Retail Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

How can you ensure that your resume receives the attention it deserves when applying for a retail position?

Retail tops the list of popular careers, which means recruiters have to review hundreds of applications.

Creating a resume that stands out from the rest can be challenging, but these examples and tips will help you land a job interview.

Retail Resume Examples

These different retail resume examples will show you how to play to your strengths and craft an eye-catching resume for a career in retail.

Entry-Level Retail Resume Example

Did you know that cashier is the second most common first job?

Many retail positions are entry-level jobs that don’t have specific education or work experience requirements.

However, since recruiters receive many resumes with limited experience, the key is to craft an entry-level retail resume that shows why you stand out from other candidates.

Summary

Hard-working art history college major looking for a part-time position in retail to acquire some work experience and gain independence.

Work Experience

Tutor (2020 to present)

• Assists three high school students with essay writing and homework for a total of six hours a week.
• Provides feedback and guidance on how to improve communication and writing.
• Asks questions and encourages students to analyze required reading for English class.
• Creates personalized lesson plans based on each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Communicates with parents regarding students’ progression once a week during a 15-minute phone call.

Babysitter (2018 to present)

• Supervises children aged 3 to 8 for two different families for a total of two evenings a week.
• Creates a safe environment and reminds children of rules to follow as needed.
• Prepares meals and completes various household chores.
• Organizes fun activities, including art projects.
• Communicates with parents to provide updates.

Project Experience

• 2021 and 2022 Bard College Food Drive: Helped organize and promote a food drive that resulted in students donating over 500 food items to three local food pantries each year.
• 2019 Downtown Barrytown Renovation Project: Participated in designing and painting a mural to bring life and colors to Barrytown.

Skills

• Ability to follow instructions
• Attention to detail
• Energetic and friendly personality
• Excellent communication and reporting skills
• Comfortable with technology

Education

• Bard College – B.A. in Art History and Visual Culture (2020 to present)
• Red Hook High School (2016 to 2020)

Why This Resume Works

This candidate doesn’t have any prior experience in retail, but it’s not unusual for someone to go after an entry-level position in this industry.

This college student created a retail resume that stands out by capitalizing on her informal work experiences as a tutor and babysitter.

Offering tutoring services and babysitting children is different from working in a retail environment, but she highlighted elements that show she possesses the right skills to thrive in a retail store.

These elements include communication skills and her ability to follow the rules.

She also knows how to engage people, and her organizational skills with lesson plans and activities for children suggest she could do well in a leadership position in the future.

The skills section drives the point home by reiterating some of these skills, and it also mentions that she’s comfortable with technology.

It’s a plus in an industry where associates are increasingly working with digital tools.

The summary creates a positive first impression and clearly shows her motivation and willingness to learn a new job.

It also mentions a clear goal for working in retail, which is to gain experience and become an independent young adult.

Recruiters will appreciate her maturity and honesty regarding the need to gain more work experience.

Retail Sales Associate Resume Example

A compelling sales associate resume should highlight previous experiences in retail by focusing on accomplishments.

Using data points can show your ability to meet sales quotas, but your resume should include a mix of soft and hard skills retail recruiters will value.

Summary

A highly-motivated team-oriented sales associate with a proven track record of driving sales and providing outstanding customer service.

Work Experience

Sales Associate at Costco (2021 to present)

• Greeting customers, processing transactions, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Educating customers about Costco membership options and selling an average of three new memberships a day.
• Stocking shelves across the store to maintain the visual appeal and helping install temporary merchandise displays.
• Answering questions and using knowledge of the store to help customers find the right products.
• Training new sales associates to operate cash registers and stock shelves.

Cashier at Famous Footwear (2018 to 2021)

• Developed strong product knowledge to recommend items and inform customers about deals.
• Processed an average of 28 transactions a day and maintained a customer satisfaction score of 98%.
• Issued refunds for returned items and gathered feedback from customers.
• Offered information about the store’s loyalty program and helped at least two customers a day sign up.
• Navigated the store’s digital inventory management platform to inform customers about product availability.

Skills

• Strong math skills
• Communication and customer service
• Visual merchandising skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Dependable and flexible team-player

Education

Nevada State High School (2018 to 2022)

• Maintained a 3.8 GPA
• Member of the student government

Licenses & Accreditations

• Customer Service Certification from Service Strategies (2021)

Why This Resume Works

This recent high school graduate has an impressive five years of experience in retail.

The bullet points used to describe past positions show this person has an excellent understanding of which skills and tasks can support retail operations.

The work experience section also shows this candidate is familiar with a wide range of common retail tasks.

This resume uses a few data points to show the candidate can meet goals and drive sales.

Working as a cashier or associate is not a sales position, but this person was able to support the store’s goals by selling memberships, enrolling customers in a loyalty program, or informing shoppers about current deals.

Customer service is this candidate’s strong suit, and he highlights this skill multiple times with keywords like ‘satisfaction’ or ‘experience.’

These words show this associate has a strong understanding of what providing excellent customer service entails, and his vision aligns with what recruiters look for.

He also included a customer satisfaction rating as concrete proof of their ability to offer quality customer service.

Hard skills also make this resume stand out.

This candidate draws attention to his experience with visual merchandising, operating a cash register, issuing refunds, and using digital inventory tools.

These hard skills are crucial for supporting day-to-day operations in a retail environment.

This resume also demonstrates the candidate understands that retail stores rely on teamwork.

They describe themselves as a team-player twice, and his experience in student government highlights his ability to work with others.

Retail Resume Example for Store Managers

When recruiting a store manager, employers want a proven track record of driving sales and running a store effectively.

An impactful resume for a store manager needs to rely on data points that demonstrate the candidate’s ability to get results.

Summary

Energetic and customer-oriented store manager with over eight years of experience.

Expertise in store regulations, employee training, and growing retail presence in a mall environment.

Work Experience

Store Manager at FYE – Fayette Mall Location (2017 to present)

• Leads the store since its inception by setting monthly goals and developing sales strategies to achieve these goals. Sales have consistently increased by 4% per quarter over the past two years.
• Develops product knowledge and understanding of customer expectations. Has maintained a customer satisfaction score of 97% since the store’s creation.
• Manages the store’s budget, acquires new inventory, and adjusts inventory and sales strategies based on the latest trends.
• Hires employees and develops training and onboarding programs. The store has an employee retention rate of 67%, one of the highest in the state.
• Understands store regulations and follows policies from the franchise and mall property.

Store Manager at Claire’s – Lexington Location (2015 to 2017)

• Consistently met and exceeded monthly sales quotas, with an average annual sales increase of 3%.
• Designed a new shopping experience, including a store redesign and new interactions with the staff.
• Implemented an in-store mobile payment solution with an average usage rate of 20% during the first six months.
• Scheduled and assigned tasks for 12 employees.
• Reduced customer complaints by 15% after implementing a new feedback system.

Project Experience

• Currently participating in developing an employee volunteering program at FYE.

Skills

• Leadership
• Loss Prevention
• Strong organizational skills
• Adaptability
• Performance management

Education

• B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Kentucky (2007 to 2011)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Operations & Profit Certification from the National Retail Federation Foundation (2012)
• Certificate of Leadership Excellence in Leading Teams from Harvard University Online (2014)

Why This Resume Works

This store manager knows their strength lies in their proven track record of implementing changes that boost sales and improve the customer experience.

It’s why they’ve decided to use bullet points that highlight specific accomplishments instead of merely describing their job duties.

The summary section creates a strong introduction.

It immediately establishes this candidate as an expert, and keywords like ‘energetic’ and ‘customer-oriented’ also tell recruiters this person has two crucial characteristics needed to succeed in the retail industry.

The skills support this summary with more keywords that refer to a mix of hard and soft skills.

This section emphasizes people and leadership skills, but it also draws attention to the more technical aspect of the job by listing performance management.

This candidate backs this claim with multiple data points, suggesting this person is good with numbers and knows how to get results.

Lastly, this resume does an excellent job of establishing this store manager as a leader.

Besides discussing changes, they implemented in stores, the certification in leadership shows they take this role seriously, and the project about creating a volunteering program shows they can bring positive change to an organization.

Experienced Retail Resume Example

Experienced candidates have a lot to bring to the table.

For the retail industry, experienced applicants should highlight their technical skills and their understanding of how a retail store works.

Recruiters might also look for skills that indicate the candidate is comfortable with digital tools that have been transforming the world of retail over the past few years.

Summary

Dedicated and flexible retail worker with over 18 years of experience and a proven track record of exceeding sales quotas and improving processes.

Career Highlights

• Recipient of the T.J. Maxx Excellence Award (2016 and 2021).
• Consistently exceeded monthly sales quotas by at least 15% as manager of the home décor department.
• Identified a recurring pricing issue costing the store over $700 a month and proposed a solution.
• Participated in developing a new training curriculum for T.J. Maxx employees.

Work Experience

Manager at T.J. Maxx – Home Décor Department (2011 to present)

• Managing a monthly budget of $20,000 to maintain inventory for the home décor department.
• Setting sales goals and developing relevant strategies to connect with home décor shoppers.
• Identifying visual merchandising opportunities and managing displays over five aisles.
• Recruiting, training, and managing a team of four employees.
• Ensuring customers have a stellar experience and managing complaints.

Cashier at T.J. Maxx (2005 to 2011)

• Greeted an average of 75 customers daily and represented the T.J. Maxx brand.
• Operated a POS system to process cash and card transactions, returns, layaways, and more.
• Educated customers about the store’s reward program and credit card.
• Answered questions and ensured customers were satisfied with their experience.
• Maintained cleanliness of the checkout area.

Skills

• Familiarity with retail operations
• Leadership and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of digital inventory management
• Organization skills
• Problem-solving skills

Education

• Hampton High School (2004)

Why This Resume Works

This candidate has an impressive 18 years of experience in retail, and their resume shows a progression from cashier to manager.

The structure draws attention to what sets this candidate apart, thanks to the career highlights that appear at the top.

These highlights immediately tell the recruiter this candidate brings a lot to the table and takes pride in their work.

The highlights include awards that show the candidate received recognition from their previous employer, but they also demonstrate this person’s ability to solve problems and achieve measurable results.

The work experience section expands on this candidate’s role as a manager.

The bullet points illustrate the different tasks they’ve been performing and show this person is familiar with multiple aspects of running a retail store.

Using numbers makes these accomplishments feel more concrete.

The skills section mentions leadership and other things a recruiter would expect to find on a manager’s resume, but it also lists digital inventory management.

This entry confirms the candidate is comfortable with the latest tech tools shaping the retail space.

Retail Resume Examples for No Experience

Not having any previous work experience can result in an empty resume.

However, a lack of experience isn’t necessarily a drawback in retail since recruiters often hire candidates who are looking for a first job.

The key is to make the most out of your academic background and any other experience that shows your dedication and motivation.

Summary

Highly motivated high school student looking for a first position in retail.

Education

Student at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (2021 to present)

• GPA: 3.8
• Coding and computer science club

Internship

Intern at Landmark Computer Laboratories (summer 2022)

• Learned about the key elements of running a business.
• Observed interactions with customers and the strategies used to enhance the customer experience.
• Performed computer and phone repairs under the supervision of an expert.
• Communicated with customers about device diagnostics and best solutions for fixing damaged electronics.

Volunteering

Volunteer at Haiti Micah Project (2020 to present)

• Helps the non-profit with web design and social media.
• Participated in a campaign to raise over $50,000 for the construction of a water treatment purification center in Haiti.
• Organized a clothing and food drive at school to collect over 100 items for the Azile Communale in Mirebalais, Haiti.

Skills

• Strong tech skills
• Listening abilities
• Hardworking
• Time management

Why This Resume Works

This high school student has no formal work experience, so they chose to emphasize their volunteering work and the summer internship they completed last summer.

The internship demonstrates they have some level of familiarity with how a business works and understand the importance of customer service.

It seems they mostly observed things during the internship, but it’s a positive point given the lack of work experience.

The volunteering section makes this resume stand out. It shows this student cares about others and knows how to find creative ways of helping people.

Organizing a clothing and food drive at school suggests they could become an excellent leader, and it tells recruiters this student wants to make a difference.

This student’s academic background is another plus.

They attend a high school with a curriculum that emphasizes technology, they have an excellent GPA, and they belong to the school’s computer club.

Combined with the work they do on the non-profit’s website and their internship at an IT company, the resume clearly shows this student is comfortable with technology.

This young person could be an excellent match for a retail store that is looking to use tech tools to bridge the gap between online and in-store experiences.

Overall, this student has no formal experience, but the internship they completed and their volunteering experience convey the impression they are motivated and eager to start working.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include on a Retail Resume

Action verbs make a resume feel more engaging for recruiters, and it helps them picture the candidate performing the duties and accomplishments listed. Listing the right skills is just as important.

Recruiters don’t spend more than a few seconds scanning a resume, and in-demand skills must stand out immediately.

Here are some resume verbs and skills to include on a retail resume.

Common Skills for Retail Resumes	Common Action Verbs for Retail Resumes
Customer service Active listening Capacity to incorporate feedback Communication skills Friendliness Organization skills Time management Multitasking Teamwork Leadership Flexibility Attention to detail Product knowledge Merchandising Selling skills POS and math skills Inventory management skills Budgeting Recruiting and training Loss Prevention	Help Assist Demonstrate Provide Ensure Identify Train Communicate Educate Lead Manage Improve Recommend Build Collaborate

Tips for Writing a Better Retail Resume

Common resume tips like correctly formatting this document or checking it for typos apply when writing a retail resume, but there are other tips specific to the retail industry to keep in mind.

Choose the Right Resume Format

Finding a job in retail is a realistic goal for candidates with no experience or limited experience. However, the industry also has workers with extensive backgrounds.

Retail is diverse, and no resume format will work for everyone. It’s why you need to tailor the format you use and the sections you include:

• A chronological resume makes sense for a young candidate with recent work experience in retail.
• For applicants with more experience, a targeted resume can highlight past experiences in retail or positions with skills that transfer to the retail industry.
• A functional resume highlighting education and skills can be a good option for inexperienced candidates. Volunteering, internships, hobbies, and extra-curricular activities can illustrate skills that transfer to retail.
• A hybrid resume can also be an excellent alternative if you want to highlight some key skills or achievements while including a traditional work experience section.

Emphasize Tech Skills

Before 2026, the retail industry’s annual investment in digital transformation will grow at a pace of 18% a year.

The industry is going through a transformative stage. For employees, it translates into working with new digital tools.

A retail employee’s duty might include fulfilling online orders, managing an inventory based on analytics, or connecting customers to online resources.

The most important information to list on a resume includes tech skills.

You can demonstrate that you’re comfortable with technology by describing a previous position where you worked with digital tools, but you can also refer to your personal use of technology.

Show Your Personality

Working in retail is a customer-oriented career.

You’ll have to answer questions, recommend products, and address complaints. Unfortunately, dealing with angry or frustrated customers can be part of the job.

Someone with a friendly disposition, an energetic personality, and excellent communication skills will thrive in this environment and help the store offer a positive experience.

Here’s how you can let your personality shine through when creating a retail resume:

• Use action verbs to show you have a can-do attitude.
• Craft a compelling summary where you describe yourself as dedicated, energetic, motivated, friendly, or customer-oriented.
• Don’t forget to list customer service, communication, or conflict resolution skills.
• When writing about previous work experiences, highlight positions where you interacted with customers.

Think About the Future

Turnover is a challenge in the retail industry.

It’s as high as 60%, and many recruiters are implementing strategies to increase retention, starting with selecting candidates who are likely to stay.

These tips will help you demonstrate you have the potential to become a long-term employee:

Start with a summary that expresses a specific career goal. It shows you have the ability to plan ahead and that working in retail is a logical step for your career.

Use a targeted format to highlight a previous work experience where you stayed for a few years.

List accomplishments that show you’re involved in what happens at work, whether it’s a time when you solved a problem or came up with a better way to do things.

Even if you don’t have experience as a manager, think about other experiences that could demonstrate your leadership skills.

Your profile will stand out if there is a chance that you could stay with an employee and eventually become a manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read on to learn more about creating a compelling retail resume.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

It’s crucial to tailor your resume based on your unique situation and the type of retail position you’re applying to.

We recommend taking a look at these other helpful resume examples:

• Customer Service Resume: Learn more about highlighting your customer-oriented personality or shining a light on previous work experiences in a customer service environment.
• High School Student Resume: Retail is a popular first job. If you’re still in high school, these resume examples will give you a better idea of how you can make the most out of your academic background and other experiences.
• Cashier Resume: Working as a cashier is a common entry-level position in retail. Find out more about what recruiters look for and how you can craft a cashier resume that stands out.

Wrapping Up

These retail resume examples should give you a better idea of how you can highlight your unique background.

Remember to tailor the format, content, and wording based on your experiences and the values of the recruiter.

Did you find these resumes helpful and relevant to your situation?

Let us know in the comments, and don’t hesitate to share this article if you know someone looking for a job in retail!