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Perhaps it never occurred to you to show up for a job interview dressed as Freddy Krueger, but there’s at least one place where, rather than it resulting in someone calling security, it could land you the job.
Although the thrill of getting your house egged and trees toilet-papered is four months away, Spirit Halloween recently began advertising to hire 50,000 seasonal employees to manage and staff its stores. The prospective hiring total marks a record for the 41-year-old company, shattering its previous record of ~40,000 workers last year.
The costumer is always right: Founded by Joseph Marver in San Francisco in 1983, the company was purchased by mall mainstay Spencer Gifts in 1999. At the time, Spirit Halloween had just 60 locations, according to Retail Wire, but it intends to open more than 1,500 this year, according to a recent press release.
A recent story in NJBiz detailed what a feat of planning and negotiation it is for the chain to ink all those short-term leases every year, which it aims to secure from mid-July to mid-November, and for which it gives landlords a “kick-out clause,” meaning they can bail on the contract if they land a permanent deal by June.
Scott Auster, EVP and head of leasing for Urban Edge Properties, told the publication
“It takes a lot of planning and strategy to execute a 1,500-store program every single year and starting from zero every single time,” Auster said. “And they’re doing it all year round. They’re not waiting until the Halloween season to secure these spaces.”
As for how to apply for one of its seasonal jobs, the ever-ghoulish company instructs prospective employees to text “Reaper” to 85000. Or you can apparate over to Work4Spirit.com.