With the unemployment rate near a twenty-year high, retail stores like Kohl's throughout the land have been tightening their collective belts. Unfortunately this often means they must cut their workforce and even close a few stores. Recently companies like Starbucks, Drug Fair and Circuit City closed hundreds of unprofitable stores in a desperate attempt to save money in difficult economic times.

But not every American retailer is cutting their workforce or closing stores just to stay afloat. One company that has actually gone against the current and has continued to increase its staff and open new stores is Kohl's. Kohl's is a Wisconsin-based department store with over 1000 store in forty-nine states. They are currently the fifth largest discount store in the country after industry leaders like Wal-Mart and Kmart.

What does Kohls sell?

Kohls is a discount department store that offers customers everything from clothing to vacuum cleaners. Basically, if you need it, they've got it. Like other discount stores, Kohls profits by selling extremely high volumes of products at cheap prices. As you might expect, this requires that the company spend quite a bit of money on advertisements. In recent years Kohls has expanded its marketing budget and sales have gotten a bump.

Kohls Success

As we mentioned, in these tough times, Kohl's is one of the few retailers that is actually hiring. One of the reasons the company has been successful is because they recognized early on that during tough economic times people need affordable, high-quality products more than ever. Kohl's has recently reported strong sales of its discount clothing line, both in men's and women's.

Another reason for their continued success is their customer service. Kohl's frequently ranks highest in customer satisfaction with regard to their employees, who tend to be friendly, approachable and helpful.

Online Job Application at Kohl's

If you would like to apply for a job at Kohl's, it is as easy as 1-2-3. All you have to do is fill out an online application form and submit it to the company. You can apply to work at one of the stores, at the distribution centers or at the corporate office. Where you apply depends entirely on your career goals and your level of experience.

If your application is accepted, you will be immediately enrolled in one of the company's many employee training programs. New employees rave about the effectiveness of these programs and the fact that all new hires are treated with concern and respect.

Kohls offers a competitive benefits package that may include medical, dental as well as a 401K to full time employees. This depends entirely upon your position and your experience with the company.

As a general rule, Kohls looks for people who are bright, ambitious and have excellent communication skills. Since their business is sales, they want employees who know how to talk to people and are interested in helping them. If you possess these personal attributes coupled with a winning personality and a strong work ethic, there is virtually no limit to how far you can go at Kohls. The company has a history of promoting from within, which they believe creates a happy workplace.