Lauren Luhrs, 23

Lauren Luhrs
The job: Merchandise distribution analyst
The employer: Payless ShoeSource Inc., founded and based in Topeka, is a specialty family footwear and accessory retailer serving millions of customers through its network of more than 4,500 stores.
My role: As a merchandise distribution analyst, I work in the merchandising division and distribute men’s shoes. I evaluate the needs of our stores in Puerto Rico, Canada and the U.S. to maintain appropriate inventory throughout the year. I take ownership of the shoes from the time they leave the factory in Asia to their arrival at Payless stores.
How long have you been in this position?
About a year.
How did you find your job?
I met recruiters for Payless ShoeSource at a Kansas State University Career Fair in September 2007, the fall semester of my senior year at K-State. My sorority sister, then a distribution analyst at Payless, was there with the recruiters. I passed my resume off to her and found out that the position of “distribution analyst” is one of the major positions the company recruits for at college career fairs.
I had an on-campus interview a couple of weeks later. In November of that year, I was invited to Payless headquarters in Topeka, along with recruits from other colleges, and interviewed with three managers. That same day, I had a tour of the building, along with the other college students. Several weeks after that, the college relations recruiter offered me the job.
What helped the most in the job search?
Using connections on the inside, such as my friend who worked at Payless. The Payless brand is gaining a lot of momentum and the job is a good fit for my interests, while still close to home. I live in Overland Park, the city in which I grew up, and am able to carpool to Topeka each day with three other employees.
Was there any difficult part to the job search process?
Yes. My academic major, human ecology and mass communications, wasn’t exactly what employers were looking for. So, I needed to explain that my degree included an emphasis in apparel marketing and public relations. I needed to let them know I was well qualified.
What is your advice for others in the job search?
Target your search to companies you really want to work for and then start working toward your goal. It’s far easier and you’re more motivated working at a job you really want to do rather than one you’re sort of interested in.
What is your educational and work experience?
I have a bachelor’s degree in human ecology and mass communications, with an emphasis in apparel marketing and public relations (May 2008). I have minors in business and leadership studies.
Is there anything else you would like to share related to the job search?
I did an internship the summer between my junior and senior years of college (summer 2007) at Lands’ End in Dodgeville, Wis., where I worked in global sourcing. That gave me great expertise in product development.
Anything else?
If this is your first career job out of college, I would recommend a great corporate orientation program to help make the transition into the corporate environment. I had the opportunity to be a part of the Collective Career Possibilities Program at this company. It is an eight-week orientation for recent college graduates. We spent that time in training, meeting people and getting a great overview of the company.
How does this job fit into your long-term career plans?
I am already in a structured mentor program to prepare for the next position in which I’m interested, that of distribution planner. Through this program, I am mentored by a distribution planner and am able to spend some time watching him do his job and getting some hands-on training.
| Sue Dye Babson, special to The Star