IKEA Launches Recruitment Program in Atlanta To Fill 500 Positions

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, a leading home furnishings retailer, announced the recruitment program for its future Atlanta store -- opening this summer -- that will feature a job fair event on March 12 offering participants the chance for "Dinner and a Movie." Named in Working Mother magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for two consecutive years and recently named to Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For," IKEA values and has great respect for co-workers' personal lives and the importance of a work/life balance. With approximately 500 jobs to be filled at the first IKEA store in the Southeast, this recruitment effort makes it possible to apply for a job and still have fun with family and friends. "We realize that the opportunity to be able to do the things in life that bring personal joy and happiness (which ultimately enables good health) is extremely valuable to our coworkers," said Lynda Mee, store manager, IKEA Atlanta. "With a vision to create a better everyday life for the many - customers and coworkers alike both at work and at play - the IKEA recruitment job fair will offer the chance for 'Dinner and a Movie' as a fun way to provide tremendous career opportunity at IKEA Atlanta while making the search for a new job as rewarding as possible so there is more quality time to spend with family and friends." Every hour, randomly-chosen candidates interviewing for a coworker position at the IKEA Atlanta job fair on March 12 will receive two free movie tickets and two free dinner coupons (to be used at the IKEA Atlanta Restaurant when the new store opens) to help them take time to relax and enjoy the weekend with family and friends. Following is more information about the job fair offering the chance for "Dinner and a Movie:" - Saturday, March 12 Walk-in Interviews 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (last walk-ins at 7:30 p.m.) Omni Hotel, 100 CNN Center (Marietta & Centennial Olympic Park Dr.) Atrium Terrace, South Tower Atlanta, GA Interested candidates will participate in group interviews. Stations will be set up where prospects can fill out applications and view videos featuring information about the IKEA concept, business model, advertisements and coworker culture. Although many local residents have been hired for senior level management positions, many diverse coworker positions are still available, including: warehousing and loss prevention agents; sales; maintenance; customer service; stock control; cashiers; and approximately 80-100 food service opportunities at the IKEA Restaurant, Swedish Foodmarket, Cafe Bistro and staff cafeteria. Interested candidates are also encouraged to apply at: http://jobsat.ikea-usa.com. Drawing from our Swedish heritage, IKEA is committed to a flexible workplace environment that emphasizes a work/life balance and provides professional opportunities without any gender or life situation limitations. If an IKEA coworker needs to take time off to find a nursing home for an aging parent, be home to kiss their child before bed, or telecommute to best juggle caring for a newborn, they can do so without worrying about risking their career aspirations. IKEA offers family-friendly initiatives and diverse workplace benefits including full medical/dental insurance to coworkers working 20 hours or more per week with eligibility for domestic partners and children. In addition, coworkers with less than 20 hours a week are offered full access to full benefits. Other benefits include: paid maternity/paternity leave and paid time off for child adoption; tuition assistance; 401(k) matching; flexible work arrangements (job share, telecommuting and condensed work weeks); extensive professional development, training and mentoring programs; lactation rooms for nursing mothers; and discounts for weight loss and smoking cessation services. The organization puts career opportunity into the hands of the individual, encouraging coworkers to consider assignments within different functions, at other IKEA stores and even in other countries. During 2004, IKEA had a coworker growth of 23% and will continue to increase its coworker staff as part of the company's aggressive expansion plans. IKEA employs more than 8,000 coworkers in the United States and 84,000 globally and looks forward to welcoming 500 more when IKEA Atlanta opens this summer. Currently under construction on 15-acres in Midtown Atlanta's mixed-use Atlantic Station development just off the I-75/85 connector, the 366,000 square-foot IKEA Atlanta will present 50 different room settings, four model homes, a supervised children's play area, as well as a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon platters. Other family-friendly features will include a Children's IKEA area in the showroom, baby care rooms, family parking and play areas throughout the store. Additionally, IKEA will provide significant annual sales tax revenue benefits to the state and property tax revenue for local government. IKEA currently has more than 205 stores in 32 countries, including 22 in the U.S., where the company aims to open five new stores a year. Other U.S. stores being planned include locations in: Bolingbrook, IL; Brooklyn, NY; Canton, MI; Dublin, CA; Frisco, TX; Somerville, MA; Stoughton, MA; and West Sacramento, CA. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been named - for two years in a row - to Working Mother magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," and recently to Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for." IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to: http://www.ikea-usa.com. For information about working at IKEA, please visit: http://JobsAt.IKEA-usa.com.