Retail CV Example

The retail sector is one the biggest employers in the UK, and for many people offers a stable and lucrative career.

But getting a retail job isn’t necessarily easy. Employers expect retail associates to demonstrate a well-developed variety of skills, from customer service to arithmetic. Additionally, higher-paying retail positions are competitive, especially in large metropolitan areas like London.

To win your desired position, you need a well-written CV that highlights your most relevant skills and qualifications.

Read on for three industry tips to help you write a great CV for retail positions that improves your chances of getting an interview:

1. Start with a convincing personal statement

One of the most effective ways to sell anything is with a strong introduction — and your CV is no different.

Think of your CV personal statement as a brief but informative summary for your candidacy. Its goal is to quickly grab the attention of employers and convince them that you’re the ideal person for the job.

Your CV personal statement sits at the top of your CV, and in three to four concise sentences summarises the following information:

1. Who you are
2. Why you’re interested in the position
3. What your relevant experience is

For reference, here’s an example of a convincing CV personal statement for a retail position:

Dedicated Sales Associate with 5+ years of experience in retail environments. Recognised for my ability to communicate with customers, provide exceptional service, and upsell products. Have received the ‘Employee of the Year’ award two years consecutively. Seeking retail sales position with opportunities for advancement into a managerial position.

Notice how within a few short sentences, this candidate offers a quick overview of their professional background, some of their accomplishments, and communicates that the position fits into their overall career goals. This provides all the general information that employers are looking for in your CV, and entices them to read further about your specific skills and achievements.

2. Back up your achievements with numbers

Whether it’s products sold or pounds made, success in retail is always measured in numbers. Make it easy for employers to see exactly what you’re capable of achieving by including hard numbers in your CV experience section to describe your past accomplishments.

Some hard numbers you should consider including are:

• Sales numbers (in pounds)
• Monthly revenue (in percentages)
• Number of customers assisted
• Number of staff managed
• How many tasks you completed
• Customer feedback ratings (in percentages)

Here’s an example of how to write a quantified bullet point in your retail CV:

“Upsold merchandise to over 500 customers, helping me exceed annual sales goals by 13%”

This bullet point succeeds because it not only states that the candidate is good at selling products — it also uses hard numbers to prove that their sales skills had a demonstrable impact on the company’s bottom line.

3. Emphasise your sales skills

Successful retail sales associates need a strong mix of technical and interpersonal skills to do their jobs well.

That’s why when writing your retail CV, be sure to include a detailed skills section that’s targeted for the specific job you want.

The best way to write a truly outstanding skills section is by reading through the job description for your target position. Usually, hiring managers list the exact skills or qualities they’re seeking in candidates in the “Requirements” section of the job advert.

Once you’ve got an idea of what an employer is looking for, tweak your CV to include as many of the skills that apply to you as possible.

However, if you’re looking to make a more general retail CV, here are some commonly sought-after skills applicable across the retail industry:

• Customer service skills
• Communication skills
• Product demonstration
• Customer needs assessment
• Empathy
• Stress management
• Teamwork
• Product knowledge
• Upselling
• Inventory management
• Basic maths skills
• Point of sales software like iQmetrix RQ4 Retail Management System
• Proficiency in multiple languages

Include some of these hard and soft skills on your CV to impress nearly any retail employer.