Gap Inc. for Community Colleges

Fast Facts

  • 1,200 students trained
  • $150,000 in scholarships awarded
  • Teaching in 21 markets in 2013
  • 7,000+ community college students hired

Gap Inc. for Community Colleges: An Introduction

In February 2011, Gap Inc. launched a pilot workforce preparedness program through its Gap brand stores for community college students in seven U.S. cities.

The program exposes students to real-world business experience and prepares them for success with training in job searches, communication and time management. By 2013, the program has grown to 21 community college partnerships and now includes Gap as well as Gap Inc.’s other major brands: Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta

The Program

Gap Inc. for Community Colleges prepares students for long-term success by helping them develop skills for entry-level management positions and general career advancement. They learn directly from a potential employer and industry leaders. The students receive opportunities to job shadow store managers, and attend three workshops at partnering community colleges:

  1. Job Search to Job Offer: Students learn about resume writing, interviewing, as well as developing career objectives and a job search strategy.
  2. Communicating Effectively: Students learn about communication, choosing words to inspire and motivate, non-verbal communication, reading body language and active listening.
  3. Time Management: Students learn how to prioritize daily, weekly and monthly activities. They also learn how to delegate, share responsibilities and stay on target to meet goals.

Employees use the company’s in-house training for workshops, so students learn the same material as store leadership. The information translates well across industries and helps students get jobs, keep them and excel. While students don’t receive college credit, the programs complement course work and improve skills they can use in school, business and their personal lives.

Later in 2013, students will have the opportunity to interview for the Store Leadership Training Program, a nine-month hands-on training which includes rotations through all of the brands. Students learn more about leadership, which can lead to a management career at Gap Inc.

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How the Partnership Works

In each market, Gap Inc. works closely with a community college to identify the most effective way to partner; whether working with a specific class, offering the program to the entire campus, advertising the program through career centers and instructors, or working with an identified student group or club. 

Gap Inc. chooses markets where there is a need for workforce development training—underserved communities where the company has stores and the leadership to support the program.  In addition, Gap Inc. looks for community colleges with programs or areas of concentration such as fashion merchandising and business, which translate well into work at a store.  

The program builds relationships between the company and local educational institutions, and develops a strong base of potential hires for Gap Inc.’s brands and other businesses in the community. The workshops, mock interviews and job shadowing set up students for success wherever their careers take them.  For the store managers who volunteer, the program is a chance to gain valuable experience as instructors and demonstrate leadership for their own careers.

Results

Since the inception of the program, more than 1,200 students have completed it. The company has hired more than 7,000 community college students and awarded more than 150 scholarships.  The program has grown to 21 markets and now crosses Gap Inc. brands, with a strategy in place to support its continued growth. 

Skills for America's Future (SAF) is a non-partisan, employer-led initiative of the Aspen Institute. It is focused on creating a national network of partnerships among employers, community colleges, industry associations and other stakeholders. These partnerships are designed to ensure that American workers receive the necessary training to meet the skill needs of employers, giving them the opporunity to obtain and keep good jobs.

For more information about how your company can partner with community colleges and Skills for America's Future, contact Rene Bryce-Laporte at rene.bryce-laporte@aspeninst.org