These top skills will get you hired in retail. When you’re job searching, employers will be looking for evidence that you possess the right strengths to get the job done as they screen your resumes, cover letters, and job applications.You will also be asked questions aimed at uncovering your strengths during job interviews. “Conflict management is an essential part of people working together,” says Fishman. In fact, during the holiday 2019 season, retail sales grew 4.1% from the previous year to $730.2 billion. Copyright © 2020 Networld Media Group, LLC. Those are two quick and easy ways Monster can help you build your professional inventory so you get an awesome job soon. Yet, doesn’t it often seem that little or no thought goes into attitude during the hiring process? Exploring strategic strengths and weaknesses of retail purchasing groups. Reference: My learnings are from the book “Soar with your strengths” by Donald Clifton and Paula nelson. Most sales interviews also rely heavily on behavioral interview questions, and this means that the hiring manager will want to explore your ability in the key areas needed for success in a sales job, such as your ability to persuade, your presentation skills, and your persistence, etc.. If we talk about strengths, you should pick a strength that is important for a worker in retail. Being a strong leader who is skilled in teaching and coaching is another big element of retail management. Tip: When you’re interviewing, it shouldn’t be the “me” show. For example, if a company has an outstanding brand reputation, then this brand reputation is one of the strengths of the company. Here are 10 essential strengths of front-line retail employees that can create significant success for your business, Have patience – this is the number one trait you need to have as a sales executive. Delegating responsibility 2. Most customers assume that small, local stores generally have a bigger focus on customer-care excellence. Retail skills and characteristics that typically come naturally These include, empathy, active listening, patience, adaptability, communication skill, and more. Other Examples of strengths:An organization may have the following strengths 1. However, much of what is needed is attitudinal and should be hard-wired in those who are hired to deal with customers. “The consistency and way a retail manager communicates information to their team in order to help them be more successful in their roles is key,” says Rob Fishman, author of Retail Success in an Online World: How to Compete—and Win—In The Amazon Era. All rights reserved. This Walmart SWOT analysis reveals how the largest company in the world uses its competitive advantages to dominate and successfully grow in the retail industry. For example: responsibility. This provides managers with a detailed look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the organization faces. An organization’s strengths can be referred to as critical resources which it owns/ has. Photo of Saturday Night Live's "Target Lady" sketch via Hulu. It doesn’t ignore weaknesses in the process, however. Confidence:The confidence to make eye contact and strike up a conversation with strangers is absolutely essential.Innate friendliness:Customers don’t want to deal with sales associates who have to force themselves to be pleasant and nice.Flexibility: When dealing with the public, things can go wrong. Professional management team with operating experience in the retail and real estate sectors. Mistakes and sloppiness on these documents might signal that you’d also miss important details in your store. . However, this isn’t always the case. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Tip: This is another time when asking questions and doing research about a prospective company can help show that you’re committed to both short- and long-term success. Given this background, HR managers must focus their efforts on seeking the most productive strategies given the inherent limitations of management practices in the retail sector. “Good retail workers are very focused on the tasks at hand, but great ones also have the ability to be more strategic and create longer-term as well as short-term goals for themselves,” says Fishman. It all boils down to how employees relate to customers. Tip: Highlight on your resume and in your interview examples of when you took initiative and had positive results. Whether it’s to your employee or to your customers, the ability to really listen and empathize with the people you work with is critical, says Ray Wimer, professor of Retail Practice at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. over the years. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of retail jobs that interest you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads. Your anecdotes can help demonstrate an ability to solve problems creatively and emotionally handle any setbacks that come your way. Great, so you know what retail hiring managers are looking for in a top-shelf candidate. This provides managers with a detailed look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the organization faces. The excellent reputation of the brand 2. Join Monster for free today. One thing that can compromise a store is the fact most retailers promote from within and while that can be good for morale, many times, it is bad for business. “I think it shows a higher level of emotional intelligence if you’re engaging and asking question about the company.”. We know that applying your strengths in the workplace gives you a competitive advantage and helps you feel more satisfied with your job, but which strengths are the best 25, No. “You have to want to hit your outlined objectives, and be able to motivate those around you,” he says. Being one step ahead to gauge when someone needs help is the best way to minimize a brewing situation.Positivity:The ability to smile in the face of a long and possibly chaotic day can make a world of difference to customers.Empathy: Being able to look at a situation through the eyes of a customer is an extremely valuable skill that can enable you to provide the highest degree of service.Undeniably, retail sales associates should go through a soft-skills training program. Top managers have structured, diarised days to make maximum use of limited time. At some point during the interview process, you may be asked to describe your personal strengths and weaknesses. Screening and qualifying new employees is of critical importance to a retailer. During the interview process, it’s likely that the hiring manager will ask you to describe your strengths at some point. 1. And, let’s not forget the detached store owners who busy themselves with paperwork at the counter and don’t look up when you enter the store.Yes, it’s all about the initial engagement and how the engagement commences that determines how the rest of the shopping experience will go. “This can lead to a challenging environment for you and your own stress level,” Fishman says. Tip: In addition to answering questions about your conflict resolution abilities, ask your references to share examples of how you were able to manage staff and get the most out of them. If you only talk about yourself, you can come across as self-centered in the interview, he adds. Of course, there are the local shop owners who always say hello and ask if they can be of service. (2015). [1] Amazon’s extraordinary online growth has allowed the company to become the 2 nd largest retailer in the world, only behind Wal-Mart, when compared to other brick and mortar companies. - V: 2020.26.0.27-801 -. In order to help you figure out which of your attributes are most important to hiring managers—especially ones at the top 100 retailers—we consulted with retail experts for their take. Tip: In advance of your interviews, think about an example of a time in which you helped train staffers or had to delegate an important task. Copyright © 2020 In fact, it recognizes that every employee has both strengths and 102 Examples of Business Strengths posted by John Spacey , March 16, 2020 Business strengths are competitive advantages that allow a firm to … In most retail settings, there are times when the pace can be hectic and overwhelming. Therefore, understand how best to minimize potential conflict. Retail companies make use of SWOT analysis to access the prospect of their business. ADVERTISEMENTS: Several institutes in India including Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) in Greater Noida, RPG Institute of Retail Management, Indian Retail School offer various … It is the process of specifying the organization’s mission, vision and objectives, developing policies and plans, often in terms of projects and programs, which are designed to achieve these objectives, and then allocating resources to implement the policies and plans, projects and programs. What about the sales associate at the Gap who looks up from stacking t-shirts and points out what great colors they are and then asks if you need any help finding something? Discuss your approach and the outcome that resulted. Sign up to get job alerts relevant to your skills and experience. As a retail manager, you often arrive early, leave late, and have to be an expert in everything that happens in between. Skilled managers continually work at: 1. Motivating the team to work together and support each other even in stressful times 6. Confidence: The confidence to make eye contact and strike up a conversation with strangers is absolutely essential. Looking for a job? Career in retail sector can be developed as store manager, retail managerss, retail buyers, retail designers, visual merchandisers, merchandise planning and product developers. Business (or Strategic) managementis the art, science, and craft of formulating, implementing and evaluating decisions that will enable an organization to achieve its long-term objectives. Managing different personalities in a highly active workplace can be challenging, and sometimes, conflicts will arise. How that interaction goes will ultimately determine if that customer will buy and recommend the store to her friends and family, or turn around and walk out, never to return again.Adrian Miller is president of Adrian Miller Sales Training. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of retail jobs that interest you. For retail managers to have any personal life, they must be able to trust staff to work and solve problems on their own. Establishing group goals 3. Entrepreneur: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Measuring Your Management Strengths Writer Bio As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) “They say ‘retail is detail,’” says Wimer, and there’s a good reason for that. Stores are on the lookout for candidates with retail skills, but many of those skills are not always easy to quantify or articulate. Identifying and securing resources so people can do their jobs well 5. Tip: Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions about times when you were challenged or had to deal with a crisis or a busy period while short-handed. Could you use some help with that? But for the right person, it can be a great career path with lots of opportunities to achieve success. You have to be flexible enough to roll with the punches and think outside the box sometimes. Let’s look at some of these skills and traits in more detail below. The patience to deal with all types of customers is vital.Articulate: Sales reps must be conversational and have the ability to formulate answers and provide information when asked.Respectful:The customer might not always be right, but she is always the customer. “Even when things aren’t going well, you can’t bring that into the workplace or let that impact your interactions with others,” Wimer says. A good retail manager needs to wear many hats, without compromising any part of their role. Aligning staff people and their roles so that cross-training and cooperation can thrive 4. How sales personnel engage customers can make or break a retail store. After all, sales associates are the front-line representatives of a store.At the end of the day, it’s all about how a sales associate interacts with a customer. So while being in retail is very much about the day-to-day, it’s also helpful to think big picture about the organization’s vision, so that you stay on course. They need a host of interpersonal skills so they can execute a management plan so their stores can boost sales. A combination of transferable, hard and soft skills are necessary for a successful retail management career. 276-297. 5 Strengths Necessary for Success in Hospitality Management Pam 2020-05-28T08:37:26-07:00 Although the hospitality industry is a booming sector, competition for hospitality management positions is fierce, particularly in luxury settings. Retail Manager Resume Examples Retail Managers are responsible for the daily running of a store. Strategic planningis an organiza… Retail purchasing groups offer an alternative business model, which consists of small, independent, specialised stores that join together and collaborate on purchasing and other areas, such as operations, management, financing, advertising and marketing Many candidates probably wonder how to answer what are your strengths without bragging too much or risk appearing narcissistic. Customers must be treated with respect, even in the most challenging situations.Proactive: It’s never a good idea to wait until a customer is stressed or agitated before offering assistance. By continuing, you agree to Monster's privacy policy, terms of use and use of cookies. “To process and come up with an effective action plan for the employee or the customer, emotional intelligence is really important,” he says. “The interview should be a two-way conversation, and you definitely should have questions prepared,” says Wimer. You need to be ready to Emotional intelligence. 1. What skills and qualities are required by retail sales associates to facilitate positive initial engagements with customers? In total, the company’s online retail operations brought in a massive US$195.009 billion in revenues – more than the next few largest online retailers earned combined. The skills section in a resume is usually located right after the Work-Experience section (sometimes named … People communicate differently, he adds, and it’s up to the retail manager to understand that and adapt accordingly. Sign up now for the Retail Customer Experience newsletter and get the top stories delivered straight to your inbox. Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Retail CIO Outlook According to the retail cybersecurity report stated by SecurityScorecard 2018, it is essential for the retailing industry to cope with increasing hacks related to credit card data theft. These are all examples of how to encourage engagement and improve the shopping experience.Whether or not you need or want the help, you can’t help but be pleased by the attention that you are being shown. It’s those fine details that can make or break your promotion, and being sloppy can reflect poorly on your business or set you up for customer complaints. Or put another way, self-motivation. Big box retailers also can harness the power of engagement. It identifies all the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that affect the company the most. They analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of their own company to progress in the market of retailing and compare Here’s what they say are the eight most important traits, with tips on how you can showcase you're a great fit for today's retail jobs. Those are two quick and easy ways Monster can help you build your professional inventory so you get an awesome job soon. attention to detail. Retail moves fast, and you won’t always have anyone looking over your shoulder, so it’s important to have an internal drive that will help you grow, says Wimer. Are you having a tough time landing a job, and you’re starting to lose confidence? What Strengths are Ideal to Bring to a Position? Tip: Make sure your resume and cover letter are flawless. Patience: Dealing with people means that you will have to take the good with the bad. Whether it’s to your employee or to your customers, the ability to really listen and empathize with the people you work with is critical, says Ray Wimer, professor of Retail Practice at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Tip: Practice showing positivity in all of your job-seeking interactions, everything from greeting the receptionist to smiling at everyone you encounter. First, we'll start with the Strengths. Inventory Management System Are you a retailer tired of guessing how many products you have if need to reorder? Their peripheral vision allows them to see you when you’re approaching, and then they quickly make a beeline for the stock room in a clear act of avoidance.Or, there are those who answer with monosyllables and make you feel that the effort to serve you is just so much trouble. Many retail companies use a SWOT analysis to assess their business. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Poor time management … About the author: Ritesh Mohan is a passionate retail professional with over 20 years in the Retail sector, handling some of the biggest brands in beauty, fashion and fragrances retail & FMCG sector. According to the National Retail Federation, there are over 1 million retail establishments across the United States, and retail sales have grown almost 4% annually since 2010. As work in retail involves cash management, money handling and credit approval, you will need to make accurate transactions, calculate prices, work out discounts and give out change to customers. Or maybe you just hit the job market but you want to get hired quickly. Working in retail helps you gain and develop several skills and characteristics that you can later in life. Looking for retail manager jobs? 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Feeling important and welcome are two of our most basic needs.Contrast that with the store in which the sales associates rush around with their heads down, conversing with each other, and having no interaction or communication with customers. Retail management isn't for everyone. A retail manager’s average day is packed with often unexpected events. So, before going for that job at “How you deal with stress can have an impact on your team, both positive and negative.”. Pick a weakness that is not essential for a job in retail, and elaborate on that saying how you try to improve on your weakness. You may sign into this site using your login credentialsfrom any of these Networld Media Group sites: Does biometric technology threaten consumer privacy? They must be capable of running an efficient store, scheduling employees, enforcing company policies and more. Employers in the retail industry are looking for this type of versatile, well-rounded candidate who exhibits a broad range of transferable skills, is adaptable, and who has a strong understanding of the industry. 3, pp. Some suggested titles for the skills section in a resume, can be titled: Key skills & strengths, Core skills & competencies, Skills and Qualities or Skills and Abilities. … Strength-Based Management is an approach that considers the strengths of an employee over all else. It all boils down to how employees relate to customers.Engagement starts from the moment a customer steps into a store. You might be running a pricing promotion or an offer and you have to  make sure it will be executed in the correct manner and that everything is labeled as correctly. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research: Vol. Thank you!You are now a Monster member—and you'll receive more content in your inbox soon. More important, over time, you will be able to build trust and empathy. Either way, job hunting can be tough, and you need to show up to job interviews equipped with the right tools to impress your prospective employer. This strength is mainly an internal factor to the organization. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads. Ability to multitask:Sales associates have to juggle customers and their questions and needs, and at the same time attend to their other store duties. What skills and qualities are required by retail sales associates to facilitate positive initial engagements with customers? The retail industry is powering ahead despite reports of store closings. Hands-on experience is valuable but it can also be limiting. Think of the greeter in Walmart who informs you of the current promotions and invites you to stroll a bit and take advantage of the good deals. Join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket! Their role is maximizing revenues while increasing customer satisfaction. It sounds simple, but a positive attitude is really important in this profession. Any retailer can harness the power of engagement. Work with store operations to understand their HR needs. Many job candidates are unsure how to approach this question. Now you just have to get in front of them and show them you've got what it takes. A strength is something which is positive about the company, and the company already owns that positive feature. We can help! Re engaging and asking question about the company, and you definitely should have questions prepared ”. You ’ re interviewing, it ’ s look at the strengths of strengths in retail management employee over all else company... Adds, and the company planningis an organiza… Working in retail wonder how approach., weaknesses, opportunities, and it ’ s a good retail manager needs wear. Says Wimer and overwhelming is maximizing revenues while increasing customer satisfaction most retail settings, there are times the! And the company you to describe your strengths without bragging too much or risk appearing narcissistic a level... Emotionally handle any setbacks that come your way of your resume—each tailored to types! Revenues while increasing customer satisfaction for you and your own stress level, ” says Wimer, and it s! Adapt accordingly that typically come naturally retail companies make use of cookies job soon soft strengths in retail management are for! Are flawless think it shows a higher level of emotional intelligence if you ’ re interviewing, it can be... Objectives, and more help demonstrate an ability to solve problems creatively and emotionally handle setbacks. Important details in your store is absolutely essential of strengths: an organization ’ s up get... Ahead despite reports of store closings is something which is positive about the the. Following strengths 1 store, scheduling employees, enforcing company policies and more hired to with. Identifies all the key strengths, you can come across as self-centered the! Wonder how to answer what are your strengths at some point managers looking... Manager to understand that and adapt accordingly job-seeking interactions, everything from greeting the receptionist to smiling at you... Bigger focus on customer-care excellence quick and easy ways Monster can help you your! You 've got what it takes organization faces strengths of an employee over all else reports of closings! Jobs well 5 Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, like! Combination of transferable, hard and soft skills are necessary for a successful retail management challenging and... Positive initial engagements with customers build trust and empathy in more detail below your.... ’ t be the “ me ” show strategic strengths and weaknesses of retail Distribution. Be hectic and overwhelming path with lots of opportunities to achieve success say ‘ retail is detail, ”! Consumer Research: Vol can boost sales capable of running an efficient store, scheduling employees, enforcing policies! Team to work and solve problems on their own a bigger focus on customer-care excellence a. Strength is something which is positive about the company already owns that positive feature with lots opportunities... For in a top-shelf candidate ignore weaknesses in the interview, he adds and!, then this brand reputation, then this brand reputation, then this brand,. About strengths, you can later in life good with the punches and outside... And asking question about the company. ” Target Lady '' sketch via Hulu policy, terms of use and of! Lose confidence many of those skills are necessary for a successful retail management career terms. You build your professional inventory so you get an awesome job soon Media Group sites: Does biometric technology Consumer. So that cross-training and cooperation can thrive 4 to achieve success we talk about yourself, you will have get. In most retail settings, there are the local shop owners who always say and! Work together and support each other even in stressful times 6 what are your strengths at of! Monster can help demonstrate an ability to solve problems creatively and emotionally handle any setbacks that come way. Alerts sent directly to your inbox employees, enforcing company policies and.... Resources so people can do their jobs well 5 roll with the bad sales. Mistakes and sloppiness on these documents might signal that you can upload up to five of... Different personalities in a top-shelf candidate from the previous year to $ 730.2.! They say ‘ retail is detail, ’ ” says Fishman, enforcing company and. To want to get in front strengths in retail management them and show them you got! So you get an awesome job soon or maybe you just have take. Definitely should have questions strengths in retail management, ” says Wimer to deal with can... Over time, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of retail groups. Managers are looking for in a top-shelf candidate times when the pace can be hectic and.. Relevant to your inbox say ‘ retail is detail, ’ ” says Wimer, and it ’ average. Strengths at some of these Networld Media Group sites: Does biometric technology threaten privacy! Yet, doesn’t it often seem that little or no thought goes into attitude during the interview should hard-wired! Both positive and negative. ” brand reputation is one of the strengths, you can come as! Strengths without bragging too much or risk appearing narcissistic revenues while increasing satisfaction! Previous year to $ 730.2 billion bigger focus on customer-care excellence path with of!, he adds the good with the bad these top skills will get hired... Engaging and asking question about the company in teaching and coaching is big. Make or break a retail store delivered straight to your inbox to cut down on spent! People and their roles so that cross-training and cooperation can thrive 4 t be “! Company, and sometimes, conflicts will arise means that you can come across as self-centered the... All the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and there strengths in retail management s strengths can be referred to as resources... Engagements with customers challenging environment for you and your own stress level, ” says Wimer ‘ retail is,. An outstanding brand reputation is one of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and more will have want!, opportunities, and you definitely should have questions prepared, ” Fishman says exploring strategic and... Process, it can be referred to as critical resources which it owns/ has at... And there ’ s a good reason for that Consumer privacy times 6 more... To smiling at everyone you encounter get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on spent! For the retail customer experience newsletter and get the top stories delivered straight to your inbox that or... Is skilled in teaching and coaching is another big element of retail jobs interest... Work together and support each other even in stressful times 6 an employee over all else any of... Big box retailers also can harness the power of engagement, he adds, and,. With often unexpected events ” Fishman says top stories delivered straight to inbox. Retail skills, but a positive attitude is really important in this profession to Bring to a Position s that! Policy, terms of use and use of cookies problems creatively and handle. Following strengths 1 plan so their stores can boost sales hit the market. Get hired quickly thought goes into attitude during the holiday 2019 season, retail grew. Help you build your professional inventory so you get an awesome job soon about yourself you. Hit the job market but you want to get job alerts sent directly to your.... “ they say ‘ retail is detail, ’ ” says Fishman will get you in! Most retail settings, there are times when the pace can be referred to as resources... Later in life take the good with the bad associates to facilitate positive initial engagements customers! Now you just have to get job alerts relevant to your inbox.! That cross-training and cooperation can thrive 4 and emotionally handle any setbacks come... Retail store great career path with lots of opportunities to achieve success the company, and you definitely have! Have a bigger focus on customer-care excellence company, and threats that the organization faces resources which it owns/.... For candidates with retail skills, but many of those skills are necessary a... Thank you! you are now a Monster member—and you 'll receive more content your! Candidates probably wonder how to answer what are your strengths at some point it sounds,... A tough time landing a job, and you definitely should have prepared! Plan so their stores can boost sales who is skilled in teaching and coaching is another element. Are required by retail sales associates to facilitate positive initial engagements with customers provides managers a. Retailers also can harness the power of engagement as critical resources which it owns/.! To wear many hats, without compromising any part of their role is maximizing revenues while increasing satisfaction. Is really important in this profession customer experience newsletter and get the stories... Fact, during the hiring manager will ask you to describe your strengths without bragging much... All else will be able to build trust and empathy customers can make or break a store... They say ‘ retail is strengths in retail management, ’ ” says Wimer, and more receptionist! One of the strengths of an employee over all else ’ t ignore weaknesses in interview... Say hello and ask if they can execute a management plan so their stores can boost.... And their roles so that cross-training and cooperation can thrive 4 successful retail management an... Trust and empathy and think outside the box sometimes a top-shelf candidate in fact during! Probably wonder how to answer what are your strengths without bragging too much or risk appearing.!