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We know jobs and the economy are two important subjects to our readers. Business writer Eric Schwartzberg will continue to report on job openings in our communities.
A hiring event Tuesday drew thousands of people searching for employment to a retail giant’s e-commerce fulfillment center.
In anticipation of a busy holiday shopping season, Kohl’s is seeking 1,200 seasonal warehouse workers for all shifts at its 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week center at 3500 Salzman Road in Monroe.
The line for the 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. job fair formed three hours in advance and Kohl’s started the hiring process 20 minutes early to accomodate the gathering crowd.
Prospective employees filed into the facilty 25 at a time, filling out a written questionnaire, listening to job specifics, answering varying verbal questions and undergoing an oral drug test.
For Lahnae Thompson, 20, of Hamilton, waiting in line meant a chance to restart a career that stalled two months ago as a nurse’s aide due to extenuating circumstances.
“My car broke down and I didn’t have the money to fix it and for that position you have to go house to house,” said Thompson as she held 1-year-old daughter Arianna.
Thompson said she wanted a job at Kohl’s “just to be able to provide for her and get my car back.”
Harold Morgan, a father of four, said a position at Kohl’s would mean more hours and better pay than the part time jobs he has worked since the economy cut short his career as an independent contractor.
“I graduate (from the Warren County Career Center) in April, so I’m just doing what I can to get myself through school and get into my career” as an Electromechanical-PLC technician, said Morgan, a Hamilton native who now lives in Lebanon. “Anything is better than what I’m getting right now.”
Jovan Harp, 26, of Monroe, said he wants to return to seasonal work at the center to help provide for his two daughters and eventually net a year-round job.
“It was nice,” he said of the center. “Clean environment, hard work and they paid good and gave you a lot of hours, as well.”
“Hopefully they’ll hire me on and I can just stay in here.”
Barbara Grant and Wanda Cameron, two retired GM employees, left Dayton at 8 a.m. to show up for the hiring event an hour early.
Cameron, who worked for for Kohl’s during the previous two holiday shopping seasons, said she applied for the job to save up money for travel.
“You can’t find any jobs hardly for $9.50 or $10 an hour,” said Cameron, 60.
Grant, 61, said she applied for a position to earn some extra money for holiday shopping. Cameron’s favorable opinion of the center helped seal the deal.
“She said it was a good position and a great place to work and that they were offering 10 bucks an hour,” Grant said. “For somebody who’s retired, that’s pretty good.”
Tami Kou, a spokeswoman for Kohl’s, said “we had a great response and we are really pleased with the turnout.”
Those who were unable to attend Tuesday’s job fair may stop by its Salzman Road facility at a later date to complete an application.
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