The Children’s Place Job Application Online
The Children’s Place is a clothing retail company geared toward children from the age of 6 months to 14 years. They have retail locations in malls across the United States and amassed $1.8 billion in revenue as of 2013. They have a strict corporate social responsibility program that focuses on positive working conditions in their factories and outreach to local communities. See the link below for the Children’s Place Application.
The company was founded in 1989, with their headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey. They went public in 1997. From 2005 to 2008, they also operated a chain of Disney Stores before Disney requested to reclaim possession. Today, there are over 1000 Children’s Place locations as well as an online store. They employ over 4000 people.
The company stands by a very strict code of social responsibility. The cornerstone of this code is ensuring the factories that produce their clothing operate in a way that is both safe and healthy for workers. They conduct regular and unannounced audits of all their factories and offer constructive criticism and improvement suggestions. Factories that don’t adopt these suggestions are removed from the supply chain.
In 2007, they launched HERproject, a health and nutrition education program for their workers. Mainly focused on maternal and reproductive health, the project has reached over 200,000 workers worldwide. Its implementation resulted in lower incidence of sickness in their workplaces and greater utilization of onsite medical facilities.
Their commitment to worker’s rights in their industry, environmental sustainability, and improving the communities in which they reside all demonstrate the integrity with which this company operates. Furthermore, they make every effort to only associate with businesses that share these values. See the link below for how to apply for the Children’s Place online. There is no printable application for the Children’s Place.
The Children’s Place Careers
There are numerous Children’s Place jobs available in both the retail and corporate spheres. Those interested in working at one of the many retail locations can find job opportunities as sales associates, back-stock supervisors, and even managers. There are also positions available at the two distribution centers, located in Fort Payne, AL and Toronto, Canada.
Degreed professionals can find fulfilling Children’s Place careers at the headquarters in New Jersey. The company is constantly hiring individuals with specializations in design, marketing, real estate, finance, law, information technology, and many more. These positions, as well as those in retail, are open for advancement opportunities within the company.
How old do you have to be to work at the Children’s Place?
The minimum age to apply for jobs at the Children’s Place is 16 years old. Some positions have other physical requirements, such as the ability to walk or stand for long periods, climb ladders, and lift up to 50 lbs. These requirements apply to most positions in retail locations and the distribution centers.
There are many employment benefits available to workers. The most popular of these is a generous paid time off/vacation policy. The company offers other standard benefits such as health and vision insurance, maternity leave, and a 401K plan. In addition to these benefits, employees receive discounts on products within the company’s stores.
Hours of operation for retail locations are 11am to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am to 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday.
The Children’s Place Job Descriptions
Below is a job description list for several Children’s Place jobs online.
Sales Associate- The sales associate represents the brand and interacts with customers at the retail locations. Key responsibilities include engaging customers with a friendly manner and answering all questions, maintaining adequate stock in the display areas, and keeping the store clean and tidy. If necessary, the sales associate may also help the stock team with shipments and other duties. Flexible scheduling is required. Salary is $9/hr.
Store Sales Manager- The sales manager determines the success of an individual store by assembling an excellent team of employees. Responsibilities include hiring new associates and back stock workers, managing schedules, overseeing and evaluating employee performance, and occasionally interacting with customers in a friendly and professional manner. 3 to 5 years of retail experience is required and a bachelor’s degree is preferred. Salary is $40,000-70,000/year.
Stock Supervisor- This position manages the back stock room to its maximum effectiveness. Responsibilities include effectively managing shipments, price changes and product placement, training associates on effective stock room procedures, and coordinating with the store manager on employee hours dedicated to the stock room. 1 to 3 years of supervisor experience is required. Average salary is $10-14/hr.
Associate Sourcing Manager- This headquarters position manages relationships with vendors for products such as fabric. Responsibilities include coordinating with vendors on pricing and delivery, handling quality problems from vendors, and optimizing selection of products to minimize cost while maintaining the same design. A bachelor’s degree in business is required. Average salary is $60,000-65,000/year.
The Children’s Place Interview Questions
Below are some questions you can expect to hear in an interview for the Children’s Place jobs.
Can you maintain an upbeat attitude while under stress? The market this company serves requires that its image and customer relationships remain lighthearted and positive. You need to be able to maintain this demeanor while dealing with issues such as unhappy customers or incorrect shipments.
Tell me about a time you were a member of a team. Operating a retail location is all about teamwork. Seamless communication between the manager, the stock room workers, and the sales associates ensures that the store runs smoothly and customers are happy. Talk about a time you effectively operated with a team.
Tell me about a time you led a group of people. Even if you’re interviewing for a sales associate position, the interviewer will want to know your potential as a future leader in the company. Prepare a story that demonstrates your skill at effectively leading others.
What is your greatest strength/weakness? Everyone is different, and some individuals will be better suited to certain positions than others. For example, a highly organized but slightly introverted person will be better suited to a stock room job than a sales job. Be honest here so you can be given the position that is right for you.
How flexible is your schedule? Working in retail will require some night and weekend shifts. This is inevitable. Before you apply, be sure that you can handle working outside of the normal 9 to 5.
Advice for the Free Application Process
Whether you apply online (see link below to download application form) or go into a store for a direct application, you can take several steps during the Children’s Place application process to ensure you are successful in getting a job. First, ensure your résumé and online application are well written and free of errors. This demonstrates organization and good communication skills, which will make you stand out among the other applications.
Prior to the interview process, make sure you take care of your appearance. Particularly in retail positions, you will be frequently interacting with customers, and the company wants you to represent their brand well. You will greatly help your image, and the company’s image, by having a clean body, pleasant breath, and well-styled hair. Wear clean and wrinkle-free clothes: business casual for associate positions and business professional for all others.
Although there is no printable application form, bring copies of your résumé for both yourself and the interviewer. Maintain an upbeat yet professional attitude with the interviewer. Your demeanor during the interview will represent what you will be like interacting with customers. The feel of this company is lighthearted and happy, and the more you can project that during the interview, the more likely you are to get hired.
The interview shouldn’t be one-sided. It’s just as important to ensure this company is the right fit for you as it is to ensure you’re a right fit for them. Ask about what hours you’ll be working, what the opportunities for career advancement are, and how you can contribute to community outreach programs. This shows you’re interested in the company, not just trying to find the first job you can.