Amanda Clark — June 18, 2018 — June 18, 2018
Free-Photos / Pixabay
If you’ve ever spent time working in retail, you quickly realize that the skills and responsibilities can be fairly similar between jobs. This can make writing your resume more challenging because you don’t want to repeat the same thing for every role. You also don’t want to bore hiring managers with a laundry list of tasks you completed. Greeted customers. Check. Stocked shelves. Check. Rang up purchases. Check.
But your resume doesn’t have to – and shouldn’t – be humdrum. There are ways you can make your retail experience stand out and impress potential employers with your capabilities and achievements. You just have to look at things from the right perspective and know what to call attention to.
Training – Yours and Others’
Did you participate in a company program for emerging leaders or step up to cross-train in another department? Were you selected to help train new hires and show them the ropes? Training can be very beneficial. It shows that you are knowledgeable of the business and your position, and that you were entrusted to support others in being successful as well. Continued professional development shows your commitment to improving your skills, abilities, and leadership within the organization.
Metrics
Use sales figures, percentages, and other data to your advantage. Give hiring managers quantitative data that shows your ability to achieve results. Were you a top performer in your department, store, or district? Have you consistently met your sales goals every month or quarter? This is something to be proud of and demonstrates your sales skills.
Projects or Process Improvements
It can be easy to overlook your contributions to projects or processes because, to you, it can seem like just another part of your job. But think back to times where you were assigned special tasks or put in charge of getting a project done. Did the store implement an idea you had for streamlining checkout, reducing pricing errors, or expediting restocking of merchandise? Consider ways that you made a positive difference in how things were run, even just in your own department.
Leadership
Were you a key holder that opened or closed the store? Were you responsible for cashing out employees at the end of the day? Did you serve on the safety committee? Highlight activities that show your leadership and that you were entrusted with higher level responsibilities. Not everyone is chosen to take on these roles, so be proud that your performance, dependability, and credibility were recognized.
Retail work doesn’t have to be a sore spot on your resume. Make your experience shine by calling attention to your accomplishments, achievements, and leadership. Show that you have what it takes to not only get the job done, but to do it well.
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