How to Create a Perfect Retail Sales Resume

How to Create a Perfect Retail Sales ResumeIf youve worked in the world of retail before, you know that you bring a lot of things to the table maybe some Tetris mastering when it comes to shelf-stocking, the ability to balance your drawer with an accuracy the IRS could only dream about, a deft hand incrisis management with colleagues who are about to snap, and the zen skills of dealing with the worst customers in the world while still maintaining a friendly smile. Youre responsible, organized, diplomatic, and a problem solver. But often, one thing matters above all else performance. You can have all the greatest skills on paper, but if youre leid able to deliver out on the floor, little else matters. You want your retail resume to represent a balance between your skills, and your proven record. Your resume should show the reader what youre bringing, as well as how you can fit in with this new company (or a new opportunity at your existing one). googletag.cmd.push(function() googleta g.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832672400-0) ) 1.Which Format Works Best for Retail Sales Resumes?2.What Are Your Skills?3.Are You Experienced?4.How to Format the ResumeWhich Format Works Best for Retail Sales Resumes?If youre just getting started (after graduating or starting over as a career change), you might want to consider a skills-based resume. This means that instead of launching into your work history, you put the spotlight on your professional skills up front. This kind of resume emphasizes the kind of employee you are, and what kind of employee you might be for this new place. A skills-based resume might be the best option ifYou dont have a hr of jobs or much time spent in a retail environment.You held a lot of similar roles at different stores. (And there are only so many ways you can list your skills as a retail abverkauf clerk.)If you have lots of relevant experience, then maybe the standard reverse-chronological format (your job history in reverse, followed by skills, awards , and education) is right for you. But you might also want to consider a hybrid of the two, a combination resume. In this kind of format, you lead with an overview of your most relevant skills, followed by detailed bullets walking back through your work history.No matter what format you choose, consider leading with an objective statement. This is a brief summary of youjust a couple of punchy sentences that sum up your career progress to date, and where you hope to go with this new position. For exampleExperienced, customer-oriented retail sale clerk seeks a position that capitalizes on my organizational and leadership skills.You dont need a novel, or even a paragraphjust a brief summary of your best skills and selling points, and what you hope to achieve with this particular job.What Are Your Skills?What skills should you include on your resume? Not all resumes need to have (or should have) the saatkorn skills. You want to focus on skills that show competence and leadership in reta il sales. The trick with a retail resume is showing how versatile your skills are (because you have tons of great skills that are transferrable), while also sharpening your focus for the job youre applying for.Always, always revise your resume for the specific job opening. If youre applying for a small boutique, emphasize your one-on-one sales skills. If youre applying at a huge mega-chain, show how successful you are at managing a chaotic environment behind the scenes, and how you provided service with a smile to the many, many customers who came through your door. Whatever youre trying to accomplish in this job, make sure the reader has as much context up front. If he or she has to dig to find out how qualified you are, it may be too lateyour resume might already be in the nope, moving along pile. From the start, you want your resume to be a customized.The words you choose are so important as well. The stack of resumes that the hiring manager will be reading will have an endless n umber of responsible fors and helped customers. Make sure you use strong action words to pump up your resume.Show your management skillsadministeredcoordinateddirecteddevelopedenhancedexecutedimprovedledmentoredspear-headedsupervisedtrainedShow your teamwork skillsassessedcoachedcommunicatedorganizedfacilitatedledpersuadedShow your financial skillsbalancedbudgetedforecastedmarketedprojectedShow your organizational skillscataloguedgeneratedorganizedprocessedrefinedstreamlinedRetail jobs are rarely slow and boringaction words show your busy history of moving, helping, serving, organizing, etc. Dont just say youre a mover and a shakershow it whenever possible If you can, start every statement with a specific action word that tells the reader exactly what you did. Phrases like was responsible for and handled arent nearly as descriptive, and theyre so common that the eye glazes right over them.And whenever possible, describe problems youve solved or niches youve filled. That emphasizes a ccomplishments over mere responsibilities.Are You Experienced?Quality is always better than quantity when it comes to listing experience on your resume. You could include every job and volunteer position youve ever held in your life, but if theyre not really related, or so old that youd have to dust off some long-forgotten file format to remind yourself of what you did at that placewhats it called, again?consider leaving them out. You want your resume to be a lean, mean, one-page document (if possible), so its okay to be choosy about what you emphasize.For your work history, you dont want to leave gaps (which could throw up a red flag for the reader), but you also dont have to go into a detailed discussion of everything you did in your part-time high school gig. The further back you go, the easier it is to just list the place you worked, your title, and the dates.If you have a long and relevant work history, try to reduce each one to the most important 2-3 bullet points that offer d ifferent information than you listed for other jobs. You dont want to undermine your extensive experience by having virtually the same information for each job. Space is precious on your resume, so use every line to the fullestHow to Format the ResumeIf you want to use an existing template, there are lots of great resources online that can help you whip your resume into shape, using templates or guidelines. You can also use these libraries to see what you like, and how you want yours to look.LiveCareerResumeGeniusIn addition to samples, these sites also have tools you can use to build your resume from scratch.Lets look at a sample resume for a sales associate looking to move up the ladderCharlie Brown 1313 Lucy Lane Linus, MD 12345 (111) 111-1111 charliebrownemaildomain.comTop-performing retail sales associate with mora than ten years of experience, known for excellent customer service and teamwork, seeking to leverage experience and leadership skills into a team leader position.RE TAIL SKILLSRetail salesMerchandising stockingDisplay designHandling cash and credit card transactionsBilingual customer service (English and Spanish)Loss preventionExcellent communication skillsEXPERIENCEBIG BOX STORE, Baltimore, MD National retail department store with more than $3 million in annual sales.Senior Sales Associate, April 2014 presentIncreased electronics department sales an average of 19% per quarter in one year by redesigning displays, improving signage, and enhancing customer service.Organized the annual Big Box Store Adopts program, which brought in local animal shelter pets for a public adoption event.Designed and implemented in-store displays, and store opening/closing processes.Retail Sales Clerk, June 2008 April 2014Provided proactive, courteous customer service.Conducted cash and credit transactions to complete customer purchases, and balanced drawer at the end of each shift.Assisted in stocking, inventory, display design and implementation, and store openi ng/closing processes.KIDZ TOWN, Barkerville, MD Childrens toy and clothing retailerCashier, May 2006 June 2008Handled cash and credit transactions for customer purchases, as well as returns.Opened and closed the store as necessary.Stocked shelves and assisted in merchandising.ACCOMPLISHMENTS/AWARDSConsistently received excellent ratings on biannual performance reviews and customer surveys.Won Big Box Stores employee of the month award twice, and was a finalist for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Employee of the Year award in 2013.Scored the highest in-store ratings for drawer/cash handling accuracy, with zero overages or shortfalls for 18 straight months.EDUCATIONJames A. Garfield High School, Barkerville, MD High School Diploma, 2008TECHNOLOGY SKILLSMS genau and ExcelPOS software expertiseGraphic design programs (InDesign, Adobe Illustrator)Available for all shifts and evening/weekend/holiday hoursWhen you take the time to create a customized resume that showcases your best skills and s ales experience, youre setting yourself up for an interviewand, hopefully, the job offer. Remember keep it clear, emphasize your strongest points, and dont be afraid to play around with the format to showcase your uniquely awesome combo of skills and experience.Want more resume templates? 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