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How To Explain Retail Job On Resume

Projects Interests Or Hobbies: Does Your Retail Resume Need These

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In most situations, it’s unnecessary to mention your interests and hobbies as well as the projects you’ve worked on in the past. There are, however, some scenarios where adding this information is appropriate depending on your level of experience you have and the employer you’re sending a resume to.

If you are currently a high school or college student or are applying for an entry position, your lack of past experience gives you the perfect opportunity to add projects, hobbies, and interests to your resume.

For interests and hobbies, you could include:

  • Playing team sports

Additionally, your retail resume could benefit from including projects like:

  • Creating a personal website with WordPress
  • Reorganizing your school’s entire library of 1,600+ books

Retail And Customer Service Resume Samples

Before applying for a job in retail or customer service, it’s a good idea to review relevant resume samples while writing or editing your own. This is a great way to get a better idea of how your resume should look and what information to include.

Often, your resume will be the initial way a potential employer gets to know you, so take the time to make sure it properly displays your best qualities in customer service and includes past experiences and retail successes.

Should You Include Low

Dear Work It Out,

I’m looking for a job in a new field, but I work in retail part-time to pay the bills. I was a teacher until I left the workforce to start a family. Then I worked at an education non-profit part-time and got my master’s degree. Now I’m looking in the legal, human resources and higher education fields.

If you’re searching for a professional job but had to take a lesser position to make ends meet, should you list that as your current job? I’m afraid that including my retail position on my resume would hurt me rather than help. What should I do?

This is a great question without a clear-cut answer. I’ve asked several recruiters and hiring managers what they think, and they are perfectly divided.

Some wholeheartedly believe there’s no downside to including retail jobs on your resume and say it could help to show you’ve been keeping busy. Others fervently disagree, saying it may reek of desperation and actually highlight gaps in your resume.

Since you can’t know which side your potential employer might be on, I’d recommend you play it safe and either downplay or exclude it altogether.

Don’t get me wrong I think there are some instances when it might make sense to include retail gigs on your resume. If you’re looking for an entry-level or administrative job and don’t have much professional experience, it could help to show you have some general work experience.

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Retail Assistant Manager / Operations Manager

Worked in busy, customer-focused retail environment overseeing and supporting 40+ person staff in driving revenue for cellular phones while ensuring superior customer service. Conducted a variety of administrative operations tasks, including: opening/closing store, cash reconciliation/management, and developing staff assignments according to operational expectations.

  • Developed and implemented performance development and training initiatives which optimized staff performance and resulted in continuous surpassing of sales quotas.
  • Executed innovative sales expansion strategies which resulted in a 12% increase in monthly sales.
  • Received Employee of the Year Award, for perfect attendance for 3 years.

Writing Psychology For Retail Sales Associates

uk retail cv example template minimo in 2020

For a retail position, there are a few key qualities youll want to convey in your cover letter.

  • Teachability: For most retail sales associates, a positive attitude and willingness to learn are all you need to get started. Most retail store managers are used to students and young people who dont have any experience in the industry. If thats you, make sure to highlight your eagerness to learn and enthusiasm for the position.
  • Customer Service: In retail, the customer is king. Its a great idea to use the body section of your letter to highlight situations where you went above and beyond to help someone or provided great customer service despite challenges.
  • Stamina: Retail jobs often come with long hours of repetitive tasks requiring physical and mental endurance. Stamina doesnt have to be a focus of your letter but you should convey to some extent your determination and flexibility for a variety of shifts and situations.
  • Efficiency: A lethargic retail sales associate can cost a store lots of money in unproductive time. Most hiring managers will understand if this retail position isnt your lifelong goal, but you should always aim to express motivation and energy for as long as you are employed.

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Reflect On Your Relevant Skills And Experience

Aside from evaluating the skills and experience mentioned in the job descriptions, you should also spend some time thinking about the unique attributes and details that make you stand out as an ideal candidate. For example, you could include things like achievements, awards, technical skills, soft skills, certifications and experience.

Retail Resume Objective Examples

You can review the following objective examples as a guide when creating your own:

  • Highly motivated retail manager with a bachelors degree in marketing, seeking to increase sales margins within the Fab & Fit apparel sector. Wishing to leverage excellent leadership skills to maximize profitability and fulfill shopper needs.
  • Dependable retail associate with proven customer service skills earned as a ticket sales clerk for various high school events. Seeking to leverage people skills and cashier knowledge to sell womens apparel at Pretty Feminine.
  • Hardworking retail associate with a certificate in fashion, seeking management position in luxury menswear store. Offering strong knowledge of high-end mens apparel and the ability to provide strong delegation and decision-making skills.
  • Motivated retail professional seeking a role with Margarets Outdoor Supplies in which I can utilize my extensive camping and hiking knowledge, negotiation skills and dedicated work ethic.
  • Recent college graduate seeking an entry-level retail role with Industrial Kitchen Goods where I can apply my critical-thinking and customer service skills.

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The Importance Of Specificity

On your resume for a retail position, you may have listed attributes like flexible, motivated and quick learner. While these are all great qualities to possess in this field, its up to retail management to simply believe you have the skills you say you do. Thats why employers are so keen to read your cover letter it gives you a chance to demonstrate how youve put your abilities to action.

To that end, its important to be specific in your cover letter. According to brothers and authors Dan and Chip Heath, specificity is one of the most important qualities to make a great idea stick in our minds. You want your skillset, personality and unique perspectives to rest with the hiring manager even after theyve finished reading your letter.

So how do you achieve specificity? Facts, numbers, locations and descriptions can all help to make your experience come to life on the page. Youll want to avoid boring or confusing the reader with too many details, so make sure to pick the ones that are most important to illustrate the story, especially your achievements. You should also aim to include numbers and facts that will be of interest to this new employer.

Putting the rules of specificity into practice

Check out these two contrasting retail cover letter samples to see how numbers, facts and other details can help you better express your accomplishments.

Shipping / Receiving Technicianresume Examples & Samples

How to Write a Resume | With Little or NO Work Experience
  • Able to lift, use tools, shovel, sweep, load & unload, and carry materials up to 50lbs frequently
  • Able to climb ladders and work at heights up to 120ft
  • Able to stand, walk, and climb stairs continuously
  • Able to work in noisy, dusty, and all weather conditions
  • Able to be on call and work extended hours as needed
  • The ability to pay attention to detail and follow written and verbal work instructions
  • The ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Outlook
  • One year of previous experience working in a manufacturing environment
  • Day-to-day planning, transfer coordination and execution of proper paperwork for hazardous waste drum management
  • Load and unload drums from trucks
  • Weigh and label drums
  • Monitors and insures that all key deadlines are met and proper follow-up is implemented to insure proper drum transfer compliance requirements
  • 2+ years of shipping and receiving experience
  • Coordinate with Operations Supervisor to meet all production and shipping requirements
  • Receive and warehouse components, printed material and raw material
  • Break down lot specific raw tablets into specified jobs
  • Obtain QC inspection samples for each job
  • Maintain inventory levels
  • Maintain storage and perform shipping of private label products
  • Assemble documentation as required by SOP
  • MBR reconciliation
  • Remove and store empty skids
  • Trash removal
  • Must be attentive to details
  • Must be able to work well with others
  • Certified to operate a fork lift

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Include An Introductory Statement

The next step is for you to introduce yourself. You can include your full name and a quick explanation of where you are in your career. For example, you might say “My name is Ane Dore, and I am a student at Edwards University studying electrical engineering,” or “My name is Jacob Jones, and I have three years of retail experience.” Then you can give a quick outline of your educational background and professional experience.

Use A Resume Summary When You Have Experience

Professional summaries are typically most useful when you have over three years of relevant retail experience. That’s because the achievements and experience you likely earned during that time enable you to create a statement that is impactful and effective. If you have less than three years of retail experience, then using a resume objective is usually a better choice.

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What Are The Top Retail Skills

If you have an ample amount of past work experience, it’s likely you have dozens of skills that could prove useful in the job you’re applying for. However, you should include skills that are relevant to the specific needs listed in the job ad. Before you start listing your skills, you should know the difference between hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills refer directly to the abilities and knowledge that employees require to effectively perform their responsibilities. These skills are 100% job-related. Soft skills are more difficult to measure. For retail jobs, hard skill examples include:

  • Money handling and basic math
  • Product knowledge

Some examples of soft skills that are ideal for the retail industry include:

  • Communication
  • Patient
  • Quick learner and adaptable

Search for keywords in a job description ad that tell you the types of skills the company is seeking. You should typically list around 5 to 8 skills on a retail resume.

How Do I Structure My Retail Cv

Resume Example Retail Experience

Donât disregard those skills and attributes you think will enhance your application but which donât fit naturally into the sections above you can be flexible with headings. You might decide to add a section on âLanguage skillsâ or âSkills in ITâ. Alternatively, if you have a number of points that arenât related to each other , these could come under âOther capabilitiesâ, or similar.

While you should make sure you cover all four parts in the section above, you have choice when it comes to the CV format take a look at this TARGETjobs article for a better idea of your options.

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Tips For Writing A Summer Job Resume

  • Include All Relevant Experience: If you have limited work history , you can include unpaid experiences on your resume. You can include internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and leadership positions on sports teams. The trick is to explain how these experiences helped you develop skills or abilities that will be useful in the job for which you are applying. For instance, in the resume example below, the job seeker mentions how her work at an Open Pantry gave her experience working a cash register and interacting with the public.
  • Consider a Section With Directly Related Experience: While you should include all relevant experience, if you have any experience directly related to the job you are applying for, consider listing it in a separate section towards the top of your resume. For example, if youre applying for a job as a sales associate and have worked in sales in the past, include a section called Sales Experience. Then, include other experience in another section called Other Experience or Related Experience.
  • How To Write A Resume When Transitioning Out Of Retail

    Retail work experience can provide a versatile skill set ranging from customer relations to warehouse organization. This diverse experience can be an advantage when you decide to leave the retail world and seek employment in another field. While this transition can be challenging, a well-organized resume focusing on your unique skills shows your potential employer the benefit in hiring you.

    Review your retail experience and make a list of the specific skills that you used at your job. These may include money handling, customer service, being a pleasant and helpful coworker, and having polite phone etiquette or a clean work area. The diversity of your retail job requirements is your key to transitioning out of retail. Calming an angry customer and facilitating a merchandise exchange may have been a part of your daily job, for example, but on your resume, that action represents your talent for staying calm under pressure and turning a hostile situation into a positive experience for your client.

    Organize your resume according to your strengths. Place your skills section toward the top of your resume, and your work history toward the bottom of the page. This arrangement emphasizes the strongest elements of your resume. When transitioning from one type of job to another, prior experience in an unrelated field is less important than the potential skills you can bring to the new field.

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    Customer Service Resume Examples And Writing Tips

    Are you applying for a customer service position? If so, you’ll want to emphasize some of the soft skills commonly required for customer service employees, such as being an excellent communicator and having strong interpersonal skills.

    Employers will also be looking for candidates who are punctual and responsible, because customer service workers often handle cash registers and replace other employees during shift changes.

    What To Include In Your Customer Service Resume

    How To Write A Sales Resume

    Include the right information. The most important elements to include in your resume are your contact information, education, and experience. Another optional way to highlight your customer service abilities is to list them in a skills section.

    Include optional sections, if you wish. These include a resume objective or resume profile. Use the objective or profile to specify what role you are looking for, along with the talents and abilities you’d bring to the position.

    Emphasize your experience. You should be sure to list any previous customer service positions you’ve held.

    Use the appropriate keywords. In addition to highlighting strong soft skills, you may also want to include customer service keywords throughout your resume.

    Make a match. Match your qualifications to the job listing to be sure your resume accurately reflects your ability to do this particular job.

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    Sample Retail Resume And Writing Tips

    When companies make their hiring decisions for retail management jobs, they are looking for candidates who have gained a fair amount of experience in retail sales settings. In particular, they seek people who have proven themselves to be proactive leaders and organizers even in entry-level positions.

    How Do I Use Work Experience To Show My Skills On A Graduate Cv For Retail

    As with your education history, your work experience should be in reverse chronological order, with dates included. Underneath each job or internship on your CV, write bullet points explaining your core responsibilities. Any significant achievements or successes should be highlighted here, too.

    Where possible, use similar language to that of the job description and explicitly state the skills and qualities you demonstrated. The final bullet point in the template below shows how to do this effectively.

    Write about each task in a way that makes clear how it demonstrates youâre suitable for a position with the retailer go further than just listing what you did. In the example above, including âwas trusted toâ makes it obvious that the prospective employee is responsible and reliable.

    Make sure you use compelling verbs in each bullet point, as this will mean you cover the basics by writing about what you did and how you contributed â the use of âdeputised forâ, âtrainedâ and âdealtâ in the example above, and âranâ and âpresentedâ below, should give you a good idea of how to do this.

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    Shipping & Receiving Supv Armani Outletresume Examples & Samples

    • To insure that all shipping/receiving policies, procedures and directives are understood and executed consistently and effectively
    • Anticipate merchandise maintenance needs and execute and lead plan of action
    • Insure all merchandise is accurately ticketed, re-ticketed, sensored and re-sensored
    • Insure proper and secure storage of all merchandise
    • Effectively participate in the timely preparation and completion of all inventories and cycle counts

    Best Format For A Retail Cover Letter

    Free Retail Sales Associate Resume Samples Velvet Jobs ...

    Some applicants fear the cover letter writing process so much, they simply submit a jog application without one. Luckily, you’ve already decided not to make this mistake and are ready to write an outstanding retail cover letter.

    It’s a decision you will never regret! Learning to write a professional cover letter is a skill that will reward you for the rest of your career. And the process and format is remarkably simple and straightforward.

    Let’s break down the parts of this document into an easy-to-follow framework that works across industries and positions. Here are the key components:

    • Cover letter header
    • Signature / sign-off

    You can find even more information about each of these sections, plus free example sentences in this handy cover letter writing guide. Plus, our easy-to-use cover letter templatesmake finishing your application a breeze.

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