Although the opening of the massive Ikea store on Beard Street in Red Hook has been delayed until August, the retailer is starting to hire and is taking job applications from Red Hook residents as of January 14. The Red Hook applications can only be submitted online. (The company has already filled about 20 management jobs, with people from as far away as California, Canada and Sweden and it advertised another 40 management jobs without giving residents a “head start.”) The possibility of hundreds of jobs for Red Hook residents was used by the retailer to generate support for the project in the neighborhood. As for the unspecified number of non-management jobs, applications from only the 11231 zip code will be accepted through February 4. There are two locations in Red Hook–Red Hook Rise and Red Hook Works–where applicants can use computers for free to file online job applications.
Per the retailer:
All applications must be submitted online. Beginning on January 14th, Red Hook residents can:
Log onto the IKEA website from any computer to apply: www.IKEA-USA.com
- Click on “Jobs” at the bottom of the page/screen
- Click “Apply Now” and then click on “Read More” under ‘National Jobs’
- Scroll down and accept IKEA Privacy Notice
- Click on “Search Openings”
- Under ‘Location,’ scroll down and click on “New York (Brooklyn)” or type “Brooklyn” into ‘Keyword’ and then click on “Search”
- Apply for whichever positions seem most appropriate
- You will be asked to either attach a resume or to input one using the associated resume-builder as part of the online application.
Red Hook Rise is at 480 Van Brunt Street on the second floor above the Fairway. It is open from 10AM-7PM Monday-Friday and from 12-5PM on Saturday and Sunday. Red Hook Works is at 252 Van Brunt and is open Monday-Friday from 10AM-5PM.
Several Ikea job sessions took place earlier this week. Additional ones are slated for January 15, 16 and 17. Only applicants that pre-register can attend. Call 718-596-1327 for the times, locations and to RSVP.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 11:04 am
I just checked Ikea’s job website using the instructions you posted and only found TWO job listings. If this is all that Ikea is offering the Red Hook community, then they got suckered by the Big Blue Swedish giant.
2 redbetty // Jan 11, 2008 at 11:27 am
>they got suckered by the Big Blue Swedish giant.
I think that was already a given.
3 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Let the people of Red Hook eat Ikea 99¢ pasta… after 3pm.
4 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Not only are there only two jobs posted (though there could certainly be more than one opening in each job category), but each requires significant prior experience. “Sales Manager” requires 3-5 years of retail management experience, while “Food Services Assistant Manager” requires 5-6 years of food services management experience. I really hope the local media picks up on this; like Atlantic Yards selling itself to the local populace with the promise of affordable housing that may never be built, IKEA got the support of the local community with the promise of [presumably mostly entry-level] jobs for the local population. Why do we keep falling for this crap?
5 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I believe that if you read the post, the Brooklyn Ikea jobs will be available on January 14th. It ain’t the 14th yet, so give them some slack. This thing has the potential to be good for the ‘hood.
6 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 8:54 pm
As a lifelong Brooklyn resident, I must say I was shocked when I saw what existed at the ikea site before development. There was a sunken tug boat, and an abandoned metal monstrocity that one french art person nearby told me was an old sugar refinery and considered the site “beautiful.” What’s wrong with people?!?!?! Red Hook used to be disgusting, forgotten, and dangerous. The local residents should be grateful to the Swedes for developing commerce and beautifying the waterfront with the royal blue box!
7 Anonymous // Jan 11, 2008 at 9:35 pm
lifelong Brooklyn person, we’d be real happy if Ikea was in a place where people could drive to , get the subway to, but its not. Its in an area that has had maybe 10 trucks a day pas by it and about 40 cars. This 50. I forget the number but the NJ Ikea gets something like 50,000 cars a day. The area is packed with traffic when there are just a few hundred person going to the ballfields… so whatever we should be happy because before it was nothing, now its something.
wasn’t that the same sort of logic that got Bush elect twice???
anyway here’s to weekends in Red Hook… where you won’t be able to move at all by car.
8 Anonymous // Jan 12, 2008 at 10:53 am
The residents of Red Hook should be allowed to leave the parking lot with those weird Swedish carts and assemble the furniture for the 90% that can’t read those pictures that are given as instructions.
9 Anonymous // Jan 12, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Same sort of logic that Bush elected twice? Huh? That’s quite a counter to Red Hook was/still is a shit hole and maybe a little commerce might help…esp since the City is forecasting a rather significant budget deficit. Any idea what amount of tax rev the Ikea in Newark bring into N.J.? Didn’t think so…
10 Anonymous // Jan 12, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Funny thing. I live in a $750K condo, have a bachelors and master’s degree but because my zip code is 11231 I got an invitation in the mail today to apply for a job at Ikea. I don’t think I’m the kind of Red Hook resident Ikea was thinking of when they promised jobs to the neighborhood.
Another funny thing: I’m shocked by the number of people in Brooklyn who don’t see that the drying up of industrial, warehouse and manufacturing jobs is a major problem. The waterfront used to be filled with jobs, not $750K condos.
11 Anonymous // Jan 15, 2008 at 9:12 am
The jobs are great, and Red Hook needs them. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the city. Ikea will be running a free shuttle bus to the subways to bring people in. It’s a few blocks from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, one of the most used access points in the city, and close to some major arteries. What it replaced was interesting to look at in a “romantic ruin” sort of way, but it was old and broken. The graving dock was important, but cities that can’t get rid of old stuff to put in new stuff just become museums for rich people. Living cities must grow and evolve. Ikea will provide a lot of service jobs, which aren’t the best, but they’re low-skilled and will provide benefits, which are almost as valuable as the salary if your only other option is going without.
12 Anonymous // Jan 15, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Ikea has invested a good amount of money to the residents of Red Hook to assist them in preparing for the world of work. The residents who otherwise is not computer literate are getting access to free computer classes and a national credentialing class NRF.
(Nation Retail Federation) All this is being given at the Red Hook Justice Center Free! To the anonymous person that mention their credential and your 750k condo… can you get that condo in Long Island or even Manhattan for that much.. Why don’t you get off your royal ass and help the community you are clearly robbing.