Vicki Williams just moved from Las Vegas to Sparks two months ago and is looking to make a few friends. So, she went down to Mill Street and filled out a job application – for Scheels Allsports opening in September at Legends at Sparks Marina.

“There’s not a lot of things you can apply for part-time in Sparks,” Williams said. “It’s a good way to meet people when you’re new in Sparks and it’s always hard to make friends in two months.”

Scheels is looking for more than just a few good people to serve the anchor store of the long-anticipated Legends at Sparks Marina destination retail center. Already having hired more than 350 people, personnel manager Eric Grams said it has about 100 more positions to fill.

The company’s Web site, www.scheelssports.com, lists eight types of positions available with detailed descriptions, including:

• Deli and restaurant associates

• Part-time cashier

• Part-time sales associate

• Aquarist/biologist

• Part-time service shop technician

• Support associates

• Fan club specialty shop manager

• Fishing specialty shop manager

“Locally, we’ve had just great applicants, had great applications,” Grams said. “The competition’s been real stiff.

Grams said “thousands” of applications have been submitted and for every 10 turned in, one actually gets the job.

More than 85 percent of the people who have applied are local, Grams said. Other applicants are current Scheels employees from some of its other 22 locations nationally who are hoping to transfer to Sparks.

“They’re attracted to the area and the project,” Grams said. “(Of those wanting to transfer) only one group of people gets to build a store and get the opportunity for advancement within our company.”

Local county and city officials have hoped that the Legends project’s creation of these jobs would jumpstart a waning economy. With Scheels expecting to open in September, Grams said the company has been very pleased with its turnout of potential and current employees.

The hiring process began Aug. 1, 2007, and all but one major full-time position has been filled, Grams said. Scheels is looking for an aquarist/biologist to oversee its two 16,000-gallon aquariums.

So what is Scheels looking for in its employees?

“Number one is attitude,” Grams said. “They have to be great at working with people and have a passion for specific sports and have a high energy level. Many people are very qualified in those areas.”

Managerial positions require a little more on the resume.

“They need experience leading people,” he said.

But they don’t necessarily have to have had experience in the retail industry, he said. The pool of potential supervisors include people who have had careers as college basketball coaches and restaurant managers.

Of the 75 specialty shop management jobs that have been filled to date, 27 Scheels assistant store leaders were transferred within the company or were hired locally, Grams said.

“At the store, (your department) is like your own store,” he said.

Applicants also range in age and life experience from the high school teen or college student in need of a part-time job to the retiree looking for a little extra spending money, Grams said, and the application process is the same for everybody.

Williams, who wants to come out of retirement with a part-time job as a cashier or salesperson, said the staff she interacted with were very “cordial.”

“It seems very organized,” she said.

Previously a casino dealer in Las Vegas, she said she felt she had the people skills to work in a sales position.

“I want to meet people, to really get out there to have purpose,” she said.

For full-time employees, Scheels offers medical and dental insurance, employee stock ownership plans and paid vacation.



While no specific details could be provided on the process itself, applicants must stop by the hiring office.

The hiring office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursday, Scheels will hold a job fair at its 2700 Mill St., Ste. 400 office from 12 to 8 p.m. Grams said staff is hopeful that about 150 applicants will come.