By OSBA

Consumer Cellular opens 650 jobs

When T-Mobile closed its call center earlier this year, 359 workers lost their jobs. Those employees were offered positions at other T-Mobile locations. But now they have another option. Consumer Cellular, a Portland-based wireless and cellphone service provider, leased the 77,000 square-foot call center and plans to eventually hire 650 people to staff the facility. “We are very proud to announce that we are now officially operational with our first wave of nearly 50 employees,” said Consumer Cellular CEO John Marick in a statement. “We will continue to hire in waves and phases so that we can effectively train our new employees..”

Wal-Mart hires 300

Wal-Mart in Oregon is hiring nearly 300 workers for its strong growth of new stores. Two Gresham stores are new as well as a store in West Linn that opening in May. The store openings reflect nationwide growth where Wal-mart is projected top open up 80 stores around the nation this year. Many of the new stores fit the Oregon model of being energy efficient as they use modern recycling techniques, LED lighting, heat reflective roofs and water & cooling energy-efficient systems.

Target hires 100

Last August Target hosted a job fair to fill 100 positions. Target is looking to hire employees for every department at its remodeled Jantzen Beach location. The job fair took place at the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay. The new store is set to reopen in October. Target is also building a new urban store in the Galleria in downtown Portland as well, expected to open next spring. They plan to begin hiring about 200 employees three months before opening.

New Seasons Hires 150, opens 13th new store

The Portland-owned grocery chain, New Seasons announced the addition of two executive positions. Michelle Lantow, former chief financial officer and, later, president at Lucy Activewear, joins New Seasons as it first chief administrative officer. Lantow is also a former CFO for McCormick and Schmicks. Chris Tjersland, formerly managing partner at consumer goods marketing firm Ultimate Source Northwest, joins as New Seasons’ first private brand development manager. His work will be focused on developing the New Seasons Market private label. New Seasons plans to open its 13th store next year in the Eliot neighborhood in Northeast Portland and will hire about 150 people. Currently the business has more than 2,300 employees.

Wells Fargo = 200 call center jobs

Wells Fargo hosted a job fair in Salem aimed at filling up to 200 call center jobs. The jobs pay between $11.86 and $12.89 per hour and include benefits. The call center serves a variety of Wells Fargo customers across the country, including consumer banking, credit card and home equity. Applicants could also apply online at wellsfargo.com/careers. The call center held an earlier job fair and hired 70 workers from that time through mid-July.

Nike adds stores and employees in FY12

Nike released its annual report, providing new statistics to the past year’s quarterly reports. SportsOneSource, posted the following highlights.Nike has added 21 stores in the U.S., including outlets, employee stores and its subsidiary brands’ retail stores while it added 49 internationally. Total retail stores went from 729 to 826, up 13 percent as of May 31. The fiscal year ended with 44,000 employees worldwide, including retail workers, up from 38,000 a year ago.