The post How to write a retail CV appeared first on Career Advice.
]]>This sounds like a lot of work, right? Luckily, most retail CVs follow a similar format, it’s just about selling yourself to potential employers. Our comprehensive guide will cover what you need to include and how you should structure your CV.
Start your retail CV with your personal details. Don’t waste space using ‘CV’ or ‘Curriculum Vitae’ as a header – recruiters will already know what it is. Instead, you should use your name as a header, followed by your job title and contact details.
This section doesn’t need to be long and certainly doesn’t need to contain all your personal information. Simply list your name, profession, location, email address and telephone number. It should look something like this:
Full name
Professional title
Location: Town, county
Phone number: 01234 56789
Email address: [email protected]
Note: Using an email address like ‘[email protected]’ isn’t going to look very professional. Choose a simple and professional address. It’s best to just stick with your name where possible.
After your details, you need to include a short personal profile. This doesn’t need to be more than a few sentences long and should introduce who you are.
You should also take this opportunity to outline your career goals and what you can bring to the role. Remember, you need to tailor your personal profile for each role and business you apply to.
Your employment history is your chance to shout about any great experience you’ve had, or places you’ve worked. List only the most relevant experience and do so in reverse chronological order.
Alongside this, include the name of the organisation, the dates you were employed there, your job title and your achievements in the business. Here’s an example of how to lay this out:
Company name, location | Dates you were employed here
Job title:
- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Key achivements:
- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Don’t focus solely on writing a list of responsibilities. You also need to talk about how your achievements contributed to the business. Illustrate with examples and figures where you can.
If you don’t have any previous retail experience, you’ll need to focus on highlighting the transferable skills that you can bring to the role. These might include good communication and customer service.
Next on your retail CV, it’s time to outline your credentials. As with your employment history, you should include the name of the institution, the years you attended and the grades you achieved.
These should also appear in reverse chronological order. Here’s an example of how this may look:
Institution name | Dates you attended
Subject name – grade achieved
You don’t need to go into too much detail in this section. However, if you took any qualifications or modules relevant to the role you’re applying to, this is your opportunity to go into more detail about them.
Towards the end of your retail CV, you should include a skills section. This gives you a chance to highlight any soft and hard skills you have that will be beneficial in the role.
Look at what the job description asks for and then begin to compile a list of your relevant skills. You don’t want this to take up too much room – so only choose the key skills.
Depending on the role, you might want to include skills such as customer service, communication, attention to detail, stock taking, pay roll, merchandising, payment and shipping.
This section is optional and should only be included if you have space, or if you have interesting hobbies that are relevant to the role. For example, if you run your own fashion blog and you’re looking to work for a clothing brand, this may be beneficial.
To save room on your retail CV, at the bottom simply put ‘references available upon request’ instead of including the full details. Potential employers can ask for these details later should they need them.
While some of this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised how much information candidates are willing to share. Writing a CV can be tricky, particularly if you haven’t had much practise! So to help you out, we’ve put together a list of aspects you definitely don’t need to include:
Your retail CV needs to be clear and concise. Include only the relevant details about your education and employment history and remember to sell yourself in your personal profile. Getting your CV right from the start will aid you in your job search.
If you’re looking for your next exciting opportunity, search over 3,000 retail roles now.
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]]>The post A complete interview guide for a job in retail appeared first on Career Advice.
]]>Your interview preparation needs to begin far before you enter the room. Being organised is key to having success and landing the job. Follow our pointers to get ahead and impress the interviewer.
Companies want to see that you’re aware of their brand. You shouldn’t walk into the interview wondering, what does this company actually sell?
It’s essential to do your homework and find out about the company. The first point of call should be researching the company website. Many retail companies will have one, often with an information page about who they are and what they sell.
Find out about the company success, how they were founded and their customer target group. Then look for information on the company size so you know how many stores they have and if they are a global firm.
You have a lot of preparing to do before the interview. While you can’t know what specific questions the interviewer will ask you, there are several questions that are common in the industry. To make sure you’re not stumped with a difficult question, you need to prepare your answers to these in advance.
Write bullet points and think of examples as to when you worked well in a team, resolved a conflict or helped someone. These are the type of people skills they’re after. You should also prepare questions to ask in the interview. This shows you’re interested in the position and company.
The day before, you need to make sure you have everything ready. It’s a good tip to print off your CV as the hiring manager may ask you questions about the skills or experience mentioned. Also, bring a pen and notepad to jot down any important information.
How you dress tells the interviewer a lot about you – even if the interview is virtual – so this needs to be a priority early on. If you’re interviewing for a clothes store it’s a good idea to wear their clothing wherever possible. For example, a nice shirt from their collection or a statement necklace. It can show that you’re passionate about the brand and you’d be good at selling it to others.
Alongside this, make sure that all your clothes are ironed and tidy. If you’re unsure on what to wear it’s always better to go smarter. This shows the recruiter that you’re professional and serious about the job.
The thought of the actual interview might make you feel nervous and that’s okay. To help, try to think of the interview as a learning experience and an opportunity to show off your skills. We explain some ways you can do this below.
It’s essential to be friendly to everyone you meet. You may meet other staff members before your interviewer and they might feedback on your attitude and manner. Also, if the interview is in store, you might come across customers too, so remember to be extra friendly and put a smile on your face.
When you meet the interviewer, make sure you stand up and shake their hand or if the meeting is virtual be sure to introduce yourself clearly. Again, remember to smile because it will help you come across as more approachable. This is an essential skill when working in a customer-facing role.
It can be easy to forget about your body language in the moment. Never (ever) sit in an interview with your arms crossed, it suggests that you’re bored or uninterested. Also avoid fidgeting with pens or jewellery because it will highlight that you’re not paying attention.
So aim to look confident by sitting up straight and not slouching in your chair. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer to show that you’re engaged and confident.
It’s common to talk quickly and stumble over words when you’re nervous. But overusing ‘umm’ and not really getting to the point won’t give the interviewer the best impression of you. Instead, try to talk at a slightly slower pace than normal to give yourself more time to think. This will also help the recruiter to understand you better.
You’ve successfully made it through the interview but it’s not quite time to relax yet. There’s a few last steps to follow.
You may have thanked the interviewer straight after your meeting but it’s also important to send a follow up response. All you need to do is send an email thanking them for their time and saying that you’re looking forward to hearing from them soon.
Doing so will keep you in mind when they’re making the decision and will show that you’re polite and courteous.
If you haven’t heard back from the interviewer and it’s been longer than the timescale they gave then it’s okay to follow it up. However, following up before their decision date will come across as inconsiderate and possibly annoying.
Your tone should be polite and enquiring, not demanding. After all, you don’t want to ruin your chances by coming across as rude.
While daunting, an interview is a great chance to sell your skills and experience to the employer. Remember that preparation is key for success and will help give you confidence on the day.
If you’re yet to land an interview, check out our latest vacancies and opportunities on Jobs Retail.
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]]>The post Your complete guide to writing a cover for letter for a retail position appeared first on Career Advice.
]]>However, with our handy advice, you’ll be able to start applying for retail positions right away and secure yourself some interviews. Use the below as a guide to help you draft your main ‘cover letter’ and look out for tips on tailoring this to each role you apply to.
Firstly, you need to consider the company that you’re applying to work in. Are you able to answer the following questions?
• Do you know who will be reading your letter?
• What are the key requirements of the job?
• What is the company like to work for?
• What’s happening in the industry?
• Did the company feature in the news recently?
If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘don’t know’ then it’s time to start your research. This will help you to tailor your cover letter and show why you’re the perfect fit for the role. Some job applications may specify who you need to contact. If not, do some digging online to see if you can find the name of the recruiter receiving your application.
Alongside this, gaining an understanding of what skills are necessary for the job will help you to match the requirements of the role and highlight any relevant experience you have. Finally, researching the company and what it’s like to work for will mean you can highlight a few key points in your letter to make it more relevant.
You should structure your cover letter like a formal business letter. This means including your address and contact details on the right hand side, as well as theirs, further down, to the left. See below for a clear overview of a recommended structure of your cover letter.
[Address Line 1]
[Address Line 2]
[Address Line 3]
[Phone Number]
[Company address line 1]
[Company address line 2]
[Date]
To [Name],
Paragraph 1:
Keep your opening paragraph short. It should explain why you’re writing the letter, the position you’re applying for and how you found out about the role. For example: “I am writing to apply for the role of Retail Assistant, in response to an advert I saw on Jobs Retail. Please find my CV attached.”
Paragraph 2:
The second paragraph should expand on your CV and summarise any relevant skills or education you have. Remember, your cover letter shouldn’t go into more detail on the information mentioned in your CV. Mirror the skills that are used in the job description to boost your chances even further and go into detail on your most notable achievements.
Paragraph 3:
The third paragraph is where you can showcase the research that you’ve done on the company. Pick out a few points about why you want to work for them specifically. You should state how you can help the company to build upon their success, as well as why you’ll fit in with the company culture and core values.
Paragraph 4:
End your letter with a clear call to action. Let them know your availability for a callback about an interview. Alternatively, if you plan to follow up with a phone call, say so! If you’re nervous about appearing to keen, then close with “I look forward to hearing from you”. Thank them for taking the time to read your letter and sign off with:
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Download our cover letter template
Generally, your cover letter should never span over one page. Remember, recruiters are busy people and they don’t have time to read through pages and pages of waffle. If you stick to the structure above and focus on including only the most relevant information, there should be no reason why your cover letter should get too long.
Hold your horses! Before you send your cover letter anywhere you need to give it a good proofread. When in doubt, give it to a friend or family member to read too. Silly mistakes such as poor grammar or typos could make a bad impression on the reader.
If it’s good to go, now it’s time to ensure you save it in the right format. Some companies may use Windows PCs (which use the .docx file extension), while others may use Macs (which use .pages). For this reason, it’s best to save your cover letter as a PDF to ensure there aren’t any formatting issues when the recipient receives it.
When it comes to sending your cover letter, ensure that the subject line is clear. For example: Application for Retail Assistant – Joe Bloggs.
Some employers may ask you to include a reference number so make sure you do so if this is the case. On job boards such as Jobs Retail, you can cut down the copy. Below is an example of what this might look like:
Hi [Name],
I am interested in applying for the current vacancy you have for a Retail Assistant.
In my current role as a Retail Assistant with Fresh Foods, I am responsible for ensuring that stock is constantly replenished, but am currently looking to make a step up into a more challenging role with a reputable company who can offer career growth.
I am currently on a notice period of one week and can interview immediately.
Kind regards,
[Name]
[Phone number]
[Email]
Your cover letter should be as concise as possible. Don’t be afraid to cut out any waffle and only include the most relevant information. Here are some final points to remember:
A recruiter will probably spend about 30 seconds scanning your cover letter. Keep your document to one A4 page to be safe.
You need to expand on information in your CV, not repeat it. Pick out your most relevant experience and give examples of how you’ve excelled in your role.
Your cover letter needs to be as relevant as possible. Scan the job description for the key skills required and ensure you showcase that you possess these attributes.
You don’t want to risk the reader not being able to open your letter. Ensure you save it in the right format and stick to a PDF just in case.
Before you send your cover letter off anywhere, give it a good proofread. You could even ask someone else to look at it to ensure there aren’t any mistakes.
Similar to CVs, no recruiter wants to read a cover letter that’s littered with jargon. Avoid phrases about being a team player and use examples instead.
Try to use numbers to back up what you’re saying. For example: ‘I assisted customers with their shopping on a daily basis, resulting in a 27% increase in our customer satisfaction rates.’
Dependent on the role, it may be worth using a few bullet points to highlight your successes. Don’t worry if this is too much trouble – it’s not necessary. But, it’s a good way to break up text.
Upload your CV today and start searching for relevant retail jobs!
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]]>The post How to become a Retail Assistant appeared first on Career Advice.
]]>If you’re interested in pursuing a career in retail, then one of the best places to start is as a Retail Assistant. This entry-level position will help you learn the business basics as well as gain essential transferable skills.
Retail Assistants work in shops, supermarkets and department stores, making sure the customer experience is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. As a Retail Assistant, you’ll primarily be customer facing and could perform a number of roles, including handling payments at the tills, working at the customer service desk or on general store duties, replenishing stock. In order to excel in this role, you’ll need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as good literary and numeracy skills.
Retail Assistants are employed across every retail sector, including:
Salaries will vary depending on your industry sector as well as location. Some Retail Assistants will also receive commission on sales, as well as bonuses when sales targets are met. Overtime could also be on offer, boosting monthly salaries.
According to the National Careers Service, salary scales are as follows:
There are no minimum qualifications for securing a position as a Retail Assistant. This is definitely a profession where your character and confidence count for more than certificates. Make sure you’re up to date with shopping trends – especially important within the fashion sector – and have a good understanding of the products you’ll sell.
This latter point is important if you’re going to work within the tech industry. You can also increase your chances of securing your dream job by gaining experience volunteering at a charity shop or taking seasonal or weekend work.
While not strictly necessary, you can get ahead by studying for the following qualifications:
You could also learn while you earn by securing a retail apprenticeship.
Given the focus on customer service, above all you’ll need to be friendly and approachable to succeed in this role. As well as having a passion for the products you’re selling, the following key skills are also essential:
Retail Assistants typically work a 40-hour week, including weekend work. Early opening hours and late closing times mean shifts are likely to include early starts as well as late finishes. You’ll also be expected to work over Bank Holidays. There are plenty of options for part-time, shift and seasonal work, meaning the job can flex around your lifestyle. The flexible working options within the profession make it particularly attractive for students and parents.
The day-to-day role can vary depending on the type of store you work in, but general duties remain the same:
Within larger businesses, there’s a clear career path for employees to follow, with opportunities to progress up the career ladder to Department Head and Store Manager. Given that this business sector is so diverse, there are also opportunities – with additional study – to move into the following retail areas:
With experience, you could ultimately look to set up your own store. This can either be a bricks-and-mortar retail outlet or an online store. In fact, while high street sales figures are struggling, online retailing is seeing year-on-year increases so this is an attractive option for businesses.
According to shapewear specialist Elle Courbee, fashion retail is particularly successful within the online community, with many consumers preferring to try on items such as shapewear and swimwear within the comfort of their own home.
Given the popularity of online trading and with consumer confidence in ecommerce growing, there’s also a corresponding increase in the number of Online Retail Assistant positions available, so if you’re experienced in retail and tech savvy, then this sector is also worth looking into.
If you love meeting people and helping them find the solution they need, as well as working as part of a team to achieve great sales figures, then this is the career option for you. You can work selling the products that you love, receiving bonuses to reward good performance.
There’s good potential for career progression and the skills you learn will be easily transferable. Also, with so many part-time positions available, it’s a fantastic career option for flexing your work around your lifestyle and personal commitments.
Retail is now a 7-day week business, so unless you work part time and have negotiated weekday working, you can expect to work at weekends. Also, longer opening times can result in unsociable working hours. Shifts can also change at peak times such as during the sales and at Christmas, requiring you to be more flexible during these periods.
However, those working within the industry will relish the challenge of busier times – as well as the flexible working options – so this isn’t necessarily a drawback. You’ll also occasionally be challenged by difficult customers, but with experience and the camaraderie of your work colleagues, this will become easier over time.
You’re confident, friendly and approachable and enjoy the buzz of making sales. If you work within your favourite niche – be it fashion, tech or sport and leisure – then it won’t feel like work at all. This career is great if you want to follow a career path that doesn’t rely on having a degree. You’ll be following your passion and getting paid for it, what could be better than that? Not to mention those employee discounts….
About the author: Sam is a Content Marketing Executive for Leapfrog Internet Marketing, working to help clients improve their online presence and maintain market leadership. Her industry experience spans publishing and editorial roles in the world of medical communications as well as digital marketing and event planning for the education sector. She has a broad, eclectic range of writing interests – from lifestyle advice and professional development to digital marketing and emerging technologies.
The post How to become a Retail Assistant appeared first on Career Advice.
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