Gilroy
– The city’s rapid commercial growth has created thousands of
new jobs in recent years, but competition for the positions remains
fierce.
Gilroy – The city’s rapid commercial growth has created thousands of new jobs in recent years, but competition for the positions remains fierce.
Employers at discount store Kohl’s sifted through 900 applications to fill just 150 positions prior to their Oct. 7 opening at Gilroy Crossing, off Route 152. A few job-seekers managed to stand out in the crowd, according to store manager Sandy Tompkins, because they attached to their application a copy of their credentials from the city’s Retail Training Program.
“We certainly took that accreditation into consideration during the hiring process,” she said. “It was certainly a plus for them.”
The Gilroy Economic Corporation created the Retail Training Program in the last year and, more recently, the Hospitality Training Program. The courses, which are offered at no charge at Career Advancement Solutions and Gilroy One Stop, prepare local residents to work in the city’s expanding business sector. The programs provide instruction in how to use cash registers, price scanners, and other technical aspects of retail and service-industry work.
Tanda Lunja, 21, landed a position at PacSun clothing store after going through the program.
“I tried applying there twice before but never really heard back,” she said, explaining that the training taught her a lot of “little things” like making eye contact and shaking hands firmly.
The program also teach students how to deal with customers – especially the not-so-friendly kind.
“I learned about what to say, what not to say,” said Raul Zamudio, 45, who received job offers from Kohl’s and Target after completing the program.
That skill is not so easy to come by, according to Tompkins.
“It’s definitely beneficial in terms of customer service,” she said. “Every business is trying to get people who know how to deal with customers … People have a lot of places to choose from and they’ll go next door if you don’t have good customer service.”
Tompkins, who said only “a handful” of applicants have presented certificates from the program, only wished that more people would pass through the courses.
To sign up, call Debi Simmons at the Economic Development Corporation at 408-842-6010. Training sessions take place at CAS, 7425-B, Eigleberry Street, and Gilroy One Stop, 7800 Arroyo Circle, Suite A.
