Retail Resume Examples & Writing Guides

Functional Resume

As this is an entry-level position, use a functional resume, which highlights your best skills and qualifications rather than your lack of job history. Abilities such as “cash handling,” “basic mathematics,” “time management” and “weighing and scanning items” are important, as well as interpersonal skills such as “friendly, professional demeanor” and “ability to handle stressful situations.” Also mention any volunteer or extracurricular activities you’ve had that demonstrate good customer service and reliability (e.g., serving as a volunteer treasurer for a nonprofit event).

Give a brief overview of your key skills and relevant work experiences. For example, “Enthusiastic cashier skilled at keeping accurate records, helping customers with product choices and maintaining font lane organization.”

List skills you have that relate to cashier work, such as “customer service.” You should also browse through cashier job descriptions, identifying hard and soft skills recruiters are looking for, such as “critical thinking,” “accuracy and attention to detail” and “handling POS systems.”

To keep advancing from the cashier position, consider getting expertise in the following areas, and add them to your resume:

• Special certifications, such as Cashier Alcohol Serving Certification.
• A continuous record of reliable, efficient service.
• Implementing new customer service processes and strategies successfully (e.g., helping to implement payment systems that increase customer satisfaction).

Combination Resume

Use a combination resume for this role, as it showcases both your skills and related work achievements equally. Highlight needed skills such as “excellent customer service,” “POS and cash handling,” “up-selling” and “conflict resolution.” Also mention work accomplishments such as “awarded employee of the month on five separate occasions for exceeding sales quotas,” or “consistently surpassed sales checkout time requirements by 5% for past 18 months.”

Encapsulate your retail experience, achievements and professional abilities in a few sentences, using numbers for additional impact. For example: “Dedicated retail associate with excellent customer service, communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Experienced in handling 100+ loyalty card sign-ups per month while working in electronics department.”

Key skills recruiters are seeking for this position includes:

• Conflict resolution
• Multi-tasking
• Proficiency with POS and cash-handling systems
• Inventory and stock management
• Handling returns
• Requisitions and chargebacks
• Planogram setup and teardown
• Visual merchandising

To climb up the career ladder, look to gain experience in the following:

• Additional retail-related certifications such as the Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) program, or training as a Certified Sales Leadership Professional.
• Gain memberships in trade associations such as National Retail Federation.
• Consistently achieve and maintain high customer feedback scores.

Chronological Resume

The chronological format is a good fit for this role, as it focuses on previous work experiences that qualify you for the position. Stress your biggest achievements and quantify them using metrics, e.g. “increased on-time deliveries to clients by 11% and earned an employee satisfaction score of 9.9/10,” or “achieved a 50% decrease in onboarding time.”

Write a summary statement with 3-4 lines that gives an overview of your work history and best skills. Quantify your accomplishments and skills so that the recruiters can easily picture you. For example, “led team of up to 15 salespeople,” “went over sales forecast by $150K two years in a row,” increased daily production efficiency 8.2% through logistics restructure,” and “handled $50,000+ in funds daily.”

Prepare a list of essential management skills such as “conceptual skills,” “detail-oriented,” “critical thinking skills,” “management skills,” “result-oriented.” Mention these skills throughout the resume length. However, do not overuse the skills. Consider including skills that align with the job description.

To advance in the career graph, you should do the following:

• Mention about coordinating the full spectrum of daily business activities including inventory control, purchasing, budgeting, advertising and pricing.
• Emphasize on devising staff work schedules, enforcing compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Establishing and implementing store policies and procedures.