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9 Real Retail Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

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• Writing Your Retail Resume

The importance of retail workers has never been more obvious than during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a successful retail worker, you need to be organized, collaborative, and a people person.

It can be difficult to showcase these skills when writing your retail resume or writing an effective cover letter .

These nine retail resume examples have helped people land jobs in 2024 , so they’re a great place for you to get started.

Retail Resume

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Why this resume works

• Did you exceed sales targets? Improve customer loyalty? Reduce return rates? Estimating the degree to which you did these things on your resume will substantially increase your chances of getting an interview.
• “Customer-oriented environment,” “Answered customer questions,” and “Directed customers” are sample phrases you can use to help show you know the value of customer service.

Retail Worker Resume

• Strongly show your customer service and communication skills and capabilities to solve problems instantly in your retail worker resume .

Retail Associate Resume

• This shows not only that you’re a strong performer, but it also cues the hiring manager that you know which metrics matter most in your role.
• For example, suppose the job description repeatedly mentions they want a retail sales associate who is accountable. In that case, this is a strong indicator that you should include that as a skill on your retail associate resume .

Entry-Level Retail Resume

• Getting your first job as an entry-level retail associate can be difficult. How can you get into retail without prior retail experience? The good news is that retail workers, first and foremost, are in customer service. Any experience you’ve had working with people is relevant and should be included on your entry-level retail resume .
• A  resume objective  is entirely optional. Still, it can be useful when you’re looking for your first retail role to quickly state why you’re qualified and deserve to get an interview. Include an objective if you’re willing to customize it to each position for which you apply.
• Volunteer experience is worth including on your resume. Volunteer experience showcases that you’re hard-working and fundamentally interested in helping others. These are both qualities retail hiring managers are seeking.

Retail Supervisor Resume

• Diversify your bullet points from boosting employee retention, foot traffic, and seasonal sales, to even reducing security incidents to prove that you’re a comprehensive worker who’s got the talent to increase not just sales but a brand’s overall presence.
• You can dive into the how and why of these details in your retail cover letter .

Retail Salesman Resume

• In this case, take Carter’s example and check out how he decides to highlight that he’s maintained a high customer satisfaction rating even in a non-sales role to prove his credibility in keeping end-users happy— a valuable aspect of any sales position.

Luxury Retail Resume

• In your luxury retail resume , highlight your proficiency in sales management, growth, and ability to boost customer retention and satisfaction.

Retail Manager Resume

• Hiring is one of the most important functions for a retail manager! Including your experience in hiring will help you stand out among all the other applicants for the retail manager role to which you’re applying.
• Including these metrics (even if they’re rough estimates) shows the hiring manager that you know what matters most to a retail manager.

Retail Customer Service Resume

• Was there an instance where you went above and beyond to help a teammate in one of your past positions? Be sure to include that on your resume!
• If you want to get detailed feedback on your resume, you can use our  resume checker .

Related resume guides

• Retail Manager
• Retail Sales Associate
• Store Manager

How to Format Your Retail Resume

Writing the perfect retail resume is the exact skill you need to earn a job as a sales representative, customer service representative, sales associate, or cashier. While the content of your resume is of the utmost importance, it’s also essential that you properly  format your resume  to ensure that it’s readable, logical, and complete. To that end, there are three formatting components you should be aware of, which include

• Reverse-Chronological Format, Functional Format, and Combination/Hybrid Format
• Contact Info and Header
• ATS and Readability

Retail resume format types

The reverse-chronological format, functional format, and combination/hybrid format are the most popular formats for retail resumes in 2024.

Retail resume format choices:

• Reverse-chronological   format : Start with the most recent employment history and work backward. Dates, educational institutions, and previous employers should be displayed.
• Functional format : This type of resume highlights the strengths and skills you believe are important to an employer. On the other hand, names, places, and dates aren’t nearly as clear. If you have a spotty work history, this format de-emphasizes this history.
• Combination/hybrid format : This is designed to combine the reverse-chronological and functional formats to incorporate the strengths of both. Make sure to mention skills you’ve acquired in the past that will help you with the specific job for which you’re applying.

While each retail  resume format  has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of, the reverse-chronological choice is ultimately the best option for retail. Many employers outright dislike the functional format for retail positions. The reverse-chronological format is ideal for retail resumes because it allows you to show prospective employers your most recent work history automatically, allowing them to determine if you have the experience necessary for the job.

Let’s say you’ve worked as a cashier and store assistant for eight years before becoming a supervisor or store manager for another five to ten years. You may be ready for another promotion to regional manager or even a corporate position. If you’ve had any experience in the retail industry, the reverse-chronological format effectively shows a pattern of lateral or upward mobility. The primary benefits of using the reverse-chronological format for retail include:

• This format is easily the most popular option among recruiters and employers within the retail industry
• The resume automatically positions you as searching for the next upward step in your career
• Employment dates are linked, which emphasizes continuity and places more weight on your most recent experience

Including a contact header on your retail resume

When you’re getting started with your resume, it’s essential that you position your contact info and the resume header in the correct locations. Your name should always be included at the very top of the resume and can be set in the center or left side of the page. Consider placing your prospective job title in the line below your name, ensuring that these two pieces of information are seen first by potential employers.

Before you start typing your header, it’s important that you select the right font, color, alignment, and font size that potential employers expect from a retail resume. Classic fonts like Times New Roman and Arial are preferable in most cases. A resume should be formatted with simplicity in mind instead of style and flare.

As for the font size, the standard text should range between 11-12 points. On the other hand, headers should have font sizes that range from 14-16 points, and your name can be the largest. Most of your text should be black, but a touch of color in your headers or name is appropriate, which adds some nice contrast that will make the information on your resume pop. Like most professional documents, resumes should be left-aligned, making them easier to read. However, your contact information and name can be center-aligned if you choose. The types of info that should be placed in your retail resume header include:

• Email address
• Phone number
• City and State
• An optional LinkedIn or other professional URL

This example is clear, logical, and includes a small bit of color, attracting the eye:

Is your retail resume ATS-friendly?

If you want to ensure your resume is properly formatted and readable, make sure you think about ATS, which stands for applicant tracking system. This is a kind of human resources software that allows employers to organize sizable numbers of resumes efficiently.

In order to make an ATS-friendly resume, you’ll want to pay attention to:

• Margins: Margins should never be less than one-half inches. The ideal margin is one inch on all sides.
• Fonts: Any font you use should be easy to read. If your resume font isn’t clear, the ATS and hiring manager may find it too difficult to read.
• Font sizes: The font must be large enough to read, making anything between 10 and 14 points acceptable.
• Header names: Use capitalization, and don’t get overly creative in determining how to label your headers, as you don’t want to trip or confuse ATS software. 
• Skills: Optimize your resume with keywords, your soft skills, and hard skills. Only include relevant information about your skills. Any filler should be eliminated if you want to provide prospective employers with a concise and effective resume.
• Logical order: Sticking to the reverse-chronological format will allow you to make an ATS-friendly resume. Start with your name and contact information before detailing your work experience, education, and skills.
• One page: The ideal length for any retail resume is one page.

We know it’s a lot to keep in mind, but our  resume maker  will ensure that you’re formatting for success without remembering it all.

How to Write Your Best Retail Resume

Writing an effective resume seems like a daunting task to most people. However, you can avoid this frustration by taking the process one step at a time. Not only does our  resume tool  ensure you don’t have to worry about format, but it will also help you include the right details in your document. 

As you write your retail resume, you’ll want to think about the following:

• Objective or summary
• Work experience
• Top retail skills
• Education and certifications
• Projects, interests, or hobbies
• Tailoring your resume to the job
• Editing and proofreading

Should you write a retail resume objective or summary?

You could include a resume objective or summary when creating your retail resume. An  objective statement  is a concise and position-focused statement describing how you can add value to the employer, and the company needs that you can fulfill. The objective could include a short statement of your skills and qualifications for the position in question. Professional  resume summaries  tend to be a bit lengthier than objective statements and are meant to provide more in-depth details about your job experience, skills, education, and specializations over the course of a lengthy (10+ years) career.

Objective or summary for your retail resume? 

• You want hiring managers to know you’re a good fit for a specific position
• You’re an entry-level employee who has very little experience
• You are making a career change
• You’ve just moved to a new city or town
• You have years of experience and want to tie this experience together
• You want to hone in on key transferable skills
• You believe that an objective statement isn’t enough to show your value to the employer
• You want to emphasize your selling points clearly

Even though objective statements and summaries can help you get your point across to hiring managers, not everyone should use one. If you don’t have years of experience or your career path is streamlined and straightforward, a lengthy summary is unnecessary.

As for objective statements, they aren’t always the right fit for retail resumes. Your employer may believe that the objective statement you write is essentially all you offer as an employee. If the statement is too short or not descriptive enough, it may harm your chances. To better understand what a well-written objective or summary looks like, let’s take a look at a couple of poor examples:

• Objective: “To be a sales associate in a retail store.”
• Summary: “Experienced sales associate who is kind and helpful. Knows how to solve problems as they arise.”

The objective statement is far too vague and isn’t centered around the position to which you’re applying. It doesn’t tell your employer anything other than the fact that you’re looking for a job. As for the summary, it says that you have experience and a couple of soft skills but doesn’t sell this information at all. Employers won’t believe what you’re saying in the summary. Here’s an improved objective statement and summary:

• Objective: “Eager to motivate and lead teams to 10% or greater sales through mentorship and accountability. Looking to improve my team-managing and problem-solving skills as a store manager with potential for career growth at ABC Company.”
• Summary: “Dedicated cashier with more than 5 years of retail experience. Eager to provide attention-to-detail and organizational skills at XYZ, Inc. Received Employee of the Month three months in a row for efficiency and reliability during ownership changes. Achieved a streak of 530 days with no sick leave.”

These examples succeed because they discuss specific details rather than general ideas, telling employers something about you and your work.

Retail work experience

Try to include two to four job experience examples for your resume. However, it’s unnecessary to include every job you’ve had since your first. If you have ample experience, include those jobs most relevant to the role for which you’re applying. While writing down your work experience may appear straightforward, it’s easy to make mistakes in this section.

Writing your retail job descriptions 

The most important thing to avoid when writing an effective work experience section is to create a wall of text. If a prospective employer decides to skim through your resume, it’s important that they read the most relevant aspects of your past work experience. As such, this experience should be displayed via concise bullet points. Always use active verbs and language in these bullet points. Examples of active verbs for a retail resume include:

Make sure you use the past tense when writing about your experience. These verbs should prove useful when trying to condense your work experience. Avoid using personal pronouns like “me” and “I,” which take away from the professionalism of your resume. 

Three bullet point examples that should be far, far away from your retail resume:

• Handled transactions for customers
• Responsible for handling customer interactions calmly
• Tasked with resolving customer issues

These are examples of passive work responsibilities, too vague to satisfy potential employers. Always go into detail about your accomplishments and past responsibilities with action verbs and hard numbers.

Three examples, on the other hand, that would serve your retail resume well:

• Awarded Retail Associate of the Year in 2019 for incentivizing the team to increase sales with monthly competitions 
• Exceeded annual sales targets by 30% by upselling subscriptions and items based on customer interest
• Stocked, organized, and replenished inventory, completing tasks 15% faster than other sales associates

These are richly detailed bullet points that offer precise numbers and action verbs about past work experience.

Use metrics to quantify your impact in retail

You must be able to quantify the impact you’ve had on the companies you’ve worked for in the past. To accomplish this goal, it’s recommended that you use metrics to show exactly what a company would lose if they didn’t have you as an employee.

Did you exceed set sales targets or lower return rates? By putting your work experience into hard numbers, it becomes easier for potential employers to measure the kind of return they would get from hiring you. Try to include a couple of metrics for every job you list on your resume. More is always better! Some examples of ways to incorporate metrics into your bullet points include:

• Daily number of customers you helped
• Number of retail team members you managed
• Sales goals that were met or exceeded
• Loyalty program goals that were met or exceeded

These retail descriptions incorporate all the above:

What are the top retail skills?

If you have ample past work experience, you likely have dozens of skills that could prove useful in the job for which you’re applying. However, you should include skills relevant to the specific needs listed in the job ad. Before you start listing your skills, you should know the difference between  hard skills and soft skills .

Hard skills refer directly to the abilities and knowledge that employees require to perform their responsibilities effectively. These skills are 100 percent job-related. Soft skills are more difficult to measure. For retail jobs, hard skill examples include:

• Money handling and basic math
• Product knowledge
• Inventories 
• Suggestive selling 

Some examples of soft skills that are ideal for the retail industry include:

• Communication
• Active listener 
• Quick learner and adaptable 

Search for keywords in a job description ad that tell you the types of skills the company is seeking. You should typically list around five to eight skills on a retail resume.

What education and certifications do you need on your retail resume?

Most retail positions automatically require a high school diploma, which should be listed with the name of the school you attended, the years you attended, and the school’s location. Some retail jobs will require a little more education. While you may be able to obtain a position as a store manager with a high school diploma, an associate’s degree in marketing and sales management may help push your resume to the top of the list.

Most regional retail managers require a bachelor’s degree in business. If you attended a college or institution, include your GPA if it’s above 3.2 and any specialization or concentration. You might also want to list certifications and licenses to set your resume apart from others.

Projects, interests, or hobbies: Does your retail resume need these?

In most situations, it’s unnecessary to mention your interests and hobbies and the projects you’ve worked on in the past. However, there are some scenarios where adding this information is appropriate depending on your level of experience and the employer to whom you’re sending a resume.

Suppose you’re currently a high school or college student or are applying for an entry position. In that case, your lack of experience gives you the perfect opportunity to add projects, hobbies, and interests to your resume.

For  interests and hobbies , you could include:

• Playing team sports
• Studying foreign languages

Additionally, your retail resume could benefit from including projects like:

• Creating a personal website with WordPress
• Reorganizing your school’s entire library of 1,600+ books

Customize your retail resume for every job application

Writing an effective resume takes more than just listing your skills and work experience. It’s also important that you tailor your resume to each job to which you apply. Many applicants make the mistake of sending the same resume to every job. However, most hiring managers will pick up on this.

To properly tailor your resume, add company or organization-specific information to the objective/summary sections, the skills section, and bullet points. If the job ad you’re responding to mentioned they’re looking for a strong leader who can manage numerous team members, you should focus on your leadership skills throughout your retail resume.

Check for mistakes before submitting your retail resume to jobs

This is the simplest yet most overlooked aspect of formatting and writing a retail resume. Hiring managers and recruiters don’t like grammar and punctuation mistakes. Writing the word manager as “manger” is one of the more common mistakes on retail resumes. Carefully read through your resume to look for any issues with grammar, language, consistency, and formatting. Take advantage of our  free resume checker  to streamline this process.

Get Your Next Retail Job and Celebrate

Now that you’ve made it this far, we hope you’re feeling confident about:

• The  correct resume format  to use
• How to write a  resume objective  or summary
• How to list work experience
• What retail  skills to include on your resume
• What education and certification info should be provided
• How to tailor your resume to each specific job

Congratulations on  writing your resume  and readying yourself for the next step. All that’s left is for you to go get the job!

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A Guide to Drafting Key Personal Statement Examples for Retail

Table of Contents

Are you looking for personal statement examples for your retail job application? It’s important to put in the effort when crafting a personal statement, as it is usually one of the first things organizations look at. An excellent personal statement can make all the difference when landing a job in the competitive retail field.

Here’s your guide to drafting effective personal statement examples for retail that will grab recruiters’ attention.

What Are Personal Statement Examples for Retail?

A personal statement is a short document – usually around 500 words – that gives potential employers an insight into who you are . It tells them about your skills and experience, and why you’re the best fit for their job opening.

In retail, the candidate must demonstrate their understanding of customer service, knowledge of the product or industry, and skill in sales techniques.

Elements to Include in Your Personal Statement

When writing your personal statement for retail positions, make sure to include the following:

• Your strengths when it comes to customer service.
• Highlight any relevant experience you have with similar products or customers.
• Demonstrate how your communication skills can help drive sales.
• Showcase any previous successes and how you can apply them in the new job.
• Share examples of times when you have gone above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction.

Steps to Write Personal Statement Examples for Retail

1. research the job role, company and industry.

Before You Start Writing Your Statement, Research the Job Role and Company. This is to get a Clear Idea of What They’re Looking for in a Candidate. As Well As What You Can Bring to the Table.

2. Identify Your Unique Selling Points

The key to any successful personal statement is identifying your selling points. These are typically skills or experiences that set you apart from other candidates and make you an ideal fit for the job.

3. Outline Your Experience

In this section, list any past retail-related experiences that will help prove your qualifications for the job. Include examples such as past customer service roles or sales achievements that demonstrate your understanding of the industry.

4. Describe Your Skills

In this section, highlight any relevant retail-related skills you possess that make you an ideal fit for the job. Some examples can include product knowledge, customer service experience or sales techniques.

5. Explain How You’ll Contribute to the Company

This is where you explain what value you will bring to the company. State how your unique skills and experiences will help them achieve success.

6. Proofread and Edit

Once you’ve finished writing your personal statement, it’s important to take the time to proofread and edit it before submitting it with your application. Make sure it reads well and doesn’t contain any grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tips for an Effective Personal Statement Examples for Retail

When writing your personal statement, keep these tips in mind:

• Keep it brief but informative. The goal is to show potential employers that you understand what they’re looking for without going overboard with too much information.
• Be sure to proofread and edit your statement before sending it off – grammar and spelling mistakes will not make a good impression.
• Make sure to be specific about your experiences; generic statements won’t stand out as much as stories and details.
• Include information matching the job description so that employers can connect the dots.

Personal Statement Examples for Retail

If you’re still unsure of how to write your statement, here are some examples for retail positions:

As a customer service representative in the fashion industry, I bring years of experience and excellent communication skills. My ability to empathize with customers and respond quickly to their needs makes me an asset in any retail setting. I increased sales by 25% in my previous job due to successful promotions and campaigns. I thrive in fast-paced environments where every day brings new challenges.

I am an experienced retail manager passionate about helping others find the perfect product for their needs. From developing effective sales strategies to training and motivating staff, I possess the skills to help your business succeed. In my previous role, I increased sales by 10% by focusing on customer satisfaction. I ensure that customers had a positive experience each time they visited the store.

How Do I Begin My Personal Statement?

Many, many people are having difficulty writing about themselves. If this is you, don’t worry. Make sure you can come up with a short statement (no more than a sentence) that describes you accurately. It may be one that highlights your previous work experience.

Who Do You Write in a Short Personal Statement?

Include your work experience and future plans in your resume. Job openings, placements, work experience, or voluntary work should be shared with others, particularly if they’re relevant to your course. Keep any experience in line with skills or qualities that will lead to success.

Can You Tell Me What Perfect Personal Statement Is?

In your personal statement you should outline the qualities, skills, and values. The ones you have cultivated over your lifetime and how those skills have prepared you for college.

No matter what kind of retail position you’re applying for, crafting a compelling personal statement is critical to standing out from the competition. Make sure your statement showcases your strengths and experiences in an engaging way that will make employers take notice. Following these guidelines and tips should help create a statement that stands out from the crowd! Good luck with your job search!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Retail CV Example

Cv guidance.

• CV Template
• How to Format
• Personal Statements
• Related CVs

CV Tips for Retails

• Highlight Your Retail Experience : Detail your experience in the retail sector, including the types of products or services you've sold and the size of the teams you've managed. Include any experience in visual merchandising or inventory management.
• Showcase Your Sales Achievements : Use numbers to illustrate your impact, such as "Increased store sales by 20% in Q1" or "Exceeded personal sales targets by 15% for six consecutive months".
• Customize Your CV for the Role : Tailor your CV to the specific retail role you're applying for, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. For example, if you're applying for a role in fashion retail, highlight your knowledge of fashion trends and brands.
• Detail Your Customer Service Skills : Mention any training or certifications in customer service. Provide examples of how you've gone above and beyond to meet customer needs and solve problems.
• Demonstrate Leadership and Teamwork : If you've managed or been part of a team, provide examples of how you've motivated your team, resolved conflicts, or contributed to a positive work environment.

The Smarter, Faster Way to Write Your CV

• Implemented a new inventory management system, resulting in a 30% decrease in overstock and a 20% increase in sales due to improved product availability.
• Managed a team of 15 sales associates, achieving a 25% increase in customer satisfaction scores through enhanced training and performance monitoring.
• Launched a successful promotional campaign that boosted store traffic by 40% and increased average transaction value by 15%.
• Introduced a customer loyalty program that increased repeat customer rate by 35% and boosted overall sales by 20%.
• Coordinated with suppliers to negotiate better purchase terms, leading to a 10% reduction in cost of goods sold and improved profit margins.
• Implemented visual merchandising strategies that increased product turnover rate by 30%, contributing to a healthier cash flow.
• Managed store opening and closing procedures, reducing time spent on administrative tasks by 20% and allowing more focus on customer service.
• Conducted regular competitive analysis, leading to the introduction of new product lines that increased sales by 15%.
• Developed a system for tracking and resolving customer complaints, resulting in a 20% decrease in complaints and a 10% increase in customer satisfaction scores.
• Inventory Management
• Team Leadership
• Promotional Campaign Development
• Customer Loyalty Program Implementation
• Supplier Negotiation
• Visual Merchandising
• Store Operations Management
• Competitive Analysis
• Customer Complaint Resolution
• Product Line Development

Retail CV Template

• Worked closely with [teams/departments] to achieve [result, e.g., sales targets, customer satisfaction goals], demonstrating strong [soft skill, e.g., teamwork, leadership].
• Managed [retail function, e.g., inventory control, visual merchandising], improving [process or task, e.g., stock rotation, store layout] to enhance [operational outcome, e.g., sales performance, customer experience].
• Implemented [system or process improvement, e.g., new POS system, customer loyalty program], resulting in [quantifiable benefit, e.g., 20% increase in repeat customers, reduced checkout times].
• Played a pivotal role in [project or initiative, e.g., seasonal sales campaigns, store renovations], which led to [measurable impact, e.g., increased foot traffic, improved sales figures].
• Conducted [type of analysis, e.g., sales trend analysis, customer behavior study], using [analytical tools/methods] to inform [decision-making/action, e.g., product selection, marketing strategies].
• Key contributor to [task or responsibility, e.g., staff training, loss prevention], ensuring [quality or standard, e.g., service excellence, inventory accuracy] across all store operations.
• Major: Name of Major
• Minor: Name of Minor

100+ Free Resume Templates

How to format a retail cv, start with a strong profile, highlight retail-specific skills, detail relevant experience, include achievements and awards, personal statements for retails, retail personal statement examples, what makes a strong personal statement.

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CV FAQs for Retails

How long should retails make a cv, what's the best format for an retail cv, how does a retail cv differ from a resume, related cvs for retail.

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Retail CV Examples & UK Templates

Just as you would browse through a selection of products before making a final decision on your purchase in a store, hiring managers will browse through many CVs before they shortlist. Your retail CV, therefore, needs to make a compelling impact from the outset.

There isn’t much time to make a first impression with your CV, so you need to get it right. It should leave the hiring manager with no reservations about taking you through to the next stage of the process.

Resume.io is your one-stop-shop for all your CV needs. That includes a growing inventory of occupation-specific CV examples  and writing guides to help job seekers secure their your dream role. 

In this guide, together with the adaptable retail CV example, you can expect to find out the following:

• What a role in retail means
• How to write your retail CV, starting with the proper structure of essential parts and the best format
• How to entice hiring managers in each CV section: header, summary, employment history, education and skills.
• The most appealing and professional-looking layout and design to use for your retail CV.

What does a retail professional do?

There are many different types of retail positions, with sales assistant and management opportunities being the most widely available. Buyer and merchandiser jobs are two other common roles.

A retail professional is a typically a people person. Strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure are usually expected, and perhaps specific industry experience too. For instance, someone hired by a fashion retailer might need to have a background in fashion.

How much do retail professionals earn? The  average salary  for a retail professional is £32,101, within a range of £29,359 and £34,960. Incomes vary depending on the type of job, experience level and location.

According to Office of National Statistics data for the first quarter of 2021, 3.042 million people were  employed in retail  in the UK, an increase of 1,000 from the start of 2020. However, there were 533,000 fewer people employed in retail than before the coronavirus lockdown measures were enforced.

As restaurants closed and more people were working from home, supermarkets were the big profiteers in the  retail sector  during the pandemic. Tesco hiring an additional 50,000 temporary workers and 20,000 permanent workers to keep up with demands.

Retail job market and outlook The coronavirus pandemic affected many industries in the UK, but the biggest impact was in the retail and hospitality sectors. With doors closing, reopening, and closing again, uncertainty made he situation unsustainable for many business owners, who sadly had to shut their doors for the final time. A staggering 17,500  British chain stores  closed in 2020, as the pandemic took its grip.

If you are looking to work in retail, there is likely to be competition for the best jobs, but that is not to say that the outlook isn’t positive. The closure of some stores inevitably means that new doors will open. Many retailers are operating online, even if the physical stores no longer exist. There will always be opportunities to work in retail, but it takes a top-notch CV to set yourself apart from the competition.

How to write a retail CV

The first step in planning your retail CV content is to be clear about the structure. These are the five essential sections:

• Employment history

Always consider who you are writing the retail CV for and tailor it to suit the position and employer. The style and tone of your CV should also be geared to the specific retail sector and market.

Knowing how to write a CV takes effort, but we help break down the mystery. Take a look at this detailed guide to learn more about how to structure, write, and design a job-winning CV.

Resist the urge to dive straight into writing a CV without much thought or preparation. Start by carefully reviewing the posted job advertisement. Besides clarifying your understanding of what the position requires, this is your best source of relevant keywords to use in your CV so it is optimised for screening by an electronic applicant tracking system ( ATS ). 

Also starting with the job ad, learn everything you can about the employer and the person likely to be reading your CV. Do additional research to find out even more. It is vital that the company values are aligned with yours; otherwise, it’s probably not a place you will thrive in. Make sure it’s somewhere you want to work before you waste your time applying.

Just as you would take your time going aisle to aisle when browsing a store, the same thoroughness should apply to your CV preparation. There are no quick ways to do it; you just need to go through the process.

Choosing the best CV format for retail 

In most cases, it is best to use the reverse chronological resume format. That means your most recent work experience highlights are listed under dated employer headings, starting with your current or most recent and working your way back to the earliest. 

If you are new to the job market or changing careers, you may want to consider the functional CV format. Starting with an “Experience” or “Skills” section, your abilities are emphasised without being attributed to any particular employer. Or, consider a hybrid (combination) CV format, which combining elements of both the chronological and functional structures.

Your CV format will dictate which parts of your CV will stand out to an employer.

Distinguish yourself from other retail job applicants with an eye-pleasing CV header design that draws attention off the top to your identifying information: name and occupation, phone number and email address. 

As a personal brand, the header creates a favourable first impression and assures managers that they can readily get in touch if your CV is shortlisted for an interview. Further, as a visual anchor, it creates white space to offset everything else on the page to reader-friendly effect.

Using the same header design for both your CV and cover letter shows your regard for cohesiveness of fine details and overall professionalism.

Retail CV summary example: the first impression

In retail, particularly if you are providing customer service, first impressions count, which is why your CV deserves full and careful attention. The summary  — sometimes called a profile or personal statement — gives you only a few sentences to capture the key skills, experience, and personal qualities that you want to showcase to the recruiter.

How have you reached this point in your career? What are your passions and aspirations? How do these fit with the requirements of the retail role? Bottom line: what can you do for this company if hired? 

If you are struggling with ideas for writing your retail CV summary, take a browse through some of our other CV examples. These would be a good starting point: customer service CV example , customer service manager CV example , sales CV example , sales assistant CV example , sales manager CV example , account manager CV sample , supermarket CV example , and Lidl CV example . 

Ideally, this brief synopsis summarises your expertise in a quantifiable fashion. Try saying something along these lines: " Supported and mentored teams of up to 20 retail assistants" or " Helped to improve profits by 50% by training and mentoring team members to exceed their daily goals."

You will, of course, go into more detail elsewhere in your CV but this will give hiring managers quick insight into what you have achieved, and can achieve again. 

Below is a retail CV summary example that you can modify for your own situation.

Experienced, proactive Retail Assistant, with a friendly, positive and helpful attitude. Proven ability to work well independently or on a team, readily taking the initiative to ensure all store operations run smoothly and customer needs are met. Committed to delivering exceptional customer service and meeting sales goals. Seeking a new role with opportunities to progress at Yourstore.

Employment history sample: career to date

For most hiring managers, your employment history will be the most significant part of your retail CV. Following the chronological format discussed earlier, outline your work experience by starting with the most recent employer and working back to the earliest.

Focus on actions with tangible outcomes when composing your bullet point descriptions of job highlights. These are always much more interesting to hiring managers than passive lists of responsibilities, which could easily be lifted from any comparable retail job description. Instead, offer insight into what you can achieve by describing measurable beneficial results, such as: " Helped the company achieve savings of £50,000 by improving negotiations with suppliers."

Below is a retail CV employment history CV sample to give you some inspiration.

Retail Assistant at TRT Sports, City of London June 2015 - Present

• Work in a fast-paced environment at TRT’s busiest location, serving 350+ customers daily and dealing with dozens of telephone or online enquiries.
• Consistently meet or beat my own personal performance goals, as well as company sales targets, on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Support the recruitment process and training of new hires.
• Allocate time daily to learn about new products and provide information to customers.

Retail Assistant at World of Stationery, City of London March 2012 - June 2015

• Served 35 to 50 customers per shift, making suggestions to those whose needs were unclear or who felt overwhelmed by the vast selection of merchandise.
• Managed the store inventory and ensured shelves were replenished.
• Developed protocol for handling telephone calls and online queries to promote a higher standard of professionalism, and implemented customer feedback tools to measure success.
• Helped recruit and trained new staff as required.

Administration Assistant at BT Law Ltd, City of London January 2011 - January 2012

• Answered telephone calls and emails, forwarding those requiring follow-up to the appropriate legal staff.
• Managed all office files and ensured records were kept up-to-date and compliant with GDPR.
• Delivered office administration training sessions to new staff.

CV skills example: what you do best

Your CV skills list should incorporate both hard skills and soft skills . Retail roles usually involve working with a variety of people, so strong communicaton and interpersonal skills are essential. A good combination of hard and soft skills might include adeptness being good at budgeting and being able to work on a team.

Use examples to show, not just tell Wherever possible, specify how your skills have been applied. For instance, “Using communication skills for presentations and budgeting helped the company achieve savings." 

Skills are easy to list, but tangible evidence is much more enticing. As discussed when we covered the employment history section, this is the approach you should take throughout the writing of your retail CV. Always think of examples to back up what you are stating. 

Remember, it's also what interviewers will be interested in if you are given that opportunity

See the adaptable retail CV skills sample below.

• Ability to Multitask
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Customer Service
• Communication

Retail CV education example

Creating the education section of your CV will likely be simple and straightforward. Again, in reverse chronological order, list your relevant college degrees, plus any other diplomas and certificates you have earned, from highest to lowest level. And be sure to mention any additional training and professional development activities you’ve pursued on your own or as a job requirement. Your commitment to continuous learning and keeping up with retail industry trends is very attractive to the hiring managers.

If you are relatively new to the workforce, with little or no job experience, you may want to place the education section below the summary. This puts it ahead of the usual employment history section, which could be labelled "experience" instead. 

Our retail CV example below illustrates an education listing.

Diploma in Business, College of northwest london, City of London June 2012 - September 2013

CV layout and design: keep it clean

The visual impression you make in your CV is just as important as its content in getting you through the door to the interview stage. So make sure the document looks easy to read with a clean, uncomplicated and orderly layout. Avoid any design and formatting gimmicks that might look like you’ve gone overboard. Simple is always better.

It is not always easy to get your CV design right the first time, but with the help of our tried and tested  CV templates, you should be able to create your very own masterpiece.

• Opt for simple layout and design elements for a retail CV.
• Choose legible and professional looking fonts and use color splashes sparingly.
• Ensure page margins are wide enough to balance the ratio of white space to text to avoid visual fatigue for the reader.
• Clutter your CV with unnecessary icons or images.
• Forget to proofread your CV before submitting it.
• Use more than two font styles on the same CV — one for body text and another compatible font for header text and section titles.

Key takeaways for a retail CV

• Tailor your CV to suit the position you are seeking and the employer, conducting as much research as possible on the company and potential interviewer.
• Use keywords throughout your CV so that you won’t be rejected electronically if the company is using an ATS.
• Always check your CV for errors before you hit that send button.
• Use our online CV maker to make the job much easier.

Attractive CV templates at your fingertips

Retail manager CV example

Hoping to land a top retail manager role? The first step to success is a compelling CV.

A well-written, skills-packed and tailored CV will significantly boost your chances of landing interviews with leading retailers.

This in-depth CV guide, complete with an example retail manager CV, will teach you everything you need to know to get hired:

Guide contents

Retail manager CV example

• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing work experience
• Your education
• Skills required for your retail manager CV

CV templates 

The CV example above demonstrates how you can highlight your suitability for the retail sector, in a professional and well-organised way.

Here, the candidate’s key skills, experience and achievements are easy to pinpoint, meaning the CV is easily scannable for busy recruiters.

As we move through the guide, you’ll find out exactly how to  write your own CV  to meet the same high standards.

Retail manager CV structure & format

People often forget the importance of CV structure and format … and end up relying on the written content alone to land them an interview.

But most of these candidates end up with a flat rejection – time-strapped recruiters simply find their CV way too cluttered and disorganised to read!

Taking the time to ensure your CV is organised and easy-to-navigate will put you straight in a recruiter’s good books.

Check out my top tips below:

Formatting Tips

• Length:  2 pages of A4 is the perfect CV length . This gives you more than enough space to showcase why you’re a suitable hire, without waffling or boring the reader with excessive detail.
• Design:  When it comes to CVs, simple is always better. Use a legible black font, and stick to the same one throughout. Additionally, avoid including profile photos or other images – they’re just a waste of space!
• Readability: Retail recruiters are usually very short on time, so they need to be able to read your CV with ease and speed. Avoid lengthy blocks of text – break them into small paragraphs instead. You can also format your info into short lists of snappy bullet points wherever possible, as this will make content much easier to skim through.

Structuring your CV

Use the simple structure below to organise your details:

• Contact details – Stick your contact details at the very top of the page – you wouldn’t want them to be missed.
• Profile – Draw recruiters into your application with this snappy, 5-10 summary of your key skills and experience.
• Work experience / Career history – List your relevant work experience, starting with your current job and working back.
• Education –  Detail your vocational or academic qualifications.
• Interest and hobbies – Use this optional section to highlight any hobbies you have, especially if they display relevant skills.

Next, I’ll talk you through what you need to include  in each CV section.

CV Contact Details

Your CV should always start with your basic contact details, making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you.

Stick to the essentials, such as your:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Location – The town or city you live in is enough – for example,  ‘Chester’ or  ‘Birmingham’.

Quick Tip:  Don’t bother with your date of birth, marital status or full address – these details are irrelevant to recruiters at this stage.

Retail manager CV Profile

Busy recruiters may only read the top section of a CV before deciding whether it’s worth any more of their time.

This is what makes your CV profile – a short and snappy summary of your relevant skills and experience – so important.

It’s basically your sales pitch. Aim to prove that you’ve got everything they’re looking for and entice them to read the rest of your application.

Tips to consider when creating your profile:

• Avoid clichés:  Generic statements, such as  ‘Goes above and beyond’  or  ‘Dedicated and enthusiastic team player’, are a huge no-no. You might think they add impact, but in reality, they’re very generic and mean nothing to recruiters.
• Tailor it:  To make the most impact, it’s important to tailor your profile to the specific role you’re applying for, as well as the retail industry as a whole. So, get online and research your target roles, read over the job description and then pack your profile with relevant skills and keywords. This will instantly show recruiters that you meet their requirements.
• Keep it short and snappy: A CV profile length of 5-10 lines will make the maximum impact on recruiters and make them eager to find out more. Only share high-level information in this section – the smaller details should come later on in your CV.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

What to include in your retail manager CV profile?

• Experience  – Whether you’ve worked as a retail assistant or assistant manager for several years, or are already an experienced retail manager, start your CV profile by summing up your relevant experience. This might include the number of years in the industry, the types of roles you’ve worked and/or the types of shops you’ve worked in (supermarkets, phone stores, fashion retailers…).
• Management & leadership skills  – Do you have any experience of managing and motivating a team, training staff, making decisions or dealing with conflict? Pack your CV profile with a range of management and leadership skills and experience.
• Retail skills  – Highlight any general retail skills, especially if they’re listed in the job description – for example, till work, stock tacking, sales and promotions, etc.
• Niche industry/sector knowledge  – If you have niche product or industry knowledge, make it known. For example, if you’re applying to manage a technology shop and have previously worked for several years as a computer sales assistant , highlight this experience and knowledge – it’s a serious selling point!
• Achievements – Employers want to know how what value you could bring to their company – and highlighting results and achievements from previous roles is a great way to showcase this. For example, you might have increased sales, decreased staff turnover or improved the customer experience.

Core skills section

Next up is your core skills section, which should be placed directly underneath your CV profile.

This is basically 2 or 3 columns of your most relevant retail management skills, listed in snappy bullet points.

Take another look over the job description and aim to match the skills that are listed in it.

This way, recruiters will immediately see that you’re capable of carrying out the role and will be keen to read further.

Work experience/Career history

Now, it’s time to add the finer details to your CV and really show recruiters what you’re capable of.

Commence by detailing your current (or most recent) position and work backwards through your career history.

If you’ve been working for years, you might struggle to fit everything in. In this case, prioritise space for your most recent and relevant roles, whilst shortening down descriptions for older and less applicable work experience.

Quick tip:  Will this be your first attempt at a management position? Throughout your work experience section, focus on showing your potential as a manager by pinpointing transferable skills and experience. For example, in your experience as a retail or sales assistant, you might have been trusted to mentor new recruiters, helped to organise rotas, assisted with training, or filled in when a team leader or manager was out of office.

Structuring your roles

The way you structure your career history can have a huge impact on the overall readability of your CV.

My simple 3-step structure, as shown below, will break up the info into easily-digestible sections.

Start with a brief overview of your role, highlighting the type of company you worked for and what the purpose of your role was.

“Responsible for leading and motivating a team of 24 staff in a busy high-street phone shop, ensuring that high customer service standards are adhered to and sales targets are consistently achieved.”

Key responsibilities

Next, use short bullet points to detail your key duties and responsibilities.

Try to highlight the people you interacted with (assistants, managers, customers…), the managerial and retail skills you used, and the positive effects your work had.

• Motivating a team of sales assistants to achieve and surpass sales goals and targets.
• Monitoring and assessing shop performance on a daily basis, regularly reporting back to the area manager.
• Conducting monthly health and safety audits and preparing appropriate action plans.

Key achievements

To finish up, pinpoint some impressive achievements or results, to show how your work has benefited the stores you have worked for, as well as its customers.

• Improved overall store sales by 35% in 12 months.
• Implemented a new complaint handling procedure, which reduced wait times by 20% and boosted customer satisfaction by 15%.
• Decreased staff turnover by 25% in 6 months, resulting in a saving of over £5k.

After your work experience, you should list your qualifications in an education section.

Retail manager roles are generally open to anyone who’s built up retail experience, but relevant qualifications – such as finance, business, marketing or retail management degrees or HNDs – could put you at an advantage.

Start with your highest qualification and work your way back. You should list the name of the qualification, the date of completion and the school/college/university you studied at.

Quick tip: If you’ve been working as a retail sales assistant for several years and are keen to progress into management, why not boost your skills and prove your enthusiasm by taking a short retail management course ?

Interests and hobbies

The last section of your CV is a hobbies and interests section – but it’s completely optional .

You can use this section to discuss hobbies that further prove your skills. For example, being a captain of a sports team shows that you’re a confident leader, while volunteering in a charity shop demonstrates retail skills and great personal attributes.

Avoid generic hobbies, such as going to the cinema or socialising, as they won’t add any value to your application.

Essential skills for your retail manager CV

Leadership & management skills – You’ll be in charge of managing and motivating a team, so it’s vital to provide a range examples of leadership and managerial skills, such as how you motivate people, handle situations and conflicts with fairness and patience, plan and prioritise workloads, make decisions, solve problems, delegate and strategize.

Customer service –  Customers should always be at the heart of your decisions, and you’ll be expected to set high standards of customer service for the rest of your team to follow. Therefore, you need to pack your CV with examples of exceptional customer service.

Sales –  You’ll be held to account for setting and meeting sales targets and, ultimately, the success of your store. Provide examples of how you’ve converted browsers into customers and how you’ve maximised sales. Popping a few tangible sales results and achievements – for example, increased sales by 15% in 6 months – will win you even more brownie points.

Recruiting and training – In smaller shops, you might be solely responsible for recruiting new staff, as well as providing and/or organising their training and development. If you have experience of this, make sure to highlight it in your CV – even if it was mentoring or training on an informal basis.

Organisation & time management   skills – Retail is one of the fastest-moving industries out there – and as a manager, you need to stay on top of everything that’s going on. Give plenty of examples of your strong organisation, time management and planning skills throughout your CV.

Communication & interpersonal skills – From employees and customers to area managers, the ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of individuals is essential for any retail manager. Make sure to purposely name the range of stakeholders you’ve communicated with in your previous roles.

Writing your retail manager CV

Competition for the top retail manager roles can be tough – but with a flawless CV, there’s no reason why you can’t land your dream job.

By focusing on creating an easy-to-read structure and format, as well as tailoring your CV to the role, your relevant skills and strengths will jump out at recruiters.

Good luck with your job search!