Are you interested in pursuing a career in retail? Well, good news: According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will still be roughly 594,400 job opportunities for managers in retail sales each year despite the relatively slow rate of employment growth. Aside from growing opportunities, BLS also stated that the average wage for retail managers in the United States is projected to increase to $39,230 every year or $18.86 hourly.
Given the high salary and increased chances of obtaining a position in retail management, you may expect tougher competition on the job market. Therefore, if you are serious about getting the job, you should create a retail manager resume that will persuade employers that you are the most qualified applicant.
No idea how to make one? Read on as we discuss what a retail manager does, and how to create a retail manager resume that will set you apart from the competition.
What is a Retail Manager?
Retail managers are the ones responsible for all retail functions and procedures in retail stores, department stores, and supermarkets. Apart from overseeing teams of store workers, they are also in charge of:
- Making sure the store has all supplies needed;
- Maintaining the visual presentation of store merchandise; and
- Assisting in handling and resolving customers’ questions, requests, and complaints.
In addition to their everyday tasks, retail managers also focus on creating retail management strategies and techniques to help a store meet its goals. These professionals also exhibit a broad range of skills related to sales and have strong management and supervisory skills.
What are the Duties of a Retail Manager?
You might wonder, “What does a retail manager do?” As mentioned above, retail managers watch over the overall management of retail store. Nonetheless, that they also perform for a variety of tasks, including:
- Take charge of creating sales promotions and setting sales quotas to meet monthly, quarterly, or annual sales targets.
- Implement standard practices aimed to build customer loyalty and improve overall store efficiency.
- Actively recruit stellar talent by hiring sales associates and facilitating new hire orientations.
- Effectively handle customer returns for damaged products.
- Manage store inventory and order new products as necessary.
- Serve as a primary contact on store information and policies for customers and employees.
- Create daily sales reports and ensure proper maintenance of cash registers.
How Do You Become a Retail Manager?
Retail manager position requirements vary by store, but if you choose to pursue this career path, you will need a combination of the following:
- Pursue formal education: Earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a business-related field can significantly increase a candidate’s chances of landing this job.
- Acquiring certifications: Aside from earning a formal education, a candidate’s competitive edge will also rise when applying for new management roles if they obtain qualifications for retail managers, such as the Retail Management Certificate (RMC).
- Gain retail work experience or hands-on practice: Most frequently, progression from a lower-level retail role is how retail managers obtain their positions. Work closely with a retail manager to get practical experience and learn the basics of managing a retail store. Some common retail roles which you might earn retail expertise include stocker, merchandiser, cashier, and store personnel.
- Continue to develop your current retail career. Make sure to participate and take advantage of any trainee or apprenticeship programs that your company offers. Your chances of being hired as retail manager or advance in your career increase as you gain more in-store training and experience.
What to Include in Your Retail Manager Resume
Just like how retail managers create successful retail strategies to bring more customers and accomplish continual business growth, you’ll need to construct an appealing resume to be able to catch the hiring manager’s attention and secure a management position in the retail industry.
But how will you create a resume that will effectively sell your qualifications to the hiring manager? Continue reading to find out some of the recommended sections and content that you can include on your resume to get you started.
Contact Information
Similar to other industry resumes, begin your retail manager resume by listing your contact details correctly including your name, complete address, phone number, and email address. Along with basic contact information, you may also add a personal website or your LinkedIn profile’s URL to provide additional information to hiring managers.
Specific Target Position
Right after your contact details, include your target role or career tag to help hiring managers and recruiters understand about the sort of work you’re looking for.
Qualifications Profile or Resume Summary
Craft a striking resume summary and place it on top of your resume to show recruiters that you’re the right applicant for the position in just a few seconds. And to get the hiring manager to read your entire resume and improve your chances of getting an interview, briefly summarize your relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments in three to five statements.
Expert Tip:
Never put an objective section on your resume. Resume objective is an older resume trend and using one could unintentionally date you.
Areas of Expertise or Core Competencies
Often known as the skills section, is a portion of your resume that aims to prove you’re the right fit for this particular position. So consider listing a variety of abilities, including your hard, soft and industry-related skills.
The following are some of the crucial skills for retail managers:
Hard Skills
- Personnel Management
- Inventory Control
- Negotiating
- Prospecting
- Product Knowledge
- Market Research
- Customer Service
Soft Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Communication Skills
- Strategic Thinking
Industry Skills
- Point of Sale (POS) Skills
- Retail Sales
- Store Management
- Visual Merchandising
- Sales Promotional Strategies
Professional Experience or Work History
This section is where you list your previous jobs. Indicate your responsibilities, accomplishments, and contributions. Show how well you handled prior duties by giving concrete examples of your accomplishments in the form of figures or percentages. This will help the hiring manager trust in your abilities even more.
Education
Simply list your school, its location, the years you attended and the degree you earned. You may also include any awards or formal on-the-job training you got in this section.
Training, Certifications, and Licenses
One way to impress hiring managers is to list your training experience, certifications, and licenses on your retail manager resume. It not only demonstrates your expertise, which is a must for a retail manager, but it also shows your enthusiasm, motivation, and desire to stay current with industry trends, making you a valuable employee.
Optional and Possible Information to Include on Retail Manager Resume
You might be able to stand yourself from other applicants by adding a few extra parts. So, as much as possible, incorporate your professional awards, extracurricular activities, affiliations, or other relevant projects on your retail manager resume.
How to Write Your Retail Manager Resume
Now that you are aware of the qualities of a strong retail manager resume, it is time to begin crafting a resume that will land you a job. Here are several resume trends and writing tips that may help you in creating a strong resume that will help you impress the hiring managers:
1. Use a simple and clean layout for your resume.
Customers don’t like a crowded store with items piled high on racks and shelves. Similarly, recruiters dislike cluttered resumes, so keep yours neat and professional.
2. Choose the best resume format.
The effectiveness of your resume hinges upon how you present your qualifications, so make sure you choose the right resume format to suit your unique experience and situation. Chronological format is the best option for you if you have already had a lot of experience in the retail industry. Otherwise, you may use other formats including the targeted, functional, and combination resume format to better demonstrate what you can bring to their company.
3. Include industry-specific keywords on your resume.
Using resume keywords, employers can quickly determine whether you are a suitable fit for the position. Having said that; include these keywords in your retail manager resume and cover letter. This increases your chances of landing a job interview and passing applicant tracking systems (ATS).
4. Highlight your experience and flaunt your accomplishments using action verbs.
When listing your experience, make sure to use powerful adjectives and action verbs to emphasize your relevant skills and achievements. Doing so will make you stand out from other job applicants.
5. Review and proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
Keep in mind that maintaining an error-free resume may increase your chances of getting a job interview. So make sure to review and proofread your retail manager resume a couple of times after completion to spot and correct common resume mistakes, including grammar and punctuation.
Retail Manager Resume Example
Still having trouble creating a retail manager resume? Check out our retail manager resume example below to see how our resume writers craft a job tool targeted for this position:
Note: You may check out other resume samples written by top professional resume writers for more ideas.
Launch Your Career as a Retail Manager with Our Expert Writers!
If you are an individual interested in pursuing this career, you may benefit from having a well-written retail manager resume. Apply our resume writing tips and use the best retail manager resume example to write a good resume that will help you market yourself.
Need help with your retail manager resume? Worry no more! Resume Professional Writers has a team of expert writers who can do the job for you. We offer the best resume writing services in town. So don’t hesitate and contact us today to take the first step in advancing your career in the retail field!
