AIM Magazine 2017 Print_AIM Magazine_2017_web | Page 17

CUSTOM S E K A C P U C MEETS A Springdale-ba sed grocery store co uld kick start your caree r. HARPS FOOD STORES has 87 stores in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas with jobs ranging from management to special skills, like cake decorating and meat cutting. You can start your career path at Harps while still in school with entry-level positions like cashiers and stockers. That’s what Megan Martin did. She’s a closing manager at a Harps store in Springdale but started out as a cashier. “I’d worked in fast food, but wanted to get out of that and a friend recommended Harps,” she says. Soon after she started, the Springdale High grad started taking on more responsibilities and moving up. “I received cash office and scanning training. Working in the cash office is a big responsibility because you’re in charge of counting down the register drawers and preparing the bank deposits. When you do scanning, you have to make sure the prices and tags on all the items in the store are right.” She plans to keep building her career at Harps. “I’ve talked to my manager about it and I’m committed. I want to be able to say I started here and moved up and be able to measure my success.” Her advice for anyone looking to start a career at Harps is about attitude. “It comes down to wanting to do the job and learn new things. You need to be able to show them that you’re serious about the job.” Anna Blount is also on the path to success at Harps. “I started as a cashier and just thought that would be it, but since then I’ve learned about all these opportunities with the company.” Her favorite part of working at Harps is helping people. “I love getting to interact with the customers and getting to know them.” Blount plans to keep working at Harps while she’s in college and says the company is a great fit for students. “They are really good about scheduling around priorities, like school or family. They listen to what times work for you.” After college, she sees a future with Harps. “After I finish my degree, I’d love to work with the company in customer relations.” She says Harps is good at helping develop your talents. “They see the good in people and place you where your strengths can really shine. There is no limit to how far you can go in this company. There is a lot of room to grow and always an opportunity to learn.” Those opportunities include a management training program for team members who want to become a department or store manag- er. The program is open to employees at all levels. You could also earn promotions at the company’s headquarters in Springdale. Ca- reers at the corporate office include marketing, accounting, graphic design and human resources. Harps Food Stores gives you a chance to invest in your own success. The company is employee owned. That means if you are 21 or older, and have worked at Harps at least half time for a year, you can own stock in the company. Harps is the largest employee-owned com- pany headquartered in Arkansas. It also offers team members paid holidays, vacation time, health insurance and a retireme nt savings plan. If you’re ready to start a career at Harps, visit harpscareers.com for more information. SPRINGDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 17