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Retail Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Winlandfoods

Product Development Intern

Oak Brook, IL · Hybrid

$27.50/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Product Development Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday ...

Winlandfoods

Sales Intern

Oak Brook, IL · Hybrid

$27/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Sales Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are in office ...

Winland Foods, Inc.

Sales Intern

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$27/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Sales Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are in office ...

Winland Foods, Inc.

Marketing Intern

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$25.50/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Marketing Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are in ...

Winlandfoods

Marketing Intern

Oak Brook, IL · Hybrid

$25.50/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Marketing Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are in ...

Winlandfoods

Human Resources Intern

Oak Brook, IL · Hybrid

$26/hr

... retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make ... Human Resources Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are ...

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All JobsRetail Intern JobsRetail Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL

Retail Intern information

See Chicago, IL salary details

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How much do retail intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for retail intern in Chicago, IL is $18.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $19.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a retail intern do?

A Retail Intern assists with the daily operations of a retail store, learning about customer service, inventory management, merchandising, and sales techniques. They often help stock shelves, assist customers, operate the cash register, and support store promotions. The internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in the retail industry, helping interns develop communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Retail Interns may also have opportunities to learn about store management and participate in team meetings or training sessions.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a retail intern?

To thrive as a Retail Intern, you need strong customer service skills, basic sales knowledge, and generally a high school diploma or current enrollment in a related degree program. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management tools, and basic Microsoft Office applications is often required. Proactive communication, teamwork, and adaptability are critical soft skills for excelling in a fast-paced retail environment. These competencies enable interns to effectively support store operations, enhance customer experiences, and contribute to team goals.

What types of projects or responsibilities can a retail intern expect to handle?

Retail Interns are often given a mix of hands-on and observational tasks to help them understand store operations. Typical responsibilities may include assisting with inventory management, supporting merchandising efforts, participating in promotional campaigns, and providing customer service on the sales floor. Interns frequently collaborate with store associates and managers, gaining exposure to teamwork and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment. These experiences are designed to build foundational skills and can lead to future roles within retail management or merchandising.

What is the difference between Retail Intern vs Retail Associate?

AspectRetail InternRetail Associate
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or currently enrolled in collegeHigh school diploma or equivalent
Work EnvironmentTemporary, training-focused, often in retail stores or corporate officesFull-time or part-time retail store environment
Employer UsageInternship programs, entry-level trainingCustomer service, sales, inventory management
Common Search IntentLearning about retail careers, internship opportunitiesJob openings, daily retail tasks

Retail Interns typically participate in training programs, gaining exposure to retail operations, often as students or entry-level trainees. Retail Associates are responsible for customer service, sales, and store operations on a daily basis. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds, Interns focus on learning and development, whereas Associates handle ongoing store functions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Retail jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Retail jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Retail Intern jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Retail Intern job openings:

Retail Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Retail Intern job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 17% Internship, 50% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 83% In-person, and 17% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $38,350 per year, or $18.4 per hour.

Product Development Intern

Oak Brook, IL • On-site

Winland Foods, Inc.
Food and Drink Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 22 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

178th of 443 rated food and drinks producers

Good employer

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Learn more about Winland Foods, Inc.external

$27.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

Winland Foods, Inc., based in Oak Brook, IL, is a global manufacturer of private label and branded foods for retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make meets the highest standards of taste, quality and accessibility. Across all our food categories, we offer customers a range of premium and value solutions to meet the evolving needs of the consumers. We work closely with our customers to offer consumer-loved brands and custom private label products, and also create new innovative products. We specialize in pasta, sauces, syrups, dressings, jams and jellies, pie fillings, pita chips, dry dinners, dry baking ingredients, and more. We are proud to share we have manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada, and Italy.
Employee Type:
Full time
Location:
IL Oak Brook
Job Type:
Administration
Job Posting Title:
Product Development Intern
Job Description:
Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday are in office
Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Salary: $27.50 per hour, with an additional one-time lump sum payment to support expenses
Duration: May to August 2027 - Summer Internship
Job Summary:
As an Intern/Coop in Research, Development & Innovation, you will have the unique opportunity to apply Food science principles to meet project objectives. Our team has deep technical expertise across a variety of packaging formats. You can expect a combination of:
  • Stimulating projects
  • Exposure to industry experts
  • On-the-job learning alongside experienced professionals
  • Continuous development opportunities, and much more

As an intern/coop, you will work independently and as part of various teams, working toward goals on project assignments with guidance provided as needed with the intent of offering opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to prepare the intern/coop for a career as a Packaging Engineer after graduation.
Examples of Projects:
  • New product development; concept/prototype work.
  • Cost savings initiatives; Optimization, quality improvements, material substitutions.
  • Product renovation which involves modifying existing product attributes to address operational issues or customer needs.
  • Ingredient exploration in testing out new options that could improve product performance or improved functionality.

In addition to hands-on experience in Finance, this position will provide the intern with:
  • Skills in project leadership, project management, time management and organizational skills
  • Understanding the function of ingredients within a formula
  • Exposure to manufacturing equipment in understanding the impact of process conditions and controls.
  • Presentation skills as you present your findings to the cross functional team and R&D Leadership Team
  • Experience in team collaboration as you work with a cross-functional team on delivering project objectives. This includes building skills in assessing how each role impacts the commercialization of a product and influencing and negotiating to align the team.

EEO Statement:
Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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