what is a good resume summary for retail sales

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Retail resume summary examples.

Approved by hiring managers, here are proven resume summary examples you can use on your Retail resume. Learn what real hiring managers want to see on your resume, and when to use which.

• Entry-Level Retail Associate
• Retail Assistant Manager
• Retail District Manager
• Retail Manager
• Retail Operations Manager
• Retail Sales Associate
• Retail Sales Representative
• Retail Store Supervisor
• Senior Retail Manager
• Retail resume templates
• Similar summary examples

Retail Resume Summary Example

Highlighting impact on sales.

By underscoring a 20% increase in sales, this resume summary paints a vivid picture of the applicant's impact on the bottom line. It is a strong statement that immediately captures attention, speaking volumes about the candidate's sales acumen. However, it also helps the candidate pass through the ATS, as "increasing sales" is a common keyword in retail job postings.

Emphasizing operational efficiencies

The mention of implementing a new inventory management system isn't just about showcasing technical skills. It's a subtle demonstration of the candidate's ability to identify problem areas and implement solutions - a desirable trait for any retail leader. This is a strong selling point, especially when quantified with a 15% decrease in stock discrepancies.

Showcasing people skills

Mentioning customer satisfaction scores is a wise move. It signals to potential employers that the candidate isn't just about sales and numbers, but also understands the importance of customer relations in retail. It suggests a well-rounded retail professional, capable of delivering results while keeping customers happy.

Entry-Level Retail Associate Resume Summary Example

Show your ability to exceed expectations.

When you say you have a knack for 'consistently exceeding sales goals', it speaks volumes about your dedication and ability to perform beyond what's expected. It's a clear signal to employers that you're not just a meet-the-minimum type of employee, but one who aims to outperform.

Display your technical proficiency

Today's retail world is heavily reliant on technology. Noting that you're 'proficient in using retail management software' shows that you understand this reality and are comfortable navigating it. This paints you as a well-rounded candidate, capable in both sales and tech.

Highlight your customer service skills

Excellent customer service is the backbone of retail. By pointing out your recognition for 'providing outstanding customer service', you're demonstrating that you understand the importance of cultivating positive customer relationships to drive sales and loyalty.

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Retail Assistant Manager Resume Summary Example

Increasing same-store sales.

Increasing same-store sales is a key performance indicator in retail. Mentioning this achievement speaks to the candidate's ability to improve performance within existing structures and resources, which is a highly desirable trait in a potential retail manager.

Enhancing customer loyalty

Introducing a new customer loyalty program suggests that the candidate understands and values customer relationships. The increased repeat business is a testament to the success of this strategy, indicating a candidate who can think strategically about customer retention.

Leading high-performing sales teams

Developing and leading high-performing sales teams points to the candidate's leadership skills and ability to motivate and drive a team towards achieving sales goals. This demonstrates the candidate's potential to take on a leadership role and drive results in a retail context.

Retail District Manager Resume Summary Example

Give evidence of your impact.

By showcasing your success in 'increasing sales across a 10-store district by 30%', you provide potential employers with a tangible measure of your potential impact. This conveys a strong message about your ability to handle large scale operations and deliver significant results.

Exhibit your initiative in training

Introducing a 'new district-wide training program' demonstrates your commitment to staff development and showcases your innovative and proactive nature. It also speaks to your ability to strategize and implement improvements on a larger scale.

Show your leadership prowess

Mentioning that you're known for 'building and leading high-performing teams across multiple store locations' underscores your leadership skills and your ability to manage teams across different locations. It sends a clear signal that you have what it takes to guide, motivate, and drive productivity in a large team.

Retail Manager Resume Summary Example

Demonstrating initiative and results.

Launching new store locations successfully is no small feat. It signals initiative, leadership, and the ability to navigate challenges. More importantly, it demonstrates the candidate's capacity to deliver tangible results, as indicated by the exceeded sales projections.

Displaying cost-effectiveness

Implementing a cost-saving scheduling system highlights the candidate’s resourceful nature. In retail, where margins can be thin, this skill is highly appreciated. It makes the candidate appear as someone who doesn't just drive sales, but also understands the importance of cost management.

Stressing team management

The aspect of developing high-performing teams is a crucial one. It’s not just about leadership, but also about the candidate's ability to inspire, motivate, and manage a diverse group of people. This is a key requirement in a retail setting where team performance can directly impact sales and customer satisfaction.

Retail Operations Manager Resume Summary Example

Improving operational efficiency.

Improving operational efficiency is a strong selling point, demonstrating the candidate's ability to streamline processes and make the business run smoother. This is particularly important in retail, where operational hiccups can directly impact customer experience and sales.

Reducing costs

Developing a new vendor management system for cost reduction shows the candidate's proactive approach to managing expenses. This is a crucial skill in retail where cost control can have a significant impact on the bottom line.

Managing teams across locations

Successfully managing teams across multiple store locations is a testament to the candidate's leadership and organizational skills. Showing that they can handle this kind of complexity and responsibility is a strong selling point for higher-level retail management positions.

Retail Sales Associate Resume Summary Example

Focusing on customer retention.

Retention is a cost-effective way of maintaining sales and growth in retail. By highlighting an increase in customer retention rates, the candidate indicates their commitment to providing excellent customer service. It also showcases their interpersonal skills and ability to form genuine relationships with customers.

Showcasing technical proficiency

Proficiency in POS systems and inventory management software is a must-have in retail. By pointing this out, the candidate assures potential employers of their technical skills while hinting at their ability to work efficiently and reduce errors.

Meeting and exceeding targets

Consistently meeting and exceeding sales targets shows a candidate's drive, determination, and ability to perform under pressure. It speaks of a results-oriented professional, which is a desirable trait for any sales role.

Retail Sales Representative Resume Summary Example

Express your success in sales.

Stating your 'track record of consistently exceeding sales targets by 20%' emphasizes your capability to deliver results, making you a more attractive candidate. It reassures employers that you can contribute to their bottom-line.

Demonstrate your innovative thinking

Detailing your 'new approach to customer service' shows you're not afraid to try new things to improve business results. It displays your creative problem-solving skills, making you stand out as a candidate.

Establish your rapport-building skills

By mentioning your knack for 'building strong relationships with customers and vendors', you're demonstrating a valuable skill in retail where relationships are key. It shows you can effectively communicate and nurture relationships, which is essential for customer retention and smooth operations.

Retail Store Supervisor Resume Summary Example

Showcasing strategic thinking.

Improving store sales through effective merchandising strategies shows the candidate's strategic thinking and understanding of retail dynamics. It suggests an individual who can creatively manage a retail space to maximize sales.

Emphasizing staff development

Implementing a new staff training program highlights the candidate's commitment to staff development and learning. The resultant reduction in staff turnover points to the success of these efforts, displaying an individual who values their team and invests in their growth.

Creating a positive environment

Creating a positive, customer-focused store environment is crucial in retail. It indicates the candidate's understanding of the importance of customer experience in driving sales and loyalty. It also paints the candidate as someone who can motivate and lead a team to deliver excellent customer service.

Senior Retail Manager Resume Summary Example

Quantify your achievements.

Sharing a 'record of increasing profitability by 40%' gives tangible proof of your competence. It tells employers that you don't just talk a good game, you actually deliver results too. Numbers offer a concrete measure of your potential value to the company, making your case stronger.

Showcase your strategic thinking

Describing how your 'new merchandising strategy boosted sales by 25%' shows you're not just executing tasks, but also thinking strategically about ways to enhance business performance. It proves your ability to take the initiative and execute successful strategies.

Talk about your leadership

Sharing your success in 'developing high-performing teams and fostering a positive store culture' puts your leadership skills front and center. It suggests that you know how to inspire, motivate, and manage a team, which are vital skills for a senior-level retail role.

Retail Resume Templates

Customer Service

Sales Manager

Sales Resume Summary Examples

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9 Real Retail Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

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• Retail Resumes
• Retail Resumes by Experience
• Retail Resumes by Role
• Writing Your Retail Resume

The importance of retail workers has never been more obvious than during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a successful retail worker, you need to be organized, collaborative, and a people person.

It can be difficult to showcase these skills when writing your retail resume or writing an effective cover letter .

These nine retail resume examples have helped people land jobs in 2024 , so they’re a great place for you to get started.

Retail Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Did you exceed sales targets? Improve customer loyalty? Reduce return rates? Estimating the degree to which you did these things on your resume will substantially increase your chances of getting an interview.
• “Customer-oriented environment,” “Answered customer questions,” and “Directed customers” are sample phrases you can use to help show you know the value of customer service.

Retail Worker Resume

• Strongly show your customer service and communication skills and capabilities to solve problems instantly in your retail worker resume .

Retail Associate Resume

• This shows not only that you’re a strong performer, but it also cues the hiring manager that you know which metrics matter most in your role.
• For example, suppose the job description repeatedly mentions they want a retail sales associate who is accountable. In that case, this is a strong indicator that you should include that as a skill on your retail associate resume .

Entry-Level Retail Resume

• Getting your first job as an entry-level retail associate can be difficult. How can you get into retail without prior retail experience? The good news is that retail workers, first and foremost, are in customer service. Any experience you’ve had working with people is relevant and should be included on your entry-level retail resume .
• A  resume objective  is entirely optional. Still, it can be useful when you’re looking for your first retail role to quickly state why you’re qualified and deserve to get an interview. Include an objective if you’re willing to customize it to each position for which you apply.
• Volunteer experience is worth including on your resume. Volunteer experience showcases that you’re hard-working and fundamentally interested in helping others. These are both qualities retail hiring managers are seeking.

Retail Supervisor Resume

• Diversify your bullet points from boosting employee retention, foot traffic, and seasonal sales, to even reducing security incidents to prove that you’re a comprehensive worker who’s got the talent to increase not just sales but a brand’s overall presence.
• You can dive into the how and why of these details in your retail cover letter .

Retail Salesman Resume

• In this case, take Carter’s example and check out how he decides to highlight that he’s maintained a high customer satisfaction rating even in a non-sales role to prove his credibility in keeping end-users happy— a valuable aspect of any sales position.

Luxury Retail Resume

• In your luxury retail resume , highlight your proficiency in sales management, growth, and ability to boost customer retention and satisfaction.

Retail Manager Resume

• Hiring is one of the most important functions for a retail manager! Including your experience in hiring will help you stand out among all the other applicants for the retail manager role to which you’re applying.
• Including these metrics (even if they’re rough estimates) shows the hiring manager that you know what matters most to a retail manager.

Retail Customer Service Resume

• Was there an instance where you went above and beyond to help a teammate in one of your past positions? Be sure to include that on your resume!
• If you want to get detailed feedback on your resume, you can use our  resume checker .

Related resume guides

• Retail Manager
• Retail Sales Associate
• Store Manager

How to Format Your Retail Resume

Writing the perfect retail resume is the exact skill you need to earn a job as a sales representative, customer service representative, sales associate, or cashier. While the content of your resume is of the utmost importance, it’s also essential that you properly  format your resume  to ensure that it’s readable, logical, and complete. To that end, there are three formatting components you should be aware of, which include

• Reverse-Chronological Format, Functional Format, and Combination/Hybrid Format
• Contact Info and Header
• ATS and Readability

Retail resume format types

The reverse-chronological format, functional format, and combination/hybrid format are the most popular formats for retail resumes in 2024.

Retail resume format choices:

• Reverse-chronological   format : Start with the most recent employment history and work backward. Dates, educational institutions, and previous employers should be displayed.
• Functional format : This type of resume highlights the strengths and skills you believe are important to an employer. On the other hand, names, places, and dates aren’t nearly as clear. If you have a spotty work history, this format de-emphasizes this history.
• Combination/hybrid format : This is designed to combine the reverse-chronological and functional formats to incorporate the strengths of both. Make sure to mention skills you’ve acquired in the past that will help you with the specific job for which you’re applying.

While each retail  resume format  has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of, the reverse-chronological choice is ultimately the best option for retail. Many employers outright dislike the functional format for retail positions. The reverse-chronological format is ideal for retail resumes because it allows you to show prospective employers your most recent work history automatically, allowing them to determine if you have the experience necessary for the job.

Let’s say you’ve worked as a cashier and store assistant for eight years before becoming a supervisor or store manager for another five to ten years. You may be ready for another promotion to regional manager or even a corporate position. If you’ve had any experience in the retail industry, the reverse-chronological format effectively shows a pattern of lateral or upward mobility. The primary benefits of using the reverse-chronological format for retail include:

• This format is easily the most popular option among recruiters and employers within the retail industry
• The resume automatically positions you as searching for the next upward step in your career
• Employment dates are linked, which emphasizes continuity and places more weight on your most recent experience

Including a contact header on your retail resume

When you’re getting started with your resume, it’s essential that you position your contact info and the resume header in the correct locations. Your name should always be included at the very top of the resume and can be set in the center or left side of the page. Consider placing your prospective job title in the line below your name, ensuring that these two pieces of information are seen first by potential employers.

Before you start typing your header, it’s important that you select the right font, color, alignment, and font size that potential employers expect from a retail resume. Classic fonts like Times New Roman and Arial are preferable in most cases. A resume should be formatted with simplicity in mind instead of style and flare.

As for the font size, the standard text should range between 11-12 points. On the other hand, headers should have font sizes that range from 14-16 points, and your name can be the largest. Most of your text should be black, but a touch of color in your headers or name is appropriate, which adds some nice contrast that will make the information on your resume pop. Like most professional documents, resumes should be left-aligned, making them easier to read. However, your contact information and name can be center-aligned if you choose. The types of info that should be placed in your retail resume header include:

• Email address
• Phone number
• City and State
• An optional LinkedIn or other professional URL

This example is clear, logical, and includes a small bit of color, attracting the eye:

Is your retail resume ATS-friendly?

If you want to ensure your resume is properly formatted and readable, make sure you think about ATS, which stands for applicant tracking system. This is a kind of human resources software that allows employers to organize sizable numbers of resumes efficiently.

In order to make an ATS-friendly resume, you’ll want to pay attention to:

• Margins: Margins should never be less than one-half inches. The ideal margin is one inch on all sides.
• Fonts: Any font you use should be easy to read. If your resume font isn’t clear, the ATS and hiring manager may find it too difficult to read.
• Font sizes: The font must be large enough to read, making anything between 10 and 14 points acceptable.
• Header names: Use capitalization, and don’t get overly creative in determining how to label your headers, as you don’t want to trip or confuse ATS software. 
• Skills: Optimize your resume with keywords, your soft skills, and hard skills. Only include relevant information about your skills. Any filler should be eliminated if you want to provide prospective employers with a concise and effective resume.
• Logical order: Sticking to the reverse-chronological format will allow you to make an ATS-friendly resume. Start with your name and contact information before detailing your work experience, education, and skills.
• One page: The ideal length for any retail resume is one page.

We know it’s a lot to keep in mind, but our  resume maker  will ensure that you’re formatting for success without remembering it all.

How to Write Your Best Retail Resume

Writing an effective resume seems like a daunting task to most people. However, you can avoid this frustration by taking the process one step at a time. Not only does our  resume tool  ensure you don’t have to worry about format, but it will also help you include the right details in your document. 

As you write your retail resume, you’ll want to think about the following:

• Objective or summary
• Work experience
• Top retail skills
• Education and certifications
• Projects, interests, or hobbies
• Tailoring your resume to the job
• Editing and proofreading

Should you write a retail resume objective or summary?

You could include a resume objective or summary when creating your retail resume. An  objective statement  is a concise and position-focused statement describing how you can add value to the employer, and the company needs that you can fulfill. The objective could include a short statement of your skills and qualifications for the position in question. Professional  resume summaries  tend to be a bit lengthier than objective statements and are meant to provide more in-depth details about your job experience, skills, education, and specializations over the course of a lengthy (10+ years) career.

Objective or summary for your retail resume? 

• You want hiring managers to know you’re a good fit for a specific position
• You’re an entry-level employee who has very little experience
• You are making a career change
• You’ve just moved to a new city or town
• You have years of experience and want to tie this experience together
• You want to hone in on key transferable skills
• You believe that an objective statement isn’t enough to show your value to the employer
• You want to emphasize your selling points clearly

Even though objective statements and summaries can help you get your point across to hiring managers, not everyone should use one. If you don’t have years of experience or your career path is streamlined and straightforward, a lengthy summary is unnecessary.

As for objective statements, they aren’t always the right fit for retail resumes. Your employer may believe that the objective statement you write is essentially all you offer as an employee. If the statement is too short or not descriptive enough, it may harm your chances. To better understand what a well-written objective or summary looks like, let’s take a look at a couple of poor examples:

• Objective: “To be a sales associate in a retail store.”
• Summary: “Experienced sales associate who is kind and helpful. Knows how to solve problems as they arise.”

The objective statement is far too vague and isn’t centered around the position to which you’re applying. It doesn’t tell your employer anything other than the fact that you’re looking for a job. As for the summary, it says that you have experience and a couple of soft skills but doesn’t sell this information at all. Employers won’t believe what you’re saying in the summary. Here’s an improved objective statement and summary:

• Objective: “Eager to motivate and lead teams to 10% or greater sales through mentorship and accountability. Looking to improve my team-managing and problem-solving skills as a store manager with potential for career growth at ABC Company.”
• Summary: “Dedicated cashier with more than 5 years of retail experience. Eager to provide attention-to-detail and organizational skills at XYZ, Inc. Received Employee of the Month three months in a row for efficiency and reliability during ownership changes. Achieved a streak of 530 days with no sick leave.”

These examples succeed because they discuss specific details rather than general ideas, telling employers something about you and your work.

Retail work experience

Try to include two to four job experience examples for your resume. However, it’s unnecessary to include every job you’ve had since your first. If you have ample experience, include those jobs most relevant to the role for which you’re applying. While writing down your work experience may appear straightforward, it’s easy to make mistakes in this section.

Writing your retail job descriptions 

The most important thing to avoid when writing an effective work experience section is to create a wall of text. If a prospective employer decides to skim through your resume, it’s important that they read the most relevant aspects of your past work experience. As such, this experience should be displayed via concise bullet points. Always use active verbs and language in these bullet points. Examples of active verbs for a retail resume include:

Make sure you use the past tense when writing about your experience. These verbs should prove useful when trying to condense your work experience. Avoid using personal pronouns like “me” and “I,” which take away from the professionalism of your resume. 

Three bullet point examples that should be far, far away from your retail resume:

• Handled transactions for customers
• Responsible for handling customer interactions calmly
• Tasked with resolving customer issues

These are examples of passive work responsibilities, too vague to satisfy potential employers. Always go into detail about your accomplishments and past responsibilities with action verbs and hard numbers.

Three examples, on the other hand, that would serve your retail resume well:

• Awarded Retail Associate of the Year in 2019 for incentivizing the team to increase sales with monthly competitions 
• Exceeded annual sales targets by 30% by upselling subscriptions and items based on customer interest
• Stocked, organized, and replenished inventory, completing tasks 15% faster than other sales associates

These are richly detailed bullet points that offer precise numbers and action verbs about past work experience.

Use metrics to quantify your impact in retail

You must be able to quantify the impact you’ve had on the companies you’ve worked for in the past. To accomplish this goal, it’s recommended that you use metrics to show exactly what a company would lose if they didn’t have you as an employee.

Did you exceed set sales targets or lower return rates? By putting your work experience into hard numbers, it becomes easier for potential employers to measure the kind of return they would get from hiring you. Try to include a couple of metrics for every job you list on your resume. More is always better! Some examples of ways to incorporate metrics into your bullet points include:

• Daily number of customers you helped
• Number of retail team members you managed
• Sales goals that were met or exceeded
• Loyalty program goals that were met or exceeded

These retail descriptions incorporate all the above:

What are the top retail skills?

If you have ample past work experience, you likely have dozens of skills that could prove useful in the job for which you’re applying. However, you should include skills 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 perform their responsibilities effectively. These skills are 100 percent job-related. Soft skills are more difficult to measure. For retail jobs, hard skill examples include:

• Money handling and basic math
• Product knowledge
• Inventories 
• Suggestive selling 

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

• Communication
• Active listener 
• 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 five to eight skills on a retail resume.

What education and certifications do you need on your retail resume?

Most retail positions automatically require a high school diploma, which should be listed with the name of the school you attended, the years you attended, and the school’s location. Some retail jobs will require a little more education. While you may be able to obtain a position as a store manager with a high school diploma, an associate’s degree in marketing and sales management may help push your resume to the top of the list.

Most regional retail managers require a bachelor’s degree in business. If you attended a college or institution, include your GPA if it’s above 3.2 and any specialization or concentration. You might also want to list certifications and licenses to set your resume apart from others.

Projects, interests, or hobbies: Does your retail resume need these?

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

Suppose you’re currently a high school or college student or are applying for an entry position. In that case, your lack of 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
• Studying foreign languages

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

Customize your retail resume for every job application

Writing an effective resume takes more than just listing your skills and work experience. It’s also important that you tailor your resume to each job to which you apply. Many applicants make the mistake of sending the same resume to every job. However, most hiring managers will pick up on this.

To properly tailor your resume, add company or organization-specific information to the objective/summary sections, the skills section, and bullet points. If the job ad you’re responding to mentioned they’re looking for a strong leader who can manage numerous team members, you should focus on your leadership skills throughout your retail resume.

Check for mistakes before submitting your retail resume to jobs

This is the simplest yet most overlooked aspect of formatting and writing a retail resume. Hiring managers and recruiters don’t like grammar and punctuation mistakes. Writing the word manager as “manger” is one of the more common mistakes on retail resumes. Carefully read through your resume to look for any issues with grammar, language, consistency, and formatting. Take advantage of our  free resume checker  to streamline this process.

Get Your Next Retail Job and Celebrate

Now that you’ve made it this far, we hope you’re feeling confident about:

• The  correct resume format  to use
• How to write a  resume objective  or summary
• How to list work experience
• What retail  skills to include on your resume
• What education and certification info should be provided
• How to tailor your resume to each specific job

Congratulations on  writing your resume  and readying yourself for the next step. All that’s left is for you to go get the job!

How to Write a Retail Resume With Examples

This Career Center article is intended for job seekers applying for entry-level sales positions in the retail industry using a retail resume, such as sales representative, sales associate, customer service representative, and cashier.

If you want to apply for a retail job, learning how to write a retail resume using retail resume examples is exactly what you need to score your next sales gig. We’re going to show you some tricks of the trade to make sure you land that retail job!

It’s best to adopt the classic resume formatting and follow good example resumes. Recruiters, hiring managers, and ATS systems are all trained on how to scan a classically formatted resume.

What is a classic resume format? To help get you started, we’ve selected two different classically-formatted retail resume examples you can follow and we’ll guide you through exactly what you need to write to get hired.

Figuring out the best way to represent your most hireable skills, abilities, experiences, and qualifications for a retail job can be intimidating. However, the more examples you see and the more you learn about resume writing, the easier writing your retail resume becomes.

Make sure you read this article covering the classically formated retail resume samples, frequently asked questions, and tips on how to optimize a retail resume to make sure you get hired for a good sales job, fast.

Classic Format Retail Resume Samples

5 Key Tips to Include in Classic Retail Resume

1. summary: how to write a resume summary for retail.

Writing a resume summary (or resume objective) for retail can be intimidating, but all you need to do is remember that a retail resume objective is just a short way of telling the hiring manager why you’d be a great candidate to hire for their open retail or sales position.

Generally, hiring managers expect that your retail resume summary will quickly list your best skills and experiences that would be beneficial in a retail or sales environment. Resume summaries are usually shorter in length and typically not longer than three to five sentences.

Examples for a retail resume summary include:

• Experience: How many years of experience you have working in retail, sales, or customer service. If you have no experience, write down your related work or volunteer experience.
• Training: Any training that you have that would help in retail, sales, or customer service
• Soft skills: Personality traits, like being a great problem solver or a good multitasker, as well as a short story of how that characteristic was useful in a work or volunteer setting
• Hard Skills: Familiarity dealing with cash exchanges, Interac machines, or POS (Point of Sales) systems
• Successes: Sales numbers, statistics or metrics related to sales, customers, or improvements to previous employers’ businesses that you made
• Leadership Skills: Former leadership or standout support positions that you held that would be useful to have in a team environment

2. Best Words to Use in a Resume for Retail

Retail Keywords and Jargon

You may be thinking, “What do keywords have to do with my resume?” But, in 2018, keywords and jargon are more important than ever on a resume! And here’s why –

The retail industry tends to rely heavily on online job boards (like employer.resume.com) and Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) systems when they’re hiring new employees.

These systems are used to search and rank your resume based the keywords and jargon (industry specific language) you have in your resume. This can impact how likely you are to get an interview for the retail or sales job.

Basically, the popularity of search algorithms means that you should be including retail keywords and retail jargon in the job posting in your retail resume – especially in the work experience section .

In fact, even if the hiring manager doesn’t use an online job board or ATS system to hire employees, it’s still a good idea to include retail industry keywords and retail jargon in your retail resume. Taking the time to include keywords and jargon shows that you read the job posting and understand the retail industry and language.

You can locate retail keywords and jargon by scanning retail job postings, especially the job posting you’re applying for!

And if you want to truly put yourself in the employer’s shoes, you could get an employer account on a job board and start searching for keywords that are related to the job, this way you’re getting in the mindset of the hiring manager. The systems used at Resume.com and Linkedin will auto-suggest terms for employers to use — and these make great keywords to write in your resume to maximize results. That’s how we built the following lists of retail keywords and jargon to put on your retail resume:

Retail Job Titles For Your Resume

List of Job Skills for a Retail Resume

However, you should be careful when using retail keywords and retail jargon in your resume. Make sure that the words you’re using make sense and that they aren’t forced. The keywords and jargon should sound like they naturally fit in the sentence you’re writing.

Jamming unnecessary keywords and jargon in an unnatural way may make your resume appear like it was written by a robot — and could lead to your resume being deleted!

3. Action Verbs on a Retail Resume

An action verb on a resume is a verb that represents an action that achieves something. On a resume, action verbs are usually used to demonstrate instances where you have accomplished or achieved something significant in a work-related context. It’s important you make an effort to use actions verbs, so take note of the following examples:

Strong Action Verbs for a Retail Resume

Popular action verbs used in retail resumes include words like:

4. Quantifiable Examples on a Retail Resume

When you’re writing about your past achievements in your retail resume, do your best to include quantifiable examples. What do we mean by quantifiable? We mean numbers, metrics, and amounts, which is powerful evidence that demonstrates your skills, abilities, and successes!

Hiring managers love seeing real life evidence in retail resumes, so have a look at what type of experience you should include on your resume:

Retail Experience for Your Resume

5. Hobbies and Interests For Retail Resumes

Taking the time to include your hobbies and interests in your retail resume can help show the hiring manager that you’re a well-rounded individual. Hobbies and interests are especially helpful for entry-level candidates who can suffer from having an empty looking retail resume!

Here are three main reasons to include hobbies and interests on a retail resume:

• Your hobbies or interests back up the skills or abilities that you mentioned earlier in your resume, making you look like a consistent and interesting person.
• Your hobbies or interests may be  related to the retail industry that you’re applying for , which demonstrates that you would be a good fit for the company culture or business brand.
• Your hobbies or interests may spark the interest of the hiring manager reading your resume or make them want to meet you in person for an interview!

When you’re writing about your hobbies and interests, always be honest , but also try to phrase them in a way that would grab the hiring manager’s attention and tell them something about you.

For example, imagine that Ali is a student who enjoys writing horror stories. She self-publishes a monthly horror anthology at her community college with the help of her creative writing professor. She wants to work for a Halloween pop-up boutique, but she’s worried that she won’t get an interview with no retail work experience .

Ali could choose not to include her hobby on her resume, but her hobby is relevant, special, and a great fit for the business she wants to work for. She should definitely include three short sentences about why her spooky passion would make her a great fit for the team and culture of the costume store. By showing off why she’s different, she would be much more likely to get the job!

Retail Resume FAQ

Do i need a resume for a retail job.

Almost all retail jobs require an applicant to submit a resume in order to be considered as a candidate by the hiring manager. The employer will expect that you will give them one, even if providing a resume isn’t explicitly mentioned in the job posting or job application process.

Don’t worry, writing a retail resume is straightforward, especially if you use an online resume maker . All you need to do is choose a resume template and fill in the blanks!

How Do I Write a Retail Resume With Little or No Experience?

If you’re worried about having little or no work experience to include on your retail resume, you can relax. Having a limited amount of previous work experience is one of the most common challenges job seekers have when they’re applying for a job in sales.

There are many entry-level positions available in the retail industry , so if you’re a new graduate, changing your career path, or new to the workforce, a starter job in sales could be the perfect place for you.

When you’re short on work experience, there are a few easy things you can do to make your retail resume look a little fuller. Give the hiring manager good reasons why you would be such a great employee for their store. For example, you can write a compelling summary , share your skills and interests , and don’t forget to include any unpaid or volunteer experience .

You can read more about how to complete your resume with limited work experience by reading this article on, “ What to Put On Your Resume With Little or No Work Experience ”.

Writing a retail resume can seem challenging for new job seekers, but resume writing isn’t hard if you have the right tools and resources along the way!

Click to get started with the online resume maker at Resume.com . We’ll walk you through exactly how to start and where to fill in the blanks to get your next retail job.

If you want to get started with what to put on your resume, check out our large selection of resume samples (which are fully customizable and free) .

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Retail Sales Representative Resume Examples

As a retail sales representative, your resume is your biggest asset. It’s the gateway to more job opportunities and can give you the edge over other applicants. Crafting a well-written retail sales representative resume is essential to stand out from other candidates in the job market. It should highlight your key accomplishments and strengths and demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job. To help you get started, this guide provides detailed advice on how to write a retail sales representative resume. It also includes examples of successful retail sales representative resumes to give you an idea of what a strong resume should look like.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, be sure to check out our complete library of resume examples .

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Retail Sales Representative

123 Main Street | Anytown, USA 99999 | Phone: (123) 456-7890 | Email: [email protected]

I am a results- oriented Retail Sales Representative with 5+ years of experience in developing and executing successful sales strategies in retail environments. I possess effective communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with customers and ensure their satisfaction. I have an excellent eye for detail and am able to recognize customer needs, presenting them with suitable products and promotions. My experience includes managing stock control, sales tracking, and inventory management. I am a confident team player who is reliable and driven to produce superior results.

Core Skills :

• High level of sales proficiency
• Customer service oriented
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to identify customer needs and present suitable products
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Professional Experience :

• Sales Representative (2019 – Present)
• Developed and implemented effective sales strategies to achieve targets
• Managed inventory control, stock control, and sales tracking
• Provided excellent customer service to ensure customer satisfaction
• Negotiated sales deals with customers and promoted products
• Monitored sales performance and reported results to upper management
• Sales Associate (2016 – 2019)
• Responsible for meeting daily sales targets and objectives
• Assisted customers with product selection and product knowledge
• Detected customer needs and presented suitable options
• Handled customer questions and concerns in a professional manner
• Managed stock control, sales tracking, and inventory management

Education :

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Administration, California State University, Los Angeles, CA (2015)

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Retail Sales Representative Resume with No Experience

Highly motivated and driven Retail Sales Representative with no experience looking to join a dynamic and growing organization. Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a thorough understanding of customer service and an eye for retail detail.

• Strong organizational skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Exceptional customer service
• Good problem solving abilities
• Reliable and punctual
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to work independently
• Strong attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Greeting and assisting customers
• Answering questions and providing product information
• Processing payments and managing inventory
• Maintaining a clean and orderly store
• Assisting in marketing initiatives
• Upselling and cross- selling products
• Restocking shelves and handling store operations
• Identifying customer needs and responding to them in a timely manner

Experience 0 Years

Level Junior

Education Bachelor’s

Retail Sales Representative Resume with 2 Years of Experience

Highly motivated Retail Sales Representative with 2 years of experience in a variety of customer- facing roles. Proven ability to build strong client relationships and increase sales in a highly competitive market. Adept at developing and implementing strategies to drive sales, managing retail store operations, and optimizing customer service.

• Sales and Promotions
• Retail Store Operations
• Customer Relations
• Merchandising
• Pricing Strategies
• Inventory Management
• Problem- solving

Responsibilities :

• Greeted customers, identified their needs and provided personalized solutions
• Maintained inventory, created merchandise displays, and completed price changes
• Resolved customer service issues in a timely and professional manner
• Completed weekly sales and promotion reports for store management
• Provided training and development for new sales associates
• Ensured compliance with all safety and security regulations
• Built and maintained strong relationships with customers and vendors
• Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability
• Analyzed sales reports and identified areas of improvement

Experience 2+ Years

Retail Sales Representative Resume with 5 Years of Experience

Highly motivated and experienced Retail Sales Representative with 5 years of experience. Adept at identifying customer needs and providing solutions through product knowledge and education. Possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills, and is capable of managing multiple tasks with ease and efficiency. Experienced in handling all aspects of the sales process, from initiating contact to closing and follow- up.

• Customer Service
• Sales Negotiation
• Product Knowledge
• Interpersonal Communication
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills
• Assisted customers in selecting the appropriate product or service to meet their needs
• Monitored store performance and developed strategies to increase sales
• Conducted daily inventory checks to ensure product availability
• Established and maintained relationships with customers to ensure their satisfaction
• Provided customer service and technical support
• Resolved customer complaints and inquiries in a timely manner
• Developed promotional materials and collateral for sales
• Performed financial transactions, including credit and debit card processing
• Provided feedback to management regarding customer requests and product performance

Experience 5+ Years

Level Senior

Retail Sales Representative Resume with 7 Years of Experience

A results- oriented and customer service- focused Retail Sales Representative with 7+ years of experience in the field. Skilled at providing exceptional customer service, merchandising and stocking inventory, and providing accurate sales reports. Possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills, allowing for positive relationships to be developed with customers and coworkers.

• Cash Handling
• Marketing Knowledge
• Greeted customers in a timely manner while quickly determining their needs
• Provided customers with product knowledge and educated them on current promotions
• Managed and maintained the store’s inventory, including restocking and ordering merchandise
• Assisted in creating floor plans to maximize product placement and to ensure customer satisfaction
• Assisted in merchandising, stocking and organizing product displays
• Answered customers’ questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms
• Adhered to all store policies and procedures when handling cash and credit transactions
• Maintained a clean and orderly retail store, including displays and price tags
• Provided sales and customer service reports to management
• Performed additional tasks and duties as assigned by the store manager

Experience 7+ Years

Retail Sales Representative Resume with 10 Years of Experience

I am an experienced Retail Sales Representative with over 10 years of experience in sales, customer service, and merchandising. I have a proven track record of success in consistently delivering target sales results and developing strong relationships with customers. I am highly skilled in product knowledge and promoting products, and have the ability to identify customer needs and recommend solutions. I am confident in my ability to effectively assist customers and work as part of a team to drive sales and improve customer satisfaction.

• Excellent customer service skills
• Proven sales ability and negotiation skills
• Strong ability to build relationships
• Excellent product knowledge and selling skills
• Inventory management and merchandising
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to identify customer needs and provide solutions
• Greet customers and establish a rapport
• Provide customers with information about products and services
• Respond to customer inquiries and resolve customer complaints
• Upsell products and services to maximize sales
• Maintain clean and organized store displays and shelves
• Track inventory and manage stock levels
• Participate in promotional activities and sales events
• Assist with the training of new staff members
• Develop relationships with customers to drive repeat business

Experience 10+ Years

Level Senior Manager

Education Master’s

Retail Sales Representative Resume with 15 Years of Experience

Dynamic and results- driven Retail Sales Representative with 15 years of progressive experience in managing and optimizing sales performance through effective customer service, relationship building, and product knowledge. Proven track record of success in building and maintaining relationships with customers, identifying their needs, and formulating sales strategies and tactics to increase sales. Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills for successful customer engagement, as well as an in- depth understanding of multiple product lines and retail operations.

• Sales Leadership
• Customer Relationship Management
• Sales Strategy Development
• Data Analysis
• Account Management
• Developed and implemented effective sales strategies to boost retail sales performance
• Managed and monitored inventory levels to ensure product availability
• Provided personalized customer service to identify and meet customer needs
• Developed and maintained relationships with customers to increase loyalty and repeat business
• Conducted regular product analysis and market research to identify trends and opportunities
• Assisted customers in selecting product lines, recommending items, and providing product information
• Analyzed sales data and identified areas for improvement
• Performed account management duties and handled customer inquiries
• Collaborated with cross- functional teams including marketing, operations, and finance to support overall objectives.

Experience 15+ Years

Level Director

In addition to this, be sure to check out our resume templates , resume formats ,  cover letter examples ,  job description , and  career advice  pages for more helpful tips and advice.

What should be included in a Retail Sales Representative resume?

When writing a resume as a Retail Sales Representative, it’s important to show employers that you have the necessary experience, skills and qualifications to be successful in the role. Your resume should highlight your customer service skills and any sales experience you have. Here are some of the key elements you should include in a Retail Sales Representative resume:

• Objective: A concise summary of your relevant experience and the qualities you can bring to the position.
• Professional Experience: Outline the specific responsibilities you had in previous retail roles, such as customer service, cashiering, inventory management and sales.
• Education: Any diplomas or certificates you have in retail or sales, as applicable.
• Technical Skills: List any computer programs, POS systems or other technologies you are experienced with.
• Languages: State any languages you speak fluently and/or have some knowledge of.
• Soft Skills: Include any customer service, communication, problem-solving or time-management skills.
• Awards & Achievements: List any awards or recognitions you have received while in a retail role, such as top salesperson or customer service excellence.

Having a resume that accurately reflects your experience and skills as a Retail Sales Representative will help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting the job.

What is a good summary for a Retail Sales Representative resume?

A strong summary for a Retail Sales Representative resume should focus on the candidate’s ability to interact with customers, close sales, and deliver excellent customer service. It should also highlight any experience in retail management, training sales associates, and resolving customer complaints. Additionally, a Retail Sales Representative should showcase any awards or recognition for outstanding sales performance. Finally, the summary should emphasize any knowledge of the specific products being sold, such as fashion, home furnishings, or electronics. A successful Retail Sales Representative should be adept at motivating sales staff and building a strong customer base.

What is a good objective for a Retail Sales Representative resume?

A retail sales representative resume should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for. A good objective will communicate your enthusiasm for the role, as well as your experience and qualifications. It should provide a clear indication of the type of job you are applying for and what you can bring to the position. Here are some qualities to consider when crafting a strong objective:

• Demonstrate customer service skills: As a retail sales representative, you should have a strong background in providing excellent customer service. Your objective should emphasize your experience in this area, as well as your ability to handle difficult customer situations.
• Communication and relationship building: Retail sales representatives should have strong communication and relationship building skills. Your objective should communicate your ability to communicate with customers, build relationships, and gain customer loyalty.
• Highlight achievements: Your objective should highlight any achievements you have made in previous retail roles. This could include increasing sales, exceeding targets, or successfully launching a new product.
• Show enthusiasm: Your objective should express your enthusiasm for the job and the industry. It should demonstrate that you are passionate about working in retail and have the drive to succeed.
• Technical skills: If the job requires any technical skills, such as knowledge of retail software or POS systems, make sure to include these in your objective. This will show employers that you have the skills necessary to do the job.

How do you list Retail Sales Representative skills on a resume?

Retail sales representatives are an important part of any business’s customer service team. They are responsible for helping customers find the products they need and providing helpful, knowledgeable customer service. It is important to list the skills necessary to excel in retail sales on a resume in order to show potential employers you have the qualifications they are looking for.

• Exceptional customer service: Retail sales representatives must have excellent customer service skills, such as patience, understanding, and a helpful attitude.
• Product knowledge: Retail sales representatives should have a thorough knowledge of the products they are selling in order to assist customers with their needs.
• Sales and negotiation: Retail sales representatives should have excellent sales and negotiation skills in order to close sales deals and meet customer demands.
• Time management: Retail sales representatives must be able to manage their time efficiently in order to maximize sales opportunities.
• Communication: Retail sales representatives must have strong communication skills in order to effectively interact with customers.
• Adaptability: Retail sales representatives should have the ability to quickly adjust to changing customer needs and demands.
• Computer literacy: Retail sales representatives should have a basic understanding of computers in order to use software programs and other computer-related tasks.

What skills should I put on my resume for Retail Sales Representative?

Retail Sales Representatives are essential for a successful retail business. To stand out from other job candidates, it is important to emphasize your specific skills and abilities in your resume. Here are some skills to consider for a Retail Sales Representative position:

• Excellent Communication: Retail Sales Representatives interact with customers, members of the store staff, and vendors. Good communication skills are necessary to build relationships with customers, offer helpful advice and information, and understand customer needs.
• Strong Sales Abilities: It is crucial that Retail Sales Representatives have the ability to close sales. This could involve providing product demonstrations, making persuasive presentations, and addressing customer objections.
• Product Knowledge: Retail Sales Representatives must have detailed knowledge of the products they are selling. This includes understanding technical specs and features, as well as being able to explain the benefits of the product to customers.
• Organizational Skills: As Retail Sales Representatives are responsible for managing the sales floor, good organizational skills are essential to keep the store neat and tidy.
• Customer Service: Providing excellent customer service is a key component of the job. This includes greeting customers, answering questions, providing assistance, and addressing complaints in a professional manner.
• Computer Proficiency: Many stores use a digital point-of-sale system to process sales. Therefore, it is important for Retail Sales Representatives to be comfortable with computers and digital technology.

By emphasizing these skills in your resume, you can show employers that you are the ideal candidate for the position.

Key takeaways for an Retail Sales Representative resume

When it comes to crafting a resume for a Retail Sales Representative position, there are certain key takeaways to keep in mind. A well-crafted resume should showcase the relevant experience and qualifications needed for the job. Here are some key takeaways that can help make your resume stand out in the retail sales field:

• Showcase Your sales Experience: As a Retail Sales Representative, it’s important to emphasize your sales experience. Make sure to include details of your sales achievements and any awards you’ve earned.
• Focus on Customer Service: Customer service is key in retail sales, so make sure to highlight your customer service skills and any experience you have in this field.
• List Your Knowledge of Products and Services: When it comes to retail sales, it’s also important to showcase your knowledge of the products and services offered. Be sure to list any certifications or training you’ve completed in this area.
• Highlight Your Interpersonal Skills: Retail sales involves interacting with customers and colleagues, so make sure to include details about your interpersonal skills.
• Include Your Computer Skills: Many retail sales positions require the use of computers, so be sure to include any computer skills that you have.

By following these key takeaways for a Retail Sales Representative resume, you can ensure that your resume stands out from the competition and puts you one step closer to getting the job.

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Retail Manager Resume Example 2024 (& Tips to Ace Yours!)

From hiring and training new employees to managing budgets and increasing sales, being a retail manager comes with a number of responsibilities.

And, while you already have the skills and experience for the job, you may still struggle to put all that into a resume that helps you go forward in your career.

If this sounds familiar, worry not! 

With the right guidance, writing an effective retail manager resume is easy, and we’re here to teach you how to do that.

In this article, we will cover:

Retail Manager Resume Example

• How to Build Your Retail Manager Resume (Step-By-Step)
• 40 Skills For Your Supervisor Resume

Ready to land that retail manager job? Let’s dive in!

This is a perfect retail manager resume example because of the following reasons:

• Reverse-chronological format. As a retail manager, you have plenty of work experience, and this is the ideal format to show it. Not to mention, it’s recruiters’ favorite, worldwide.
• Contact information. The retail manager resume example above includes important contact information, such as the candidate’s full name, phone number, email address, location, and a LinkedIn profile URL.
• Effective resume summary. In just 2-3 sentences, the resume summary in the retail manager resume example above underlines the candidate’s work experience, skills, and achievements.
• Focus on achievements. Highlighting achievements instead of responsibilities, as in the retail manager resume example above, helps the candidate stand out.
• Brief education section. Because retail management relies more on work experience than education, the retail manager resume example above includes only the key education details. 
• Bullet points. Organizing information in bullet points instead of large blocks of text makes the resume look clean and easy-to-read.
• Relevant retail manager skills. The retail manager resume example above  only includes skills which apply to the retail manager position and are most valued in the industry, such as customer service, communication, POS skills, and sales analysis.
• Use of additional sections. This retail manager resume example includes language proficiency, which is always a good skill to have in a customer-facing role.

Here’s How to Build Your Retail Manager Resume (Step-By-Step) 

Now that you know what makes an effective retail manager resume, it’s time to get started with writing a job-winning resume for yourself. 

Here are the exact steps on how to do it:

#1. Format Your Retail Manager Resume 

There are 3 main resume formats :

• Reverse-chronological
• Combination

As a retail manager, however, your best bet is the reverse-chronological resume format as it is the most popular worldwide, and makes your retail manager resume well-organized and easy-to-follow.

On top of that, this resume format highlights your work experience in chronological order, which makes it the perfect choice for seasoned professionals. 

After choosing the right format for your resume, start working on the resume layout .

Here’s what this includes:

• Use the right margins to make your resume look clean.
• Use a simple and professional font. Instead of using a fancy font for your retail manager resume, pick a font style that is professional and easily readable on a PDF file and stick with it throughout your resume.
• Pick the right font size. Generally, go for 11-12 pts for the body and 14-16 pts for headings in your resume.
• Use bullet points to present information. This way, the recruiter will be able to easily skim through your retail manager resume.
• Keep it short. Optimally, your resume should be one page . A resume focused on your key professional background details helps recruiters to quickly see whether you fit their requirements for a retail manager.
• Save your resume in a PDF format (unless asked to do otherwise). This way, your retail manager resume will look as you intended no matter what device or OS opens it.

Or Use Our Tried & Tested Templates 

Formatting is an important step in creating an effective retail manager resume. 

Making a resume from scratch, though, can be a hassle.

You can spend forever tweaking the layout of your retail manager resume on Word, making sure it doesn’t spill over to page #2, adjusting margins and font sizes...

And let’s be honest - after all the effort, you will still end up with a basic, average-looking black and white resume.

With a resume like that, it can be hard to get noticed. After all, recruiters get dozens of generic Word resumes every day.

Want to create an attention-grabbing resume fast and easy?

Use our tried and tested templates to create a well-designed retail manager resume in minutes!

Just pick a template, fill in the content, and your retail manager resume is ready to impress the recruiter.

And the best part? 8 of our resume templates are free!

#2. Add Contact Information the Right Way 

Now that you’re done with formatting, the next step is to write down your contact information.

This step is easy - all you have to do is make sure you fill in the correct information.

Otherwise, the company won’t be able to get in touch with you.

On top of that, something as simple as messing up your contact information can make you seem irresponsible or unreliable, and even more so if you have ‘detail-oriented’ included as a skill in your retail manager resume. 

So, to avoid that, simply make sure to list the following contact information correctly:

• First name and last name
• Title (optional)
• Phone number
• Email address

And, if you are active on LinkedIn, make sure to include the URL, too.

George Smith Retail Manager  

012-345-6789 [email protected]  Buffalo, New York linkedin.com/in/georgesmith871

#3. Write a Powerful Retail Manager Summary 

Your retail manager summary is a valuable piece of information that summarizes your professional background in just 2-3 sentences.

As such, just like the most expensive items in the store are placed on the top shelf, your resume summary goes at the top of your resume to show recruiters that you’re a relevant candidate for the position in just a few seconds.

So, if your summary is on-point, they’ll move to other sections of your retail manager resume. If not, they’ll just move to another candidate’s resume.

To write a brief, but powerful retail manager summary, you should mention the following:

• Your position and years of experience
• Your most relevant skills in retail management
• 1-2 professional achievements

Here’s an example of a retail manager resume summary which includes the information we listed above:

• Efficient and customer-orientated Retail Manager with 10+ years of experience and a proven record of success in retail management. Excellent customer service, team leadership, marketing, and time management skills. Regularly exceeded monthly sales goals by up to 16% in 2022.

#4. Pack Your Work Experience With Achievements 

The next very important step in your retail manager resume is to fill out your work experience section.

First, let’s talk about formatting this section.  

As a general rule, your work experience section should look something like this:

• Job title. It’s the first thing recruiters look for, and it should accurately show the role you had in the company.
• Company name and location. In case the company is relatively unknown, you can also include a short description.
• Employment date. Use the reverse-chronological order and the mm/yyyy format.
• Achievements and responsibilities. Use 5-6 bullet points for recent jobs and 2-3 for older roles. 

Of course, if you simply list your responsibilities, you’ll end up with the same list as other retail managers: recruiting and supervising staff, managing budgets, analyzing market trends...

The HR knows that these are your responsibilities - they don’t need you to repeat what everyone else noted on their resume.

Rather, HR wants to know how you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Want to know how to do this? In your retail manager resume, focus on achievements instead of responsibilities.

Sure, you managed the store budget, but how well did you do it? What changes did you make, and how profitable were they?

So, to take your work experience section from great to perfect, here’s what you should do:

• Tailor your retail manager resume to the job you’re applying for by only including relevant work experience (e. g. since you already have relevant retail experience, focus on that and skip your part-time delivery driver job).
• Use action verbs to describe your achievements (e. g. hired, trained, implemented, reduced, etc.).
• Make your achievements quantifiable (e. g. “Hired, trained, and coached a team of 36 retail assistants” instead of “Hired, trained, and coached employees”).

Here’s an example of what an effective work experience section should look like:

Retail Manager

03/2018 - 12/2022

• Consistently met and exceeded monthly sales goals by up to 43% for two consecutive years.
• Exceeded annual sales goals for 2021 by $67,000.
• Hired and trained 8 retail sales associates.
• Increased employee retention to 98% by implementing an Employee of the Month program and an employee development system.
• Implemented new customer service strategies, resulting in a 62% customer return rate.

#5. Keep Your Education Short

Because your work experience tells more about your skills as a retail manager than your education, you should only mention the key education details.

As such, start with your latest degree and list the following information:

• University, college, or other institution
• Program location (optional)
• Years attended

Only include your high school education in your retail manager resume if you don’t have higher education.

And here’s what this looks like on a resume:

B. A. in Business Management

University of Birmingham

09/2015-06/2019

#6. Include Relevant Skills 

The next step in writing your retail manager resume is to list your skills .

Naturally, as a retail manager, you’re expected to have a wide variety of skills to help you with your responsibilities.

While you might think including all of your skills will show recruiters just how well-rounded you are, the aim of the skills section in your resume is to prove you’re the right fit for this particular position.

So, to create an impactful retail manager resume, you should tailor your resume and only include those skills which are relevant to retail management.

Here are some tips on how to do it:

• Carefully read the job description and note the required skills.
• If you possess these skills, include them in your resume.
• Research the most in-demand skills for retail managers, and write down those that apply to you.
• Make separate lists of your soft skills (e. g. customer service, decision-making, and adaptability) and hard skills (e. g. POS skills, sales analysis, and visual merchandising) related to retail management.

Not sure which soft and hard retail manager skills you should list in your resume? 

Worry not, we’ve compiled a list of 40 retail management skills to get you started!

List of Skills For Your Supervisor Resume 

20 soft retail manager skills.

• Customer Service
• Leadership 
• Communication Skills
• Active Listening
• Problem-solving
• Time-management
• Decision-making
• Stress Management
• Organizational Skills
• Multi-tasking
• Motivational Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Strategic Thinking
• Conflict Resolution
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Interpersonal Skills

20 Hard Retail Manager Skills

• Point of Sale (POS) Skills
• Product Knowledge
• Market Knowledge
• Performance Management
• Merchandising
• Visual Merchandising
• Marketing Strategy Development
• Sales Analysis
• Sales Management
• Store Management
• Campaign Management
• Prospecting
• Store Maintenance
• Language Proficiency
• Inventory Management
• Negotiating
• Sales Promotional Strategies
• Database Management

#7. Take Advantage of Your Licenses & Certifications 

If you’ve done any industry-related training, you should definitely include your licenses and certifications to improve your retail manager resume.

In fact, additional training doesn’t just show you have the competence required for a retail manager.

To recruiters, it shows you’re enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to keep up with the latest trends in the retail industry, making you a valuable employee.

So, consider including the certifications and licenses you own in the following fields to your retail manager resume:

• Human Resources

And here’s what you should include in the certifications and licenses section of your resume:

• Certification or license name
• Name of agency or body
• Year of obtainment
• Location (if applicable)
• Expiration date (if applicable)
• In progress (if applicable, add the expected date of obtainment)

Of course, if you have more than one certification or license, include them in the reverse-chronological order.

#8. Make Use of These Additional Sections 

Got some extra space on your resume?

Use some of these optional sections!

These sections add further depth to your retail manager resume and allow you to show off your unique experiences in the field.

Some such sections you can include in your resume are:

• Associations and organizations, including your role in them, if applicable.
• Publications , including interviews, scientific articles, studies, etc.
• Conferences , such as International Conference on Business and Retail Management, International Tourism Retail and Service Conference, Global Conference on Services and Retail Management, etc.
• Awards , both large-scale (statewide, nationwide, etc.) and small-scale (company-wide).
• Personal projects , if any of them are related to retail management, business, marketing, and other similar fields.
• Languages , which are especially valuable if you’re applying for a job in an international retail company.

And here’s an example of how to put these optional sections on your resume:

Additional Sections

Associations

• Retail Industry Leaders Association (2016 - Present) Board Member

Conferences

• eCommerce Summit 2021
• Future Stores Europe 2020

#9. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Retail Manager Resume 

From a recruiter’s perspective, picking the right retail manager can be a difficult task, and it’s not without reason.

In fact, research shows that employees’ performance, customer satisfaction and store’s financial performance largely depend on the retail manager.

As such, recruiters aim to hire retail managers who not only have the required skills but also share common goals with the company. 

And this is exactly why you need to write a compelling cover letter that shows you’re the perfect fit for the position and the company.

The point of a cover letter, however, is not to simply repeat what you’ve already written in your resume. 

Instead, a cover letter should cover your professional background in detail and mention anything of value that you’ve left out of your retail manager resume.

This might sound difficult, but actually you don’t even need exceptional writing skills to craft a convincing cover letter. 

Just follow these tips, and you’ll write an effective cover letter in no time:

• Include your contact information in the header of your cover letter.
• Start your cover letter greeting the recruiter .
• Open up with a personalized paragraph highlighting your top achievements in the retail industry.
• In the body of your cover letter, describe why you’re the retail manager they’re looking for by focusing on your work experience, skills, and achievements.
• Make sure to research the company and explain how and why you’d be a great asset to their team. Don’t forget to mention why you wish to work for this company in particular!
• Close your cover letter with a call to action.
• Lastly, check our cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes to perfect your cover letter and land that retail manager job!

And here’s an example of a compelling cover letter:

As a retail manager, you know the role packaging plays in selling a product. Make sure your cover letter matches your resume by choosing one of our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways 

By now, you have all the tools and knowledge to write the perfect retail manager resume (and cover letter!) that will help you land the job.

Before you start creating it, though, let’s go over some of the main points in writing a retail manager resume again:

• Pick the reverse-chronological format to highlight your impressive work experience.
• Write a compelling resume summary by focusing on your years of experience, skills, and top achievements.
• Only include relevant work experience, and make sure to focus on your achievements instead of responsibilities to boost your resume.
• Take your retail manager resume to the next level by listing your certifications, licenses, associations, languages, and other additional information.
• Attach a convincing and personalized cover letter to secure your retail management job in the company.

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Sunday Summary: Retail of the Tape

By the editors may 26, 2024 9:00 am.

There was a time when you could say that if you’d seen one ICSC conference, you’d seen ’em mall…

But retail is a different animal now than it was 10 years ago, or even two years ago. And there was a lot to discuss as the brokers, owners and retailers all descended on Las Vegas for this year’s ICSC conference to discuss, to meet, and to party.

In a profound reversal, we even heard words on the ground at the Las Vegas Convention Center that we had been yearning for since 2015…. Space is finally starting to tighten up!

“The velocity is really high, but deals are taking longer because it’s taking tenants longer to find quality space,” said Avison Young ’s Meghann Martindale. “In some cases, that high demand and lack of supply has driven rents way up, so they’re having to stomach higher costs than over maybe a year or two ago.”

Attendees like Lincoln Property Company ’s Jim Dillavou talked about his company’s expansion plans .

“ I firmly believe we’ll be seeing a lot more construction in the next couple of years than people are talking about, in specific markets too,” said Dillavou. “There’s ground-up construction in Texas right now. In California, it’s much tougher to make pencil.”

Which doesn’t mean that retail’s problems weren’t discussed at ICSC, such as retail theft — but some attendees indicated that the perception of the problem is as bad as the lost merchandise and other hits to the bottom line.

“It’s pissing me off,” said Sandy Sigal, chairman and CEO of owner NewMark Merrill . “It really negatively impacts the perception of retail shopping centers when gangs and people are running in, breaking windows, and doing all kinds of crazy stuff. We spend a lot of money and a lot of community time on it.”

“I think we have to look at it and take the sensationalism away,” said Daniel Taub, national director of Marcus & Millichap ’s retail division. “As it relates to what we see and given the significance of how much we transact — and we transact more retail products than anybody else — I don’t think it’s ever come up as a challenge, an issue or a reason why something won’t trade or sell.”

Another problem that came up: potentially weak consumer spending .

“There’s a real sense that we’re not necessarily having a consumer recession, but there’s all these headwinds that they’re really starting to feel,” said JLL (JLL) ’s Naveen Jaggi during one of the ICSC breakfasts. “Inflation has cooled except for housing, food and fuel. … If the cost of labor goes up 10 or 20 percent, there’s a direct pass to the consumer.”

Adding to the problem for retailers, said JLL’s Chris Angelone, is the fact that a lot of landlord concessions that were granted during COVID have largely dried up.

In anticipation of the big event, CO spent the last few weeks talking to retail players like Retail by MONA ’s Brandon Singer, who acknowledged the pain of the last two years — specifically, the twin blows of COVID and the rise of e-commerce — but also described how retailers are coming out of their funk thanks to “smarter and better real estate decisions. Smaller footprints, a better understanding of who their customer is, where deliveries are, things of that nature.”

One can see this at play in restaurants.

While the fast casual concepts of yore have struggled, a new generation has emerged. And they’re picking up the real estate from obsolete or ossified brands that have failed (did you see that Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy last week?!) or are cutting down the square footage that was previously thought necessary.

And, while e-commerce is certainly not going away, there has been some resurgence in open-air retail , with an emphasis on convenience and service.

“Service-oriented neighborhood strip is hot right now,” said Don Tepman, also known as “Strip Mall Guy” on Twitter — eh, sorry, we mean X. “When you go to a restaurant, or go to the dentist, or go to a studio, those service-oriented businesses don’t really care about Amazon.”

And the numbers have borne this out. “When you look at the data for the last few years, you see very strong leasing velocity in open-air retail centers,” said Martha Kelley, a managing director at Bain Capital . “About 100 million square feet of leasing has been done. These centers are in some ways more experiential.”

It’s starting to make sense why shopping centers are again becoming attractive buying opportunities. Just last week, Publix plunked down $58.5 million for the 157,914-square-foot Ramblewood Square in Coral Springs, Fla.

It also explains why MRP Realty would jump at an incredible bargain like Washington, D.C.’s Gallery Place, which it picked up for only $39 million . (The Chinatown-area shopping center and office property was assessed at $225.7 million earlier this year!)

If you lived here, you’d be home by now

Of course, last week wasn’t all about shopping, people. Unless you mean shopping for an apartment or a multifamily complex — because there was a lot of that.

Ares Management (ARES) put down $139.7 million for Ceru, a 373,856-square-foot, 284-unit complex in Boca Raton, making it the biggest multifamily deal of the year in South Florida thus far.

Blackstone (BX) paid an even grander $171.4 million for a stake in the Gotham Organization’s 378-unit The Suffolk on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Also in Manhattan (in this case Murray Hill) Four Winds Real Estate picked up a 36-story apartment building called The Knox for $68 million from Morgenstern Capital and HIG Capital .

And L+M announced an ambitious plan for a 17-story, 328-unit affordable housing project on a former parking lot in the Bronx’s Morrisania.

Likewise, data centers had a good week, in that Amazon plunked down $218 million in Manassas, Va., for a planned 91-acre data center.

It’s office that had a bit of an iffy week. Boston-based MassMutual, filed a $315 million pre-foreclosure action against RXR and partners for a loan secured by the 22-story office 340 Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Store your troubles in a sack

Of course, that’s not the way to go out on a Sunday. Especially not on Memorial Day Weekend.

Rather, better to read about Brian Cohen, the “Storage King of the USA” (his company is the $2.8 billion Andover Properties ) who announced the launch of Andover Storage Lending , to put out nonrecourse bridge loans and construction loans in self-storage. 

“We know what it’s like to be a borrower, we know the heartaches, especially with some of the local and regional banks and the red tape you have to go through,” Cohen told CO. “We know how to take away that friction. We see ourselves as easy to work with, and we don’t want to make this complicated.”

Speaking of storage, get the grill out of the shed, enjoy some hot dogs, and happy Memorial Day to one and all.

See you next week!

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