Sears Holdings Hosts Inaugural "Invite A Veteran To Work Day" At Headquarters, 1,800 Sears And Kmart Stores

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) announced today that leading up to Veterans Day the company will host its inaugural "Invite A Veteran to Work Day" on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and at 1,800 Sears and Kmart stores across the U.S.  At each event Sears Holdings will honor the men and women of the armed forces, provide a rare behind-the-scenes look inside the company's operations, and share how they can transition into the civilian workforce and prepare themselves for a career with the leading integrated retailer.

"We recognize the key role the veteran community plays in the workforce as evidenced by our 30,000 veteran associates, many of whom are still serving in the National Guard and the Reserve forces," said Sherry Nolan-Schultz, vice president, talent acquisition and diversity, Sears Holdings. "We invite all veterans to join us on this unique day to learn more about our company, career opportunities and workforce re-entry strategies."

The six-hour event will feature sessions on veteran transition strategies; workshops on LinkedIn, resume development and interviewing; a campus tour; and lunch with a senior executive. The local events at the stores will enable veterans to meet with Sears and Kmart managers and associates to learn more about the company and career opportunities. Veterans are encouraged to visit the Military Talent Community at jobs.sears.com/campaign-veterantowork2013 to learn more about the program and RSVP for their preferred event as attendance is limited. 

Sears Holdings developed "Invite a Veteran to Work Day" in support of the White House's Joining Forces initiative to give service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. The company recognizes that our nation's servicemen and women possess a unique skill set and leadership qualities difficult to find anywhere else. The knowledge and proficiencies learned in the service has helped military veterans transition into positions involving a wide range of industry disciplines such as logistics, store management, loss prevention and home services.

In addition, this is also a time in which Sears Holdings will recognize the hard work of many of the company's military spouses. In many cases, they have been left to manage their career and family while a loved one is serving in the military. The company recognizes that military spouses also support our armed forces and have made a commitment to them through the Military Spouse Employment Program and Joining Forces.

Commitment to Veterans
Sears Holdings actively demonstrates its support of America's military through its actions, initiatives, and relentless effort to become the employer of choice for veterans. In 2012, Sears Holdings hired 3,500 military veterans and are on pace to exceed that number this year. Sears currently employs more than 30,000 U.S. veterans, with more than 1,500 still serving in the National Guard and reserves. Additionally, thousands of veteran spouses work for Sears Holdings.

The company created the Heroes at Home^sm initiative in partnership with Rebuilding Together, the nation's largest all volunteer home rehabilitation organization, to meet the urgent need to assist military families facing hardship. This spring, more than 75 military family homes were rebuilt, including a cluster of homes in Red Hook, N.Y. that Sears and Rebuilding Together committed to rebuild last fall in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Thanks to donations by Shop Your Way rewards members, customers and associates, the program has raised more than $17 million over the past six years, funding more than 1,300 home rebuilds for America's military heroes. For more information about Heroes at Home, visit sears.com/heroesathome.

Sears has been recognized as one of the country's leading military employers. The company's leading recruitment programs place veterans in jobs within the organization as well as accommodations for their spouses who have relocated to be closer to them. The company also offers a military pay differential to its full-time associates who are reservists and serving on active duty, allowing each to continue participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs. Sears will also hold a comparable position for deployed employees for up to five years.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is a leading integrated retailer with almost 2,500 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of SHOP YOUR WAY, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service and installation calls made annually, and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR® "Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com. Twitter: @searsholdings || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Sears Holdings Public Relations
(847) 286-8371

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation