There are 1,382 Kmart retail stores and a further 55 Super Centers (which include a pharmacy and general discount merchant stores and which operate 24 hours a day) across the USA and into Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. In 20 of the stores there are also Sears Auto Centers.
This is all a far cry from the original ‘five and dime’ store set up by Sebastian Kresge in Detroit in 1899. The most recent set of published figures (2009) show the company turning over $16bn and employing 133,000 workers.
In 2002 and under a dark cloud of suspicion concerning the actions of its senior managers, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Since then they have been ‘phoenixed’, have shed their unviable stores and have laid off over 34,000 workers. In fact, Kmart has finally managed to get back on track and has just announced a small growth in sales – the first since 2005.
In 2005 Kmart merged with Sears and became Sears Holdings although both companies continue to trade under their own identity.
Click here for the Kmart website.
There is a link for ‘Careers’ at the bottom left hand side of the home page and this leads to this page.
There are four headings:
- Entry Level and Hourly Jobs
- Professional & Salaried Jobs
- College Programs
- Military Programs
Choosing ‘Entry level and hourly jobs’ and ‘Learn More’ leads to this page.
This offers ten options:
- Stores
- Corporate
- Pharmacy
- Military Programs
- Supply Chain & Logistics
- Business Opportunities
- Home Services
- Current Associates
- eCommerce
- College Programs
Returning to the ‘Careers’ page, I selected ‘Search for Jobs’. Under ‘Entry Level and Hourly Jobs’. This led to this page.
Again, there were options – ten of them this time!
Hourly Store & Automotive Jobs
- Sears Store & Automotive Hourly Jobs
- Kmart Store Hourly Jobs
- The Great Indoors Store Hourly Jobs
- mygoferTM Store Hourly Jobs
- Orchard Supply Hardware Store Hourly Jobs
Hourly Distribution Center Jobs
- Sears Distribution Centers Hourly Jobs
- Kmart Distribution Centers Hourly Jobs
- Orchard Supply Hardware Distribution Center Hourly Jobs
Sears Home Services Jobs
- Hourly Home Services Jobs
- Repair Technician Jobs
It’s all too confusing – I just want a job!
I chose the second – Kmart Store Hourly Jobs and was sent to this page where I had to choose between English and Spanish. There were also five ‘advertising’ boxes – four of which referred to Sears and one to ‘The Great Indoors’ – nothing had Kmart on it.
I chose English.
After several more screens, I was asked to register. Nowhere could I search to see what jobs were available. I returned to this page.
Choosing myGofer, I was sent to this search screen.
Selecting ‘All’, ‘All’ and ‘All’ listed 2097 jobs which dated back a year (are they really still open?) although the most recent were of the same day as my visit. I looked at several of those and was pleased to see that the descriptions were detailed but there was no mention of salary.
Returning to the main careers at Kmart page and choosing one of the other ‘search for jobs’ merely sent me back to the ’2097′ jobs that I had just come from.
The whole thing is very misleading. If you are looking for a ‘rank and file’ type job then the promised search screen is absent and there is no obvious clue as to how to proceed. Even choosing ‘Professional and salaried jobs’ goes to the same search facility. Why bother asking then?
Changing theme, I looked at benefits – it listed the following headings:
- Health Care Benefits
- Disability & Survivor Benefits
- Work & Family Benefits
- Retirement / Financial Benefits
- Paid Time Off
- Unpaid Time Off
Exploring each of these in turn:
Health Care Benefits
- Medical Plan
- Dental Plan
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Disability & Survivor Benefits
- Short-term and long-term disability benefits
- Optional life insurance based on annual earnings
- Business travel insurance
Work & Family Benefits
- Discounts on company products
- Adoption assistance
- Drug and prescription discounts
- Low interest loans for education
- Assistance locating essential support services such as childcare and elder care providers, counseling and colleges
- Tax-effective commuter travel account
Retirement/Financial Benefits
- Buy stock at a discount
- Savings scheme
- Discounts for retirees
Paid Time Off
- Paid holiday – allocation depending on length of service
- National holidays
- Personal days
- Unpaid leave on request
There is a lot of information on the Kmart/Sears website but it is very confusing. The circular searches and the constant mixture of Kmart and Sears don’t help. It may be correct from a corporate point of view but your average worker ‘just wants a job’ and won’t care whether it’s one or the other.
Why don’t they do away with all the ‘do you want this store or that store and if it’s this store do you want this subgroup of stores or that subgroup of stores?’? It’s all far too bewildering. Far simpler would be to have one search screen and then the individual jobs can indicate which store it refers to. If the benefits and salaries are standardized then what difference does it make?
Kmart’s website is certainly very detailed but it is confusing.
It needs to:
- Sort out the circular searches
- Cater for the shop assistants and the general hourly-paid workers better
- Decide on whether it is going to amalgamate with or differentiate from Sears
- Give some guide as to salaries
When it comes down to it, there are just too many pages and too much inappropriate information for the average jobseeker.
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