Sears Careers and Info

Current CEO: Lou D'Ambrosio

Status: Active

Sears Roebuck and Co. is a major American retailer operating under the Sears Holding Corporation. Corporate headquarters are located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The company is currently led by President and CEO Lou D'Ambrosio. Sears was founded in the late 19th century as a catalog company and became one of the retail giants of the 20th century after opening department stores across the United States. Sears merged with retailer Kmart in 2005. Sears continues to issue seasonal catalogs, but now relies upon store sales and online merchandise sales to create revenue. Sears operates a number of subsidiary brands and specialty stores throughout the U.S.

Like most department stores, Sears stores are typically located in or near shopping malls. Working at Sears provides a solid start in retail for young employees and employees who wish to make a career or industry change. Each Sears store has a store manager, assistant store manager(s), department managers, and hourly sales floor employees. In general, each Sears store employs between 90 and 130 individuals on a regular basis. Sears hires extra merchandising and sales staff during the holiday season and other busy times of the year. Many locations also offer optical services, portrait studios, and hair salons.

The wide variety of services offered by the company is reflected in a variety of available Sears careers. Sales staff with specialized knowledge in hardware, automotive, and home improvement topics and products can find excellent opportunities at Sears. Sales staff is compensated with a small hourly wage but earn the majority of their paychecks on commission. Recent changes in the commission structure have drawn criticism from some Sears employees, but the company seems to be responding to their concerns and evaluating their compensation programs. Base pay for Sears employees varies widely and is dependent upon the state and municipality in which individual stores are located.

As one of the oldest department store chains in America, the Sears culture has evolved continually over the past hundred years. Sears prizes employees who offer excellent customer service, make sales, and encourage applications for company-owned credit products. In return, Sears offer employees opportunity for advancement and further growth in the world of retail. The Sears benefits package is offered to qualified full-time employees and includes health and wellness benefits, employee stock purchasing, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Part-time and short-term employees are offered decent schedule flexibility and are paid for all training periods that they complete with the company.