Working in retail can be seen as one of the most desirable positions to youth both collegiate and not as it offers schedule flexibility, competitive rates, and opportunities for growth within the company. Being that a retail position is so desirable the competition is strong. With that being said, whether you are currently looking for ways to land your first job, in between jobs, or merely exploring the topic–here are the most effective ways to land a retail job.
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Know The Field
Understanding the field you work in is crucial to any job but in retail it is crucial. When customers/clients enter the store they expect you to know it all. (Literally everything.) It is your job to not only know your companies merchandise both in store and online but you are also to know how to apply it to each individual customer. Having a stylistic touch is a huge plus when you work in retail because you will be able to adapt to each store you work in and then efficiently please the customers.
The internet is your best friend when it comes to this aspect of the job. Search things like:
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What colors work best per each skin tone?
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What clothing compliments each body type?
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What type of style is ____?
Having background knowledge and using fashion vocabulary is one of the simplest ways to get your foot in the door.
2. Be Personable
We all have had our fair share of bad customer service. Keeping that in mind, you never want to be that person! Retail is strenuous work as you have to interact with various personalities and attitudes. Being personable will allow you to work around said obstacles and handle them professionally. Doing so will impress both your customers and your company.
3. Know The Company Culture
Each retail company has its own individualized mission statement, work ethic, and demographics. Understanding what your company does and for who will allow you to properly work in that environment. Before interviews, it is essential to always always always have background information on the company you work for. Ask yourself:
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What is this company’s purpose? What is my purpose within the company?
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What are this company’s ethics? Do they align with my own?
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What is this company’s demographic? Can I work well in that environment?
4. Be Able To Adapt
While you may apply for the hotshot styling job you may get a job offer to work elsewhere in the store. Retail is more than just sales associates/styling positions. Stores rely heavily on the back of house stock workers to keep their merchandise organized. That being said, stock jobs more times than not are more accessible. Some stores even expect you to do both on the floor and back of housework. It is all about being able to adapt. If you are a fast learner a retail job is something that will be easy for you to fall into as you’ll be able to do whatever your company may need. When working retail or looking to work in retail it is important to be flexible.
With the holidays just around the corner, almost every single retail store will be looking to hire seasonal workers. Take this knowledge and apply it to some job inquiries and see how far it truly takes you.