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Hot Topic Jobs in Gurnee, IL (NOW HIRING)

Part-Time Assistant Manager Level 2 At BoxLunch, we're committed using our love of pop culture to do something amazing: eliminate hunger. With every $10 spent, we donate a meal to Feeding America ...

New

Seasonal Sales Associate

Gurnee, IL · On-site

$15 - $15.50/hr

As a Hot Topic Seasonal Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll ...

Sales Associate

Schaumburg, IL · On-site

$15.40 - $15.90/hr

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

Sales Associate

Gurnee, IL · On-site

$15 - $15.50/hr

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

Sales Associate

Vernon Hills, IL · On-site

$15 - $15.50/hr

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

Sales Associate

Gurnee, IL · On-site

$15 - $15.50/hr

As a Hot Topic Sales Associate, you'll be a huge part of our success by providing the best customer service, ensuring that fellow fans can get their hands on the merch they love. You'll share your ...

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Hot Topic information

What is the difference between Hot Topic vs Retail Sales Associate?

AspectHot TopicRetail Sales Associate
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma often preferred; some positions may require knowledge of pop cultureHigh school diploma typically required; training provided on the job
Work EnvironmentSpecialty retail store focused on music, pop culture, and fashionVaries by store; generally in retail settings across various industries
Employer & Industry UsageFashion and entertainment retail chainGeneral retail industry across multiple sectors
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding job roles in specialty retailGeneral retail job responsibilities and differences

Hot Topic and Retail Sales Associate roles both involve working in retail environments, but Hot Topic specializes in pop culture merchandise, requiring specific product knowledge. Retail Sales Associates work across various retail sectors with broader responsibilities. The main differences lie in the store focus and customer base, while credentials and work environment overlap significantly.

What is a hot topic sales associate responsible for?

Hot Topic employees are responsible for providing excellent customer service, assisting shoppers with product selection, operating cash registers, and maintaining store appearance. They often help promote the store’s alternative fashion, music merchandise, and pop culture products. Employees may also handle inventory, stock shelves, and participate in visual merchandising to create an engaging store environment.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a hot topic sales associate?

To thrive as a Retail Sales Associate at Hot Topic, you need strong customer service skills, basic math abilities, and preferably a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management software, and visual merchandising techniques is typically required. Outstanding communication, enthusiasm for pop culture, and teamwork are essential soft skills that set top performers apart. These abilities help create a welcoming store environment, drive sales, and ensure efficient operations in a fast-paced retail setting.
What cities near Gurnee, IL are hiring for Hot Topic jobs? Cities near Gurnee, IL with the most Hot Topic job openings:
Infographic showing various Hot Topic job openings in Gurnee, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 2

Hot Topic

Gurnee, IL • On-site

$17 - $19.55/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

New


Hot Topic rating

5.3

Company rating: 5.3 out of 10

Based on 273 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

80th of 104 rated fashion retailers


Job description

Part-Time Assistant Manager Level 2

At BoxLunch, we're committed using our love of pop culture to do something amazing: eliminate hunger. With every $10 spent, we donate a meal to Feeding America that directly benefits the communities we are in.

We're on the search for a Part-Time Assistant Manager Level 2 that will help lead our civic minded, pop culture driven brand. You'll support the Store Manager in achieving store objectives with regards to hitting sales targets, recruiting, and development. You're Harry Potter and Luke Skywalker rolled into one; you can handle anything that comes your way while driving sales and building lifelong relationships with our customers.

What You'll Do

  • Support your Store Manager in achieving the sales plan and/or comp sales goals. It's not all about the Benjamins, but then it kind of is
  • Help recruit, develop, and retain a super collaborative, passionate team to run your store alongside you
  • You're the store's #1 fan you'll create buzz and customer engagement through promotion of new products, use social media platforms, and additional benefits such as BOPIS and curbside pickup
  • Provide leadership around running an operationally sound business; you'll bring the right balance of ops, delegation/autonomy, and customer-first selling practices
  • Keep watch (like the Night's Watch) on shrink/loss prevention, payroll hours, and associate schedules
  • Collaboratively communicate with retail leadership and HQ partners on trends & customer feedback
  • Run sales reports and use data to help guide your strategy to hit sales targets
  • You'll merchandise the store in a compelling way, leveraging planograms as a guide, while launching all promos on time. In short, you'll deliver the goods!
  • Every Frodo needs a Fellowship! In partnership with your Store Manager, you'll develop your team of loyal associates that are high-performing and customer-focused

What You'll Need

  • At least 1-2 years of retail store management experience. If you're passionate about philanthropy & all things pop culture, you're in the right place!
  • You've led teams to success and want to experience more of it. You'll have skills to pay the bills: communication, recruiting, operations (payroll, reporting, scheduling, merchandising), and be a developer of your peeps
  • You have Avenger-like skills: communication, time management, professionalism, operations, and a drive to develop your peeps
  • You'll have to be at least 18 years of age to join the fandom force
  • A high school diploma or GED equivalent. If you have a degree, even better
  • Roll with the punches. Retail is a fast-changing industry and you like catching curveballs thrown your way
  • The usual retail stuff (with or without reasonable accommodation): able to navigate your way around the store, merchandise product utilizing approved store equipment, and pack and unpack boxes of awesome merch that may weigh up to 50 pounds

$17 - $19.55 an hour Please note the pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but other factors such as an individual's education, location, meeting the minimum job requirements for the role, training and experience, will determine the final salary for potential new hires.


What Hot Topic employees say

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Benefits

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About Hot Topic

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Hot Topic is a leading retailer specializing in music and pop culture inspired fashion, based in Rowland Heights, California, US. Its industry landscape is predominantly within the retail sector with a core focus on teen merchandise. Hot Topic was initially founded in 1988 as a niche store catering to individuals with a different taste in pop culture and music genres but has since grown to host an assortment of merchandise encompassing music, television, film, and video game themes.

Industry

Retail

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Rowland Heights, CA, US

Year founded

1988

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