By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Welcome to Kohl’s ó three words Felicia Martin hopes to say in the near future.
Martin, of Salisbury, was one in a group of people who attended a Kohl’s job fair Sunday at the Holiday Inn. The process was simple: applicants were greeted by the Kohl’s management team, completed applications and then were ushered to a room with a group of other potential employees.
Nearly an hour later, the group emerged, hearing the words, “We’ll contact you in a couple of weeks.”
Store Manager Erin Johnson said little about the job fair, but did say applicants can apply online or in person. They can also make appointments via the store’s 24-hour hotline.
When asked how many people the company expected to see come through in the next few days, Johnson referred questions to a Kohl’s spokesperson.
Martin, who recently self-published a book of poetry, said she spends much of her time promoting her book but needed part-time work.
“I needed something to do during the day,” she said.
She’s been in the retail business for about 17 years and currently works at Circuit City in Salisbury.
Martin said she loves working in retail, though sometimes she feels like a bartender.
She explained with a laugh that sometimes people get to the register and, as if she were taking their drink orders, begin telling her about themselves.
Martin said she doesn’t mind the conversation.
She learned of the job fair in a flyer she received in the mail. Martin had fun with the group interview process, she said.
She was asked by one of the store’s managers about a difficult customer situation she encountered.
Martin told the group about a man who came to Circuit City to pay a bill for his wife, but was not comfortable giving pertinent information to her. She stuck with the customer even though he cursed her and became irate when she requested the information in order to help him.
“I liked the group interview process,” she said.
Martin said it’s great that such a big department store is bringing business to Salisbury.
“We needed it so bad. It’s a blessing,” she said.
Stacey Yost took part in the same group interview as Martin.
Yost recently moved to Salisbury from Florida.
She and her husband, Richard Poweski, grew tired of Florida and suffered health issues while living there. They’ve been in Salisbury for a month renovating their home.
Her husband is looking for some part-time work and she is looking for a full-time or part-time job.
“I needed something to do,” she said.
They saw an advertisement for the job fair in the Post.
Yost has done retail work on and off throughout the past 20 years.
She began doing undercover work for private investigators, then moved on to security work. Yost also worked in real estate.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a call back,” she said.
Martin and Yost said they were told during their interview the company expected to see about 1,000 applicants come through this week.
The economy has driven Phillip Martin to seek other employment. Martin is self-employed and runs an auto body repair shop.
He makes repairs to cars, boats and other vehicles.
“Nobody is trying to spend money,” Martin said.
Since people are not spending money, he’s had to look for another job to supplement his income.
Kohl’s expects to open the Salisbury store in the new Wallace Commons shopping center on Julian Road in October.
The job fair continues through Thursday. Here’s the schedule:
– Today, 10:45 a.m.-6:15 p.m.
– Tuesday and Thursday, 12:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
– Wednesday, 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m.
Interviews will be conducted at the Holiday Inn, 530 Jake Alexander Blvd.
To obtain further details, begin the application process and secure an interview appointment, job applicants can check the store’s Web site at www.kohlscareers.com or call 877-639-5645, a 24-hour job hotline.