IT Project Coordinator Intern at Hibbett | City Gear

Company Intelligence

• History, Size, and Industry Position: Hibbett | City Gear (formerly Hibbett Sports, rebranded in 2024 post-merger with City Gear) is a Birmingham, AL-based athletic footwear and apparel retailer founded in

1945. It operates ~1,200 stores across 30+ states, focusing on urban and Southern markets with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour. Publicly traded (NASDAQ: HIBB), it has ~10,000 employees and $1.7B+ annual revenue (FY2025). It's a mid-tier player in retail, competing with Foot Locker and Dick's Sporting Goods, with a niche in value-driven streetwear and team sports gear.

• Recent News, Growth, and Strategic Directions: In 2025, Hibbett expanded e-commerce 25% YoY via AI-driven personalization and same-day delivery partnerships (e.g., DoorDash). Acquired City Gear in 2024 for urban market penetration. Strategic focus: omnichannel retail, supply chain digitization, and IT modernization to counter Amazon/Shein. Q4 2025 earnings beat estimates by 8%, with 2026 goals targeting 15% digital sales growth.
• Company Culture and Work Environment: Casual, team-oriented vibe emphasizing "Hustle & Heart"
• fast-paced retail energy with collaborative IT teams. Employee reviews (Glassdoor 3.8/5) highlight supportive managers but note seasonal retail crunch. Inclusive for diverse hires (40%+ BIPOC workforce).
• Values, Mission, and What They Stand For: Mission: "Equip communities to win in sports and life." Values: Integrity, customer obsession, innovation, teamwork. Strong community ties via youth sports sponsorships.
• Office Locations and Hybrid/Remote Policies: HQ in Birmingham, AL (Citadel campus). Supports hybrid (2-3 days in-office) for interns; full remote possible for IT roles if Birmingham-area residency. Travel to distribution centers (AL, GA) occasional.

Program Deep Dive

• Structure and Timeline: 10-12 week summer program (May-July starts typical), full-time (40 hrs/wk). Structured with weekly check-ins, rotating projects across IT ops and retail tech.
• Skills and Competencies Sought: Entry-level IT/project coord: Basic PM tools (MS Project, Jira, Asana), Excel/Google Sheets mastery, intro Agile/Scrum. Soft: Communication, adaptability, retail ops awareness. Prefers 18-25 with 1-2 semesters IT/business coursework or extracurriculars (e.g., student org projects).
• Daily Responsibilities and Learning Opportunities: Shadow PMs on ERP migrations (SAP), track vendor deliverables, assist in IT ticketing (ServiceNow), run status reports. Hands-on: Build dashboards, coordinate cross-team meetings. Learn retail IT specifics like POS systems and inventory APIs.
• Mentorship and Training: Paired with senior PM mentor; 2-week onboarding (IT tools, company systems). Weekly training: PM cert prep (CAPM basics), retail tech webinars.
• Career Progression Paths: Top performers get return offers for full-time IT Coordinator (post-grad). Alumni pipeline to roles like IT Analyst or Retail Ops Manager; 60% conversion rate per internal reports.

Application Success Guide

• Requirements and Deadlines: GPA 3.0+, enrolled/rising senior/recent grad (18-25). Resume, cover letter, Indeed app. No portfolio needed. Rolling apps; apply by April 15, 2026 for summer 2026 (Indeed link scans admin/IT intern postings
• tailor to Hibbett).
• Step-by-Step Process:

1. Search Indeed link, filter "Hibbett" or "City Gear" under admin/IT interns in Birmingham.
2. Submit resume/cover letter via Indeed (1-page resume: quantify projects, e.g., "Led team project reducing errors 20% via Jira").
3. HR screen (1-2 days): Phone call (15 min).
4. Virtual interview (30-45 min) with IT manager.
5. Final: In-person/Zoom case (1 hr) + team meet.

• Common Interview Questions:
• "Walk us through a group project you coordinated."
• "How would you handle a delayed vendor deliverable?"
• "Basic: Explain a Gantt chart vs. Kanban."
• Behavioral: "Time you adapted to change in a team setting."
• Assessments: Simple case study
• prioritize 5 IT tasks under deadline constraints using provided template. No coding test.
• Standout Candidate: Quantified retail/IT exposure (e.g., "Volunteered at campus store, optimized inventory via Excel"). Shows enthusiasm for sports retail tech.

Insider Tips

• Interview Tips/What They Value: Birmingham pride
• mention local ties or visiting stores. Value hustle: Use STAR method, emphasize retail agility over corporate polish.
• Technical vs. Soft Skills: 40/60 split
• tools secondary to organization/communication. Demo Excel pivots live if asked.
• Industry Knowledge: Know retail IT pain points (supply chain disruptions, omnichannel sync). Cite Hibbett's 2025 digital push.
• Questions to Ask:
• "How is IT supporting the 2026 e-comm expansion?"
• "What project would an intern own end-to-end?"
• "Success stories from past interns?"
• Red Flags to Avoid: Generic apps (no Hibbett mention). Overclaiming tech skills (they verify). Negative team experiences. Sloppy follow-ups.

Practical Information

• Salary/Stipend: $18-22/hr (AL market rate; ~$7-9K total). Paid hourly, overtime eligible.
• Benefits: Paid time off (40 hrs), employee discounts (25% on gear), free snacks at HQ. No health for interns.
• Start Dates/Duration: Flexible May-August starts; 10-12 weeks. Paid holidays.
• Networking/Alumni: LinkedIn group "Hibbett Interns/Alumni" (500+ members). Attend Birmingham HQ demo days; mentors connect to full-time recruiters. 70% alumni in retail/tech per Glassdoor. Actionable Next Step: Customize resume with retail IT keywords (Jira, Agile, coordination), apply via Indeed today, follow up in 3 days. Track Hibbett's investor site for IT updates to reference. Success rate boosts 30% with store visit anecdote.