Target, Fresh Market job fairs seek 340 workers
Target plans to hire 250 for its new Huntington Station store. (Aug. 12, 2013) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Retail giant Target and upscale supermarket Fresh Market Monday announced plans to hold hiring events to fill a combined 340 positions, as both retailers prepare to open stores this fall.
Minneapolis-based Target will host a job fair Thursday through Saturday with the goal of hiring about 250 workers for its new Huntington Station store, the company said. And The Fresh Market, based in Greensboro, N.C., will hold a career open house Sept. 3 to fill 80 to 90 positions at its first Long Island location in Woodbury.
The hiring follows a local and national trend: The fastest job growth is occurring in lower-paying sectors such as retail during the economic recovery.
But new retail jobs are good for the economy and could spur spending for Long Island goods and services, said Irwin Kellner, Port Washington-based chief economist for MarketWatch.com.
That could ultimately lead local businesses in higher-paying industries to expand their staffing.
"The jobs we would prefer are high-paying, high-skilled jobs in manufacturing, construction and finance," Kellner said, "but keep in mind that these jobs don't materialize out of thin air. They have to start someplace."
Target plans to unveil its 150,000-square-foot store with a "soft opening" on Oct. 9 and a grand opening event on Oct. 13. The mass retailer has to fill a wide range of jobs, both part-time and full-time, with many overnight posts as well as sales floor, cashier and some managing positions open, said Alan Yamaji, store team leader.
The job fair will be held at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. While applicants are encouraged to apply online in advance, walk-in applicants are welcome.
"We're hiring based on experience as well as having a fast, fun and friendly disposition," Yamaji said.
Fresh Market, which is opening a 20,000-square-foot store in the high-end Woodbury Common shopping center sometime this fall, also has a varied list of job openings and will host its career open house at the Four Points Sheraton in Plainview.
Attendees are required to apply online before the event at careers.thefreshmarket.com; they should put "176" into the keyword search field.
