Retail Resume

By Jamie Thork, Monster contributor

Retail clerks can be the difference between a great customer experience and a not-so-great one. To be considered for top retail sales jobs, you need to have a top-shelf retail resume that demonstrates both your skills and customer service expertise. For writing tips, view this retail resume example.

In the world of retail, one thing matters: Performance. Your retail sales associate resume needs to demonstrate how you have contributed to your company's bottom-line success. When developing your resume, keep in mind that retail hiring managers want to know, "What can this person do for us?" So show that you have the skills, accomplishments, training, and work ethic to contribute to your potential employer's corporate goals and mission.

Retail Resume Skills

A retail resume skills section must showcase your core competencies, not just list typical sales clerk responsibilities. This section is also a great place to incorporate industry keywords so your resume can be found in an applicant search. Keywords include specific job titles (retail manager, store manager, retail store manager, retail sales, sales representative, cashier, assistant manager, merchandiser, buyer) and required retail skills (P&L management, purchasing, procurement, retail operations management). Here are some other skills to consider for your retail resume:

  • Strategic planning
  • P&L management
  • Retail distribution
  • Budget planning
  • Merchandise displays
  • Sales and marketing
  • Inventory control
  • Procurement
  • Warehousing
  • Systems management
  • Incentive structures
  • Performance standards
  • Safety and compliance
  • Team leadership and mentoring

Retail Resume Example

Shane Vilmer
San Antonio TX 00000 | 555-555-5555 | sv@email.com | linkedin.com/vilmer

Experienced Retail Clerk

Available for all shifts and extended evening/weekend hours

  • Retail sales clerk known for exemplary customer service, team player mindset and exceptional cash-handling accuracy.
  • Record of dedication and dependability reinforced by consistent “exceeds expectations” ratings on performance reviews and multiple “Employee of the Month” honors.
  • Backed by excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to customer service that has been described as “second-to-none” by employers.

Retail & Technical Skills

  • Retail Sales
  • Cash-Handling Accuracy
  • Credit Card Transactions
  • Customer Service Excellence
  • Loss Prevention
  • Merchandising & Stocking
  • Cash Registers
  • POS Systems
  • MS Word and Excel

Experience

COMPANY ONE, San Antonio, TX
Big-box retail store locations with up to $500M in annual sales

Retail Sales Clerk, XX/20XX to Present

Courteously greet customers and efficiently process transactions within busy, fast-paced retail environments. Operate cash register, scanners and computers to itemize and total customer purchases; collect payments and make change for cash transactions; and balance drawer at the end of each shift. Assist with store stocking, setting up floor-sets and opening/closing procedures.

Awards:

Three-Time “Employee of the Month,” Company One
Four-Time “Employee Star,” Company One
“Peak Performer Award,” Company One

Accomplishments:

  • Named “Employee of the Month” at both companies in recognition of excellent job performance and dedication to customer service.
  • Commended by supervisors for flexibility in changing work hours when asked, often filling in for absent employees during scheduled days off.
  • Honored with repeated awards for cash-handling skills, with zero overages or shortages month-over-month.
  • Displayed a positive, helpful attitude on a daily basis that was praised by customers and employers alike.

Education

HIGH SCHOOL ONE, San Antonio, TX | Diploma

Need to take your time getting everything in order? Download the retail resume sample in Word and write at your own pace. You can also make the template your own by swapping sections or adding new ones. For example, if you need a sample resume for sales clerk with no experience, you might want to swap out your professional experience section with an extracurricular or internship section.

According to Monster data, the median annual salary for a retail sales associate is $27,650 and can range from $23,256 to $41,427. Retail jobs are plentiful in the following areas:

To find out what you could earn in your location, check the Monster Salary Tool. Additionally, you can search for all retail jobs on Monster.

Make Your Retail Resume Shine

As a retail worker, selling is in your nature. But selling your skills is a whole different prospect. Not sure your resume is strong enough to score a job? The experts at Monster's Resume Writing Service can custom-write your retail resume and include industry-specific keywords to help you get noticed by hiring managers. Let the pros at Monster take inventory of your skills and experience and put them on display.