Dillard’s Application — How to Apply Online

How to Apply at Dillard’s

1. Visit dillards.com/careers to search open positions by state, city, or store location.
2. Browse available positions for the Dillard’s location nearest you and select the role that matches your interests.
3. Click the apply button and complete the online application form with your personal and contact information.
4. Enter your employment history for the past two to three years, including supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks.
5. Indicate your department preferences — Dillard’s sells across cosmetics, women’s and men’s apparel, shoes, accessories, home, and more.
6. Answer supplemental questions about your customer service experience and approach to selling.
7. Submit your application and expect to hear from the store’s Human Resources department within 5-7 business days.
8. Attend an interview with the department manager and HR team, then complete the required background and drug screening process.

Dillard’s Job Positions & Pay Rates

Dillard’s Application Requirements

Dillard’s is one of the largest department store chains in the United States, operating approximately 250 stores across 29 states with a concentration in the South, Southwest, and Midwest. The company is privately controlled and family-led, which creates a distinctive culture compared to publicly traded department store competitors. Dillard’s is known for its upscale-adjacent merchandise mix and its strong emphasis on personal selling and commission-based compensation in most floor departments.

Sales Associate positions at Dillard’s are open to applicants 18 years of age or older in most markets. Prior retail experience is preferred, and candidates with sales experience are particularly competitive given the commission structure that underpins most department roles. The application and interview process is more formal than typical retail employers — the Human Resources department is directly involved in most hiring decisions, and the interview panel often includes both the department manager and an HR representative. Background checks and drug screenings are standard for all hired candidates.

Dillard’s operates a commission-based pay model in most departments, meaning Associates earn a base hourly rate plus a percentage of their personal sales above a defined threshold. This structure creates significant income upside for strong sellers but requires a proactive, customer-initiated approach to service. Associates in cosmetics, shoes, fine jewelry, and women’s apparel departments are typically the highest-earning floor team members due to the higher average transaction values in those categories. The commission model is a fundamental part of the Dillard’s employment experience and the key differentiator that attracts high-performing retail talent.

Dillard’s Interview Process

Dillard’s interviews are more formal than most specialty or discount retailers, typically running 30-45 minutes and involving both the department manager and the store’s Human Resources team. The process is designed to identify candidates who have both customer service aptitude and genuine selling drive — since commission compensation makes personal performance directly visible in payroll. Coming prepared with specific examples of your selling approach and customer service experience is essential.

Expect questions such as “Describe a time you helped a customer find something they weren’t sure they were looking for,” “How do you approach a goal-oriented selling environment?” “What department at Dillard’s interests you most and why?” and “How do you handle a customer who is unhappy with a product after purchase?” For Department Sales Lead and management candidates, the conversation expands to team leadership, managing individual performance within a commission-based team, and driving department-level sales results. Knowledge of the Dillard’s brand and the specific department you are applying for is a significant interview advantage.

After the interview, candidates receive feedback within 5-7 business days. Conditional offers are followed by background checks and drug screenings at most locations. Onboarding covers the company’s customer service model, POS system, commission calculation and tracking, product knowledge for your specific department, and credit card application assistance protocols. New Associates are assigned to a specific department and begin building client relationships from their first week on the floor.

Dillard’s Employee Benefits

Dillard’s provides a merchandise discount to all employees, typically in the range of 25% off regular-priced merchandise across the store’s full product range. Given the premium positioning of many Dillard’s brands and the breadth of categories — including designer apparel, cosmetics, shoes, and home goods — this discount represents significant purchasing power for Associates who shop the store. The discount is one of the most practical daily benefits cited by Dillard’s team members.

The commission structure in most departments creates meaningful income upside beyond the base hourly wage. Associates in high-volume cosmetics, shoes, and fine jewelry departments consistently report total hourly effective rates that exceed base pay significantly during strong selling periods. Peak sales events such as the Dillard’s Annual Clearance Sale, spring and fall new arrivals, and holiday shopping season create concentrated opportunities for commission income that can substantially boost annual earnings.

Full-time Associates and management-track employees at Dillard’s receive comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company contributions, and paid time off. The company’s family-controlled ownership structure creates a stable employment environment with lower executive turnover than publicly traded competitors, which many employees cite as a factor in consistent management culture and store stability. Management development programs are well-regarded within the department store sector and provide structured advancement pathways for high-performing Associates.

Dillard’s Career Development

Dillard’s has a clearly defined career path from Sales Associate to department and store management, supported by formal training programs and an emphasis on internal promotion. Associates who demonstrate consistent selling performance, product expertise, and customer relationship building are considered for Department Sales Lead roles, typically after 12-24 months on the floor. The commission model creates a transparent, measurable performance record that managers can reference directly when making advancement decisions.

Department Sales Leads develop supervisory skills including team mentorship, floor leadership during busy selling periods, and opening and closing responsibilities. The experience prepares high-performing leads for the Assistant Store Manager role, which encompasses multi-department oversight, inventory management, staff scheduling, and P&L accountability shared with the Store Manager. Dillard’s management training is structured and classroom-supported, providing formal competency development alongside on-floor practical experience.

Store Managers at Dillard’s lead teams of 100 or more employees across multiple departments, managing total store performance including sales, shrink, customer satisfaction, and team development. The scale of a full department store management role is significantly larger than specialty retail, and the experience is highly valued across the broader retail industry. Dillard’s also operates a management trainee program through select universities that provides a structured entry point for candidates seeking an accelerated path to department and assistant store management.

Frequently Asked Questions