While you can quickly get one of these opportunities at one of the stores near your home, you want to get one that has some amazing benefits. An outstanding store associate resume will help you get ahead of your competitors for the best opportunities.
We'll help you craft your resume if you don't know where to start by giving you some tips that are easy to follow. Other details that you'll find in this article include:
- A retail sales associate resume example to guide you as you write one.
- The right sales skills you should have on your resume.
- How to add your professional experience to your resume.
- The best layout and format for your resume.
Salaries and Job Market For Store Associates
The industries with the highest levels of employment in Sales and Related Occupations include:
- General Merchandise Stores
- Food and Beverage Stores
- Building Material and Supplies Dealers
- Gasoline Stations
- Clothing Stores
The average salary for a store associate is $28,000. The typical range is between $24,000 and $31,000, depending on your experience and skills.
How to Make a Store Associate Resume
The job market in retail is highly competitive. Therefore, you cannot afford to write an ordinary resume. You have to add information that will capture the recruiter's attention if you want to land an amazing opportunity.
You can check out our resume examples and get some tips that will allow you to write an exceptional resume.
Retail sales associates must showcase specific skills and sales experience on their resume, whether it's a managerial or entry-level position. Your resume should be well-structured to ensure that the hiring manager quickly finds the information they require. Our resume templates will help structure your resume and ensure you don't leave out any vital information.
Resume Format, Layout, and Structure
Other factors you need to consider when creating your resume include the format, structure, and layout of your resume.
The resume format should prioritize your best qualifications. Here are three formats you can consider:- Reverse-chronological format: This format focuses on your experience and is perfect for candidates with many years of experience. It's also easy to scan on ATS systems, making it a favorite of most hiring managers.
- Functional format: This format focuses on your skills and is perfect for recent graduates and career changers.
- Combination/hybrid resume: This format blends the best features of the reverse-chronological and functional resume formats. It's perfect for candidates with experience and skills.
The layout and design you choose makes it easy or hard for the recruiter to read your resume. The goal is to make it easy for the recruiter. Easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman are recommended, and a font size of 10-12pt.
The structure of your store associate resume should have the following sections:
- The header section
- Professional summary/objective
- Work experience
- Education section
- Skill section
- An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, awards/honors, and interests)
The Header Section And Contact Information
The header section contains the following details:
- Your full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location
- A link to your LinkedIn profile.
The information in this section is critical so ensure that it's accurate before sending your resume to the recruiter.
Retail Store Associate
263-988-303
toddhollen@gmail.comLong Beach, CA
linkedin.com/in/toddhollen
Retail Store Associate
263-988-303
toddhollen@gmail.com3932 Locust Court
House number 44
Long Beach, CA
Date of birth 02/02/1997
linkedin.com/in/toddhollen
Detail Your Professional Background in the Experience Section
Every retail sales associate position will have specific requirements. Therefore it's essential to check the job ad and tailor the resume to match these requirements.
Under this section, you'll add your professional experience. Start with your most recent position and go backward.
Some of the details you should have include:
- The name of the workplace,
- Your job title
- The period you've worked at each place.
Under each workplace, add three to five responsibilities. These job duties or responsibilities should have keywords and action verbs that will allow your resume to get past the ATS systems. The job description will have these keywords, so check it out and incorporate them in this section.
In addition to that, you'll add facts and figures to quantify your achievements and show the recruiter that you're the best candidate. This also allows them to see the value you could bring to the company.
Focus on the relevant experience related to the store associate job. However, you can also add experiences that allow you to showcase your transferable skills.
Example for an Entry-Level Store Associate Resume
Skechers
Store Associate
June 2018-March 2019
- Provided customer support by resolving their sales and service issues to ensure they had a great customer experience.
- Accurately processed credit card payments for services and products to meet financial goals.
- Answered customer questions, explained the company's current promotions and store policies, and resolved customer complaints.
- Promoted special items, changed signage, and restocked shelves, racks, and bins with new products.
Example for Experienced Store Associates
Store Manager
February 2017-December 2020
- Assisted with cross-selling of accessory items and increased store sales by 20%.
- Set ambitious sales goals for employees and prioritized customer service to increase sales.
- Assessed performance and reports to make recommendations to improve inventory accuracy and hit the sales targets.
- Taught new and junior employees how to implement proactive strategies to meet goals for operations and sales by conducting trainings.
Add Your Educational Qualifications
Most store associate positions don't require formal education, but you should add it to your resume if you have a college degree. This ensures that you stay ahead of the competition and get the most coveted positions with the best benefits.Usually, you'll need a high school diploma, especially for an entry-level position, and then you'll be trained on the job. However, you can leave the high school diploma out of your resume if you have the degree.
It's also advisable to check the job description and figure out the specific requirements of the job you want to apply for.
When listing your education, here are some of the details that you'll include:
- The degree/diploma awarded
- The name of the school
- The year of completion
Correct example
High School Diploma
Everglades High School
2015
Best Skills for Store Associates
The skills you possess go a long way in getting you a store associate job. However, you need to know how to present them on your resume.
Hiring managers require specific skills and use the applicant tracking systems to filter out resumes that don't meet the requirements. When adding your skills, it's essential to use the correct language to ensure ATS systems do not filter out your resume. Check the job description and use the exact wording as you add your skills. However, don't lie in your resume and add a skill you don't have.When listing your skills, use bullet points to make it easy for the recruiter to see them as they check your resume. This also makes it easier to scan them when using the ATS systems.
Your resume should have the right blend of hard and soft skills. Hard skills allow you to perform the technical duties and soft skills allow you to relate well with colleagues and customers.Let's look at a list of skills you can add to your resume.
Hard skills- POS operation
- Proficient in MS Office
- Upselling
- Inventory management
- Display design
- Account Management
- Cash handling accuracy
- Cross-selling
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Multitasking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Decision-making skills
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Superior organization skills
Write an Engaging Professional Summary
A professional or resume summary is the second section of your resume. It introduces your resume to the recruiter allowing them to see what you've achieved so far in your career. Always focus on the top accomplishments, experience, and skills to capture the recruiter's attention.
Resume Objective
A professional/resume objective works the same way as a resume summary but is suitable for candidates who don't have experience. It allows them to summarize their career goals and show the recruiting manager how they align with the company goals. It also gives them a chance to express their interest in the job.
Example For A Store Associate With Experience
Example For A Store Associate Without Experience
Incorrect example
Additional Headings for Your Store Associate Resume
Your resume would be incomplete without this section. This is your chance to show the recruiter why you're the best candidate.
Highlight your top skills and achievements in this section to stand out and beat your competitors.Recruiters glance at your resume for a few seconds and may easily miss some of your qualifications. This section allows you to add them in a separate section that the recruiter can quickly see.
Here are a few sections you can consider for your resume.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Basic computer skills are necessary to operate the cash register, so adding them under this section is essential.If you have a certification, you should also add it under this section. Some sales associate resume examples will have the certifications under the education section, and that's okay. However, listing them in a separate section makes them more visible. Here are some of the certifications that stand out for a store or sales associate.
- Certified Sales Associate(CSA)
- Professional Credit Associate(PCA)
- Certified Purchasing Card Professional(CPCP)
Interests
Some hiring managers will advise against adding interests to your resume, but they can work in your favor. The best thing to do is to research the company and find out their culture to know which interests you should have in your resume.
Languages
A bilingual candidate for a store associate position is a dream for any employer. This is because they can converse with customers who may not speak English and close the sale for the store. Use the official language reference to list your languages as follows:- SIELE for Spanish
- TOEFL or IELTS for English
- DELF for French
Tips to Boost Your Resume for Store Associate
- The right keywords and action verbs in your resume ensure that your resume gets past the ATS systems.
- Be specific and customize your resume to the industry and company you're applying to.
- Choose the right resume format that brings out your best qualifications first.
- Quantify your accomplishments with figures and facts that show the recruiter the value you'll bring to the company.
- Use a layout that's easy to read and understand.
- Start your resume with a strong resume summary/objective.
- Check your resume for mistakes before sending it to your potential employer.
Key Takeaways
- Proofread the header section and ensure the details are correct.
- Keep the professional summary short but catchy and engaging.
- A professional objective is suitable for recent graduates and career changers who don't have experience and accomplishments to add to the summary section.
- The work experience section should have the relevant employment history.
- Always add your educational qualifications in the education section.
- Use bullet points to list your skills to make them more visible.
- Showcase the transferable skills from other jobs not related to the position.
- Include an additional section with your extra qualifications.
Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter
An application without a cover letter is incomplete unless the recruiter has asked you not to send one. A cover letter showcases your writing skills and allows you to inject some personality as you describe your top accomplishments, experience, and skills. We have some great cover letter examples you can check out to help you craft one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top companies hiring for sales associate jobs include:
- Walmart
- Macy's
- Nordstrom
- Best Buy
- The Home Depot
- Lowe's Home Improvement
- Target
- Kohl's
Most store associate jobs require a high school diploma, and some will need on-the-job training.