What Is Needed?
Many different types of people are attracted to retail sales jobs. When you first start the pay is not very good, but some stores run either a commission scheme or an incentive scheme and this can help to boost your pay packet. The low pay that some retailers offer can make it easier for younger applicants to get a job. If you want to work in retail then you have to have a willing attitude and have to be able to deal with rude people in a diplomatic manner. It is a very old adage but if you bear in mind that “the customer is always right” even when they are wrong, then you could have a successful career in retail.
Most retail outlets will want you to be skilled in basic math, to deal with prices and sales, and to have a fair command of the English language, because you will be dealing with people from all walks of life. Some retail jobs require a certain amount of specialist knowledge but this can very often be picked up on the job. In an electrical store, for example, you might be expected to know a little about watts, amps, and voltage and how to wire a plug.
Many younger women enjoy the idea of working in retail because they would like to be in a fashion store advising customers on color and style. Again you would need a helpful and willing attitude along with the ability to calculate money and to give the correct change. Automated tills are all very well but if they break down and you cannot add, or if the till is wrong, or if you accidentally type something in wrong, then you could find yourself with a problem.
Where to Look
There are many ways of finding out where there are retail jobs available. Some stores will advertise in the local newspaper, particularly if they are in search of summer or other seasonal staff. It is also worth looking online as many of the larger retail outlets now have their own Web sites, which often contain company information and a list of current vacancies. You could also try walking into retail stores and making some enquiries as to whether the store is taking on staff or when they might next need seasonal staff. Alternatively you could sign up to one of the Web sites that brings all the retail everyday opportunities together in one place.
In our present Internet age it is also possible to become involved in Web-based retail selling. When people work in this way they often have to source their own products and have to market their own goods and services. Thus income depends on how much you sell and not on an hourly rate.
The retail industry is extremely varied, and if you love animals then you might want to consider working in a pet shop. You would be able to find out more about some of the animals that the store sells and you would probably also be at least partly responsible for the animals' care.
If you really are interested in retail job openings and you are young then you should be prepared to start at the bottom. Not everyone in retail is in the front of the shop selling. Goods have to be priced, store floors and counter tops kept clean, displays tidied and changed on a regular basis. You may also find that the store will want you to have customer service training. You could be taking orders over the telephone and ensuring that they are dispatched on time. You may also find that you have to deal with customer complaints. Once you start to progress in your retail career then you could become involved in choosing and buying new stock, you may also be roped in to help with the accounts and expected to work overtime during stock taking.
Summer retail jobs and other seasonal work can give younger people a chance to get a taste of what it might be like to work in the retail industry. If you are lucky enough to get into one of the big fashion stores then you could find yourself advising customers and making sure that the clothes are displayed to their best advantage. You may also be required to help with ironing and mending at sale times when goods that have been slightly damaged through over handling are put to rights and sold at a lower price.
For those people who want to work in retail there is certainly plenty of variety, not just in terms of different stores, but also in types of work in the store itself. You could be helping out behind the scenes, learning how the store's accounts are run, or dealing with the general public on any given day. If you like meeting different types of people then you could do worse than starting a career in retail.
