, attend client calls, and carry out strategies to become a retail advertising expert. Ideal for a detail-oriented learner who loves digital marketing and has a knack for fresh ideas!
Responsibilities
- Participate in trainings and complete tasks to understand and facilitate clients’ strategy for selling products on Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers
- Work on cross-channel accounts to develop an understanding of online retail marketing and its strategy when paired with other channels across the agency
- Attend client calls and strategy meetings
- Learn and develop an understanding of how advertising key performance indicators, and advertising objectives, differ throughout the consumer journey
- Assist with advertising strategy and execution of paid search retail ads and programmatic ads
Role Requirements
- Strong problem solving skills, attention to detail, and an aptitude for identifying improvements
- Works well within a team
- Has an analytical mind and an interest in digital marketing
- Desire to learn and contribute to an evolving department
Benefits & Perks
- Monthly & quarterly team bonding activities
- Fun, savvy, and hard-working team(s)
- Full-remote flexibility
Power Digital’s people and culture are at the core of our success, which is why diversity in our team’s backgrounds and experiences are paramount. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who strive to make an impact inside and outside of the workplace. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employees' points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility.
Please be aware of fictitious job openings, consulting engagements, solicitations, or employment offers from suspicious sources. These engagements may be an attempt to obtain private information, or to induce you to pay a fee for services related to recruitment or training. Power Digital does NOT charge any application, processing, or training fee at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. All genuine job openings will be posted on our careers page.
If you have any doubts about the authenticity of any messaging on behalf of Power Digital, please send us an email at recruiting@powerdigital.com before taking any further action in relation to the correspondence.
Who We Are
We are a tech-enabled growth firm–at the intersection of marketing, consulting & data intelligence–igniting revenue and brand recognition for leading and emerging companies around the world. As a people-first firm, we value diversity in backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe our people and culture are key to our success. Our vision is to be recognized as the most valued and respected private growth marketing firm in the world–with a scalable brand, culture and services. Our mission is to power the relentless pursuit of growth and redefine what’s possible through a team of growth-obsessed experts who demand innovation and results - driven by integrity, autonomy, and grit. As a full-service growth marketing firm, we offer best-in-class services including: SEO, Content Marketing, Paid Media, Social Media Marketing, Programmatic + CTV, Public Relations, Influencer Marketing, Email + SMS, Conversion Rate Optimization, Retail Marketing, and Creative. Here at Power Digital, we are hyper-focused on helping brands drive revenue growth and brand recognition, ultimately driving irrefutable value for our clients. At the heart of Power Digital is our proprietary technology, nova, which analyzes businesses through first-party data, simplifying investment planning for marketing and diligence in M&A––putting marketers in a strategic seat at the table––and providing value in unparalleled ways. Managing billions in media, our dynamic team––of consultative marketers, creatives, analysts and technologists––challenge traditional ways of planning and measurement through meticulous testing and data science across each milestone of the customer journey.
Position Title: Retail Marketplace Display Advertising Intern
Internship Term: Fall 2026
Compensation: College credit [MUST be enrolled in college course]
Desired Fields of Study: Marketing, Digital Advertising, eCommerce, Social Media
Hours Desired: 15-20/week
A Day In The Life
Unleash your passion for retail display advertising! This internship offers hands-on experience helping clients thrive across Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers with online display advertising. You'll collaborate on cross-channel marketing strategies, attend client calls, and carry out strategies to become a retail advertising expert. Ideal for a detail-oriented learner who loves digital marketing and has a knack for fresh ideas!
Responsibilities
- Participate in trainings and complete tasks to understand and facilitate clients’ strategy for selling products on Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers
- Work on cross-channel accounts to develop an understanding of online retail marketing and its strategy when paired with other channels across the agency
- Attend client calls and strategy meetings
- Learn and develop an understanding of how advertising key performance indicators, and advertising objectives, differ throughout the consumer journey
- Assist with advertising strategy and execution of paid search retail ads and programmatic ads
Role Requirements
- Strong problem solving skills, attention to detail, and an aptitude for identifying improvements
- Works well within a team
- Has an analytical mind and an interest in digital marketing
- Desire to learn and contribute to an evolving department
Benefits & Perks
- Monthly & quarterly team bonding activities
- Fun, savvy, and hard-working team(s)
- Full-remote flexibility
Power Digital’s people and culture are at the core of our success, which is why diversity in our team’s backgrounds and experiences are paramount. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who strive to make an impact inside and outside of the workplace. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employees' points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility.
Please be aware of fictitious job openings, consulting engagements, solicitations, or employment offers from suspicious sources. These engagements may be an attempt to obtain private information, or to induce you to pay a fee for services related to recruitment or training. Power Digital does NOT charge any application, processing, or training fee at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. All genuine job openings will be posted on our careers page.
If you have any doubts about the authenticity of any messaging on behalf of Power Digital, please send us an email at recruiting@powerdigital.com before taking any further action in relation to the correspondence.
Retail Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Hy-Vee11
- The Guthrie Clinic3
- LOFT2
- Mall of America2
- Fairview Health Services2
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Retail Internship Search
Apply earlier than the posting suggests
Large retailers and national chains open summer internship applications the preceding fall, often in August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check for openings well before you need the role to begin and have your resume and cover letter ready to submit the day a role appears.
Build proof with projects, not job titles
Retail hiring teams expect limited work history at the intern level, so give them something concrete to assess. A documented merchandise plan, a margin or assortment analysis, a consumer research case study, or a visual merchandising concept with measurable results shows you can do the work before you have a title on your resume.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and your career center staff often know which retailers recruit from your school before roles go public. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts in parallel, professors with industry contacts and alumni in retail roles can flag openings your career center has not posted yet.
Practice the retail intern interview format before you apply
Retail intern screens typically include a case or behavioral conversation, expect questions on how you would approach a buying decision, a store performance problem, or a customer experience challenge. Practice answering out loud and walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think as much as the conclusion you reach.
Target structured rotational and cohort programs first
Larger retailers run formal internship pipelines, rotational management programs, corporate buying cohorts, and university-partner programs, built specifically to train people new to the industry. These programs recruit early, fill their cohorts fast, and often have clearer return-offer processes. Identify the ones that fit your interests and submit in the first wave of applications.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 88% of the retail internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start reviewing listings, on-site, hybrid, or remote, and filter by work type and location from the start on Migrate Mate so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take.
Retail Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a retail internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, retail hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level and want something concrete to assess. A documented merchandise plan, retail analytics case study, or buying simulation gives recruiters a real artifact to evaluate. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster with candidates they meet in person.
Can a retail internship turn into a full-time job?
Many retail employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is performance on real assignments, available headcount at the close of the internship, and the company's return-offer timeline. Treat the internship as an extended audition, deliver on your projects and build relationships with your team without counting on an offer.
When should I apply for retail internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large retailers and department store groups recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies, regional chains, and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking frequently and having your materials ready means you can apply as soon as a role posts.
Are retail internships paid?
Most professional retail internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry segment, and location, a corporate buying internship at a national chain typically pays differently than a role at a regional specialty retailer. Listings show pay where the employer discloses it, so you can compare directly as you search.
What should a retail internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show what you built or analyzed, for retail candidates, that means a merchandise assortment plan, a pricing or margin analysis, a consumer research case study, or a visual merchandising concept with results. List relevant coursework, name the tools you used, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote retail internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 13% of the retail internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill quickly because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early once you decide remote is a fit. Use the work-type filter to see only the format you can commit to.
What is a retail management rotational internship?
A retail management rotational internship places you in two or more store or corporate functions over the course of the program, often covering merchandising, operations, and customer experience. These structured cohorts are designed for people new to the industry and are run by larger retailers to build a pipeline of future managers. They recruit early and are competitive, so apply in the first wave of openings.
Can international students get retail internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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