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Modern. Southern. Careers.

Corporate Retail Development Program Overview

We’re excited to work with talented, ambitious recent graduates across multiple areas of our business. The Retail Development Program (RDP) is a fast-paced, three-month program designed to prepare recent college graduates for a full-time role at Belk. We offer opportunities in several of our business functions including Merchandising, Allocation & Planning, eCommerce and more! This program focuses on key development areas, including education, experience, exposure, innovation and results.

Through our hands-on learning approach, participants take on job responsibilities quickly while completing a robust learning curriculum, helping them master important skills for success. In addition to on-the-job learning, participants engage with a variety of senior leaders across the company, attend several fun networking events and learn from top talent in our businesses. They also visit our fulfillment center and take part in our “Store Experience Week” to learn even more about how we operate.

Throughout the program, we make sure participants receive the guidance and support they need from their manager, mentor and program alumni “buddy.” Upon successful completion of the program, participants take on full-time roles in their function. Our learning philosophy for this program is based on a simple model: Understand the Why -> Learn -> Apply, which occurs through the key program components below. Note that some program details vary by business function track.
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Store Retail Development Program Overview


We’re dedicated to investing in and developing future store leaders, and we think you might just be the perfect fit.

If you landed on this page to find YOUR opportunity to immediately impact our frontline, our new Retail Development Program – Stores Edition is exactly what you came here to find. It’s an accelerated, 8-month hands on experience that will place you in a training store. More than that, it’s an immersive, leadership development opportunity designed for recent college graduates to move into an entry-level management role within Belk. As a future Belk leader, you’re encouraged to take advantage of our frequent coaching, and you’ll be pushed to participate in on-site projects to further your career development.

In your 240 days, you’ll learn at your store, and you’ll travel to our Charlotte, North Carolina office for two, in-person leadership development trainings where you’ll gain insight into our retail strategy, learn from top talent across our businesses, and network with senior leadership. Plus, you’ll take a deeper dive into the core tenants of our program, including experience, exposure, innovation, and an education targeted at producing highly-effective sales team leaders. We’re having a difficult time thinking of things you won’t do through this program.

Belk Voices

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Will, Lead Financial Analyst
"The RDP program helped me understand that the key to individual and total company success is collaboration. This is accomplished through the classes where you learn with RDPs from other areas and understand how all areas of the business are connected. To be successful in any career, it is of paramount importance that one knows how to be collaborative and the RDP accomplishes that."
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Yessenia, Assistant Buyer
"Growing up Belk was always a shopping destination for my family. I knew I wanted to work for a company that had the same core values as I did. Belk allows me to be who I am, and encourages its associates to be creative and think outside of the box."
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Audrey, Assistant Buyer
“The best way to describe the Belk RDP is well-rounded. Not only does it offer activities and classes, but also endless exposure to every part of the company you could possibly think of. It’s great for both professional and personal development. You definitely graduate with a ton of knowledge and a better understanding of the real world."
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Olivia, Sales Team Manager
“I chose the RDP program at Belk because management is tough to teach.  I gained great experience learning how to be a manager, all with a strong brand behind me. It was a no brainer for me when I was accepted into the program."