This study investigated the (1) relationship of students' family and educational background to their opinions of fashion retailing as a career, and (2) preferences for fashion retail job attributes in relationship the appeal of fashion retail job profiles. A sample of 131 fashion merchandising students from five state-funded universities completed a four-part survey which measured two independent variables: student background and preferences of fashion retail job attributes and two dependent variables: opinions of fashion of retailing as a career and the appeal of fashion retail job profiles. Analyses included multiple regression, t-test, and correlations. For opinions of fashion retailing as a career, parental background was not significant while attendance at a retailing course, semester hours completed and G.P.A. had limited relationships. Fashion retail job attribute preferences were related to the appeal of fashion retail job profiles; the most preferred attribute was high personal freedom.

The purpose was to investigate career expectations and goals of junior and senior fashion merchandising majors at North Texas State University and to compare findings with expectations for trainees of retail employers with executive training programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The findings indicated that most female students are planning their career goals in business for the next five years. Students are confused as to what employee benefits they might receive at the entry level. College recruitment is an important method of hiring executive trainees. Length of training programs vary from six months to three years. At the time of the study, trainees could expect a beginning salary of nine to ten thousand dollars.