JCPenney stores in the Tampa Bay area, including Pasco County, are taking applications for 250 jobs, according to an email announcement from the national department store chain.
Many jobs are part-time, but company officials say most positions can be stepping stones to longtime careers with Penney’s.
Stores are hiring now as they gear up for back-to-school shoppers, according to the company email.
The Florida Sales Tax Holiday in 2016 generally heralds the start of the new school season. This year the holiday begins Aug. 5 and ends Aug. 7. Sales tax exemptions apply to clothing, shoes and school supplies.
Jobs are available at area malls including The Shops at Wiregrass in Pasco, Westfield Brandon in Brandon, Westshore Plaza in Tampa and Westfield Citrus Park in Hillsborough County.
There are openings for cashiers, commission sales associates, merchandise support associates and customer support positions.
The company is seeking “energetic associates,” according to Joey Thomas, a company spokesman who responded by email to The Laker/Lutz News.
James Cash Penney founded the department store chain 114 years ago in Wyoming. He learned the retail business initially by working for owners of the Golden Rule stores in Colorado and Wyoming. Eventually, he bought them out.
Penney’s sells clothes, cosmetics, electronics, shoes, furniture, housewares, jewelry and most recently, appliances.
There are more than 1,000 stores in American and Puerto Rico. JCPenney had about 105,000 employees as of 2015, according to company data.
People can apply in-store at Applicant Kiosks or online at JCPcareers.com.
Published July 13, 2016
