Anybody has any tips on what the best alternatives to Sears are? Retailers that actually offer good pay, proper hours, maybe even benefits? And some semblance of job security?
I know some must exist. I know Walmart isn't one of them, since I worked there as well and have no intention of going back.
It would be nice to hear what other options are out there that would help people land back on their feet properly.
I want to just say that nothing can't be worse than Sears in retail.
For those that say Walmart is as bad I dont know about that. I talked to a friend probably two to three years ago and he told me he has gotten several raises, they get employ of the month bonus (if you are in that month). Accident free you get some extra $$$ on your pay check. Those were a few he mentioned.
All those I mentioned we don't get at Sears. The only raises I ever got were because of the government. You get focus recognition which is stupid no value into them. Also accident free the last time we got something for no accidents was probably over an year ago.
What is sheetz?
Where are you? I'm near Pittsburgh and the best thing here is Sheetz. I'm sure your area has a similar alternative.
Look into Amazon, they just raised their lowest paid employees to $15 an hour. I’ve had friends work for the warehouses and they said they enjoyed it, got overtime offered all the time, had amazing benefits, and loved their Amazon discount that made buying Christmas and Birthday presents for their kids more affordable. They had job security and 2 of them started there as holiday help temporary and they received all the benefits and then had offers to stay on at the end of the holiday season. They’ve been there now 5 years and said they don’t regret their jobs and love everything and I’ve seen their benefits package, it’s affordable and good.
Progressive Insurance is hiring and they offer virtual positions working from home.
Try supermarkets. Everyone has to eat and they r recession proof! Reasonable pay and many give raises and promote... good luck
Costco,but not it isn't for the weak...you will be working non-stop. Extremely busy high volume stores, but you ate paid well. I've been working there less than 5 years and I am a department supervisor that makes $26 an HR and time and a half on Sundays. Note that usually everyone starts as seasonal, and they give you 90 days to decide if they want to keep you past that point, so you really have to set yourself apart as not everyone will make the cut.
I've seen posts on here for Costco with people saying it's very decent. Whole Foods used to be the spot but if you read their board, now not so much. If you have a lot of energy, the Amazon distribution center. Starting pay here is $15- 18 an hour and everyone I know who works there seems ok with it.
Panera starts at $12 here and gives frequent raises. It's food but reheating not actually cooking.
Apple Retail.
You do NOT need to know computers to be a specialist. They are looking for a mindset, an attitude first. The rest will be taught. There are no commissions, so your pay is a reasonable hourly rate. There are people who have worked as retail for over 15 years. The benefits are the same as what is offered corporate, and I believe part-time employees get access to the healthcare plans as well as full time. A very few get tapped to go to corporate in some capacity (I know of some who ended up in business sales, others who actually joined the quality team that supports engineering in Cupertino).
Apple also offers Genius and Creative roles (Genius is tech support, Creative is something of a teacher/community support which is a huge initiative on the part of Corporate.
For store management, Apple tends to hire from without. There used to be a "management track" but very rarely did I see anyone get promoted from within to a store manager.
If you look at Apple's website as far as retail, you'll also see there is a "remote customer care" kind of position where you can work from home fielding support inquiries.
Apple's philosophy on selling is the "soft sell." You simply answer questions and be helpful. Eventually the customer will buy the product, then the "halo effect" takes over. I believe there are sales metrics, but they are designed around the "soft sell" approach.
If you are able to promote into Genius, this can usually be spun into an IT job at a future point. I've seen Creatives go on to teach, but generally those folks were either out of work teachers or had degrees but no opportunity -- you don't NEED a teaching degree to become a Creative though. MOST open positions are for Specialists though.