Dillards Employment Job Application

Dillards LogoWith over three hundred stores across the country, Dillards Inc. is considered by many to be one of the largest department store chains in the United States today.

With stores that carry hundreds of popular signature brands such as Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder, Birkenstock, Dolce & Gabbana, and Giorgio Armani, as well as home furnishings and other merchandise that bring in billions of dollars in annual net revenue, it is really no surprise that thousands of people submit their Dillards application each year in hopes of landing a job that could very well be the start of an exciting and lucrative career in sales.

Dillards Guide to Applying Online

If you wish to apply for a job at any of the more than three hundred Dillards stores in the United States, you can either walk into the store nearest your location or personally hand in your Dillards employment form, or you may also apply online.

In order to apply online, you can visit the company’s official website. After you open the page, look for the link near the bottom that will take you to the site’s careers page, where you will need to fill out a form and select the store or location which you want to apply to. You can access this page here.

After submitting your Dillards employment form, wait a few days before calling the company’s recruitment office to follow-up so that the hiring manager can review your qualifications.

About Dillards

Located in more than 29 states, Dillards Inc. is one of the most popular upscale department store chains in the United States. Founded in 1938 by American businessman WIlliam T. Dillard, from whom the company takes its name, Dillard Inc. stands firm today as a company that has undergone many changes and has endured the tests of time.

The company started as a small retail store in Nashville, Arkansas where business went considerably well until Dillard volunteered for service in the United States Navy at the onset of World War II. By 1948, Dillard had sold the store in Nashville and bought controlling interest in a new store in Texarkana, Texas.

Beginning in 1984, the company underwent a massive expansion when management decided to buy 18 John A. Brown stores and 12 Diamond stores all located in the southeast region of the United States. All of the newly acquired stores were later turned into Dillards department stores, and the company experienced a period of financial success.

By the time the company’s founder and Chairman WIlliam T. Dillard passed away in 2002, Dillards Inc. had already seen tremendous growth and had become one of the country’s fastest growing department store chains.

Today, the company’s board of directors and its corporate management staff have consistently shown that they are committed to continuing their founder’s dedication to making the the company grow.

Job Openings at Dillards

Be advised that the company has a minimum age requirement, which means you must be at least 18 years old at the time you apply. Currently, there are several job openings that your Dillards inquiry can qualify for.

Entry Level Positions

Your Dillards job can lead you to a successful career in sales. There are usually three entry-level sales positions that you can apply for.

  • A sales associate is the person responsible for stocking merchandise in any particular department. People who work as sales associates also assist customers, order merchandise when stocks run low, and keep all products clearly priced.
  • A sales specialist is the person who makes educated forecasts about future sales and ensures that those forecasts are met. He is also the person responsible for making sales calls to customers.
  • A sales representative is a person that works in an assigned area and is responsible for advertising and selling products to the stores valued customers.

Management Positions

If you desire a career in management at Dillards, and you have the experience and qualifications necessary for the position, you may just find yourself working as any of the following:

  • Assistant Buyer
  • Area Sales Manager
  • Sales Manager
  • General Manager

Managers are generally responsible for overseeing their departments or the entire store, and ensuring that store operations are running smoothly. Assistant buyers, on the other hand, help purchase items that can be sold at the store. Assistant buyers must be highly knowledgeable about where products are made and distributed.

Direct Competitors

Dillards is a popular department store that carries all of the brands you recognize. Everything from shoes to suits, to shirts, they have it all. Working with such a wide variety is always better for both employees and customers. Be sure to apply to JCPenney as well, one of the direct competitors. Up and coming department stores like Kohls are also wise to apply to, as they are constantly growing and accepting new help. Finish your day off by applying to Macy’s and feel confident in your options are you await your inevitable interview call. 

Dillards Application Tips and Interview Process

Whether you fill out and submit your Dillards form in person, or submit it online. After your information is reviewed by the company’s recruitment office, you will be given your interview schedule.

During the interview, make sure that you are wearing clothes that are appropriate for the position that you are applying for. Speak with confidence, and make it a point to mention relevant sales and retail experience that you might have.

If you are applying for a managerial position, you will need a copy of your resume as well as a cover letter to go along with your Dillards job inquiry. The most important aspect for a management position is a record of your employment history, which highlights your previous managerial and supervisory experience.

As with most other job inquiries, it helps to make the interview phase as interactive as possible. Most employers frown upon applicants that simply answer when asked.

When you can, feel free to ask your interviewer questions about the company, such as how it is to be a Dillards employee or what the sales floor environment is like, and if it helps, share your experiences with the previous companies that you have worked for.

Most importantly, make sure that you get to your interview on time. Punctuality is an attribute that many companies pay attention to because it shows how prompt and how disciplined the applicant is.

If for any reason you are unable to make it to the appointed date and time of your interview, make sure you give the recruitment office a call and ask them if it is possible to reschedule.

Do this only if you are sick on the day of your interview, or if you have any other understandable excuse, but remember that asking to reschedule can give the recruitment officer a bad impression of you.

Useful Facts about Dillards Inc

During the interview phase of your Dillards hiring process, some knowledge about the company and its history may just work in your favor. Doing a bit of research about the company shows your level of interest in the position you are applying for, and tells the interviewer that you are the applicant that they are looking for.

  • The company’s headquarters are located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
  • Many of the company’s directors and executives are direct descendants of founder WIlliam T. Dillard himself.
  • Dillards Department Store went public in 1969.
  • One secret to the company’s success was a series of acquisitions of other retail stores, which the company used to expand their business.
  • The first Dillards store credit card was sold in 2004.
  • Dillards store credit cards can now be used at other places that accept American Express.
  • The company continues its expansion as it plans to open new stores in Las Vegas, Nevada and Sarasota, Florida in October of 2014
  • Dillards used to have its own travel agency that operated inside some stores.
  • The ticker symbol for Dillards Inc. on the New york Stock Exchange is DDS

Employment at Dillard’s Inc

Working at any of the company’s department stores can be the ideal employment opportunity for people who are looking to find the perfect Dillards job because the store’s hours of operation can fit their schedule.

The store hours vary depending on the location, but typically Dillards department stores are open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Mondays through Saturdays, with a few stores open on Sundays from noon to 6:00 PM.

Being part of a DIllards department store staff also gives you access to a generous employee discount. This means you can shop on your day off and buy merchandise at a really low price.

The work environment is always fun, fast-paced and exciting, and there is always an opportunity to learn more about new products. Information you learn about the products you sell can help you answer questions from your customers, which could in turn convince them to buy your product.

There is also a gratifying feeling whenever you are able to help a customer with their specific needs. Even if the customer is not looking for a particular product in your designated area, pointing them in the right direction can still lead to a sale for the store that you have been assigned to.

Submitting your Dillards employment form in person or through the company website can also open doors to some great employee benefits. Aside from a competitive salary, Dillards Inc. also provides its personnel and management staff with a comprehensive employee benefits package. Store Locations

Currently, Dillards Inc. operates 282 department stores and 17 clearance centers. These stores are spread across 29 states, which are mainly concentrated in the following locations:

  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Iowa
  • Florida
  • Colorado
  • South Carolina
  • Wyoming
  • Oklahoma
  • Kansas
  • Missouri
  • Alabama
  • Nevada
  • Georgia
  • Arizona
  • Tennessee
  • Mississippi
  • Louisiana
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico
  • Utah
  • North Carolina
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Ohio

Dillards department stores also have a minor presence in California and in Montana. Plans to open new stores in more locations are also underway.

Salary

Employees and managerial staff are paid based on their position in the company and their experience. Entry level positions receive a starting salary of around 10 USD to 12 USD per hour, plus approved overtime.

People who are hired in a managerial and supervisory function receive an annual salary that can range from 22,000 USD to 40,000 USD, depending on their specific position, number of years in service, and work experience.

While these highly coveted positions pay significantly higher, it is important to note that the people who are qualified to be in these positions also carry more responsibility, and rank higher in the national tax bracket.

Employee Benefits

Another reason why there are so many people submitting their Dillards employment forms hoping to land an entry-level or managerial position in the company is the employee benefits package that the company offers. Aside from the generous employee discount, people who work at Dillards department stores are entitled to the following benefits:

  • health insurance
  • life insurance
  • dental and vision plans
  • retirement plans
  • personal days
  • paid vacations

All things considered, working at Dillards Inc. can be a great launching point if you plan on having a long and successful career in sales. All the skills and qualifications that you included in your Dillards employment form are useful, but the experience of being on the sales floor can help you hone your skills and eventually land you a promotion in the company.