personal statement cv examples retail

7 retail CV examples

If you want to land a top job in retail, you need an eye-catching CV.

Check out these 7 retail CV examples for all job-types and experience levels, to give you a helping hand in creating your own interview-winning CV.

CV templates 

Retail sales assistant CV

See full sales assistant guide

Retail manager CV

See full retail manager CV guide

Supervisor CV

See full supervisor CV guide

Customer service CV

See full customer service CV guide

Jewellery sales assistant CV

See full Jewellery sales assistant CV guide

Shop assistant CV

See full Shop assistant CV guide

Sales advisor CV

See full Sales advisor CV guide

Before you start writing your own CV, take a look at the example retail CVs above to give yourself a basic understanding of the style and format that recruiters and hiring managers prefer to see.

Also, take note of the type of content that is included to impress recruiters, and how the most relevant information is made prominent.

Retail CV structure and format

Think your CV is just about words? Think again.

Your CV needs to look professional and be easy for recruiters to read, meaning the structure and format of your CV are equally as important as the content within it.

Facilitate ease of reading by working to a simple structure which allows recruiters to easily navigate your experience.

Formatting Tips

• Length: While there’s no ‘official’ CV length rule, the majority of recruiters agree that less is more. Aim for two pages of A4 or less. This is just enough room to showcase your suitability to the role, without overwhelming recruiters with irrelevant or excessive content.
• Readability : Recruiters appreciate CVs that they can quickly scan through without trouble. Ensure yours makes the cut by formatting your headings for attention (bold or coloured fonts should do the trick) and breaking up long paragraphs into smaller chunks or short, snappy bullet points.
• Design: Your CV needs to look professional, sleek and easy to read. A subtle colour palette, clear font and simple design are generally best for this, as fancy designs are often harder to navigate.
• Avoid photos: Recruiters can’t factor in appearance, gender or race into the recruitment process, so a profile photo is totally unnecessary. Additionally, company logos or images won’t add any value to your application, so you’re better off saving the space to showcase your experience instead.

Structuring your CV

As you write your CV , work to the simple but effective structure below:

• Name and contact details – Pop them at the top of your CV, so it’s easy for recruiters to contact you.
• CV profile – Write a snappy overview of what makes you a good fit for the role; discussing your key experience, skills and accomplishments.
• Core skills section – Add a short but snappy list of your relevant retail skills and knowledge.
• Work experience – A list of your relevant work experience, starting with your current role.
• Education – A summary of your relevant qualifications and professional/vocational training.
• Hobbies and interests – An optional sections, which you could use to write a short description of any relevant hobbies or interests.

Now I’ll guide you through exactly what you should include in each CV section.

CV Contact Details

Begin by sharing your contact details, so it’s easy for employers to give you a call. Keep to the basics, such as:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It should sound professional, with no slang or nicknames. Make a new one for your job applications if necessary.
• Location – Simply share your vague location, for example ‘Manchester’, rather than a full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Remember to update them before you send your application.

Retail CV Profile

Your CV profile is the first thing recruiters will read – so your goal is to give them a reason to read onto the end of the document!

Create a short and snappy paragraph that showcases your key skills, relevant experience and impressive accomplishments.

Ultimately, it should prove to the reader that you’ve got what it takes to carry out the job.

Tips for creating an impactful CV profile:

• Keep it brief: It might be tempting to submit a page-long CV profile, but recruiters won’t have the time to read it. To ensure every word gets read, it’s best to include high-level information only; sticking to a length of 3-5 lines.
• Tailor it: Recruiters can spot a generic, mass-produced CV at a glance – and they certainly won’t be impressed! Before you write your profile (and CV as a whole), read through the job advert and make a list of any skills, knowledge and experience required. You should then incorporate your findings throughout your profile and the rest of your CV.
• Don’t add an objective: Want to talk about your career goals and objectives? While the profile may seem like a good space to do so, they’re actually much better suited to your cover letter .
• Avoid cliches: Focus on fact, not fluff. Phrases like “Committed and enthusiastic thought-leader” and “Dynamic problem solver” might sound fancy, but they’ll do nothing for your application. Not only do they sound cheesy, but they have no substance – stick to real skills and facts

What to include in your Retail CV profile?

• Summary of experience: Recruiters will want to know what type of companies you’ve worked for, industries you have knowledge of, and the type of work you’ve carried out in the past, so give them a summary of this in your profile.
• Relevant skills: Make your most relevant Retail key skills clear in your profile. These should be tailored to the specific role you’re applying for – so make sure to check the job description first, and aim to match their requirements as closely as you can.
• Essential qualifications: Be sure to outline your relevant Retail qualifications, so that anyone reading the CV can instantly see you are qualified for the jobs you are applying to.

Quick tip: If spelling and grammar are not a strong point of yours, Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to add pre-written content that has been created by recruitment experts, and proofread by our team.

Core skills section

In addition to your CV profile, your core skills section provides an easily digestible snapshot of your skills – perfect for grabbing the attention of busy hiring managers.

As Retail jobs might receive a huge pile of applications, this is a great way to stand out and show off your suitability for the role.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points and be made up of skills that are highly relevant to the jobs you are targeting.

Work experience/Career history

By this point, employers will be keen to know more detail about you career history.

Starting with your most recent role and working backwards, create a snappy list of any relevant roles you’ve held.

This could be freelance, voluntary, part-time or temporary jobs too. Anything that’s relevant to your target role is well-worth listing!

Structuring your roles

Lengthy, unbroken chunks of text is a recruiters worst nightmare, but your work experience section can easily end up looking like that if you are not careful.

To avoid this, use my tried-and-tested 3-step structure, as illustrated below:

Firstly, give the reader some context by creating a punchy summary of the job as a whole.

You should mention what the purpose or goal of your role was, what team you were part of and who you reported to.

Key responsibilities

Use bullet points to detail the key responsibilities of your role, highlighting hard skills, software and knowledge wherever you can.

Keep them short and sharp to make them easily digestible by readers.

Key achievements

Lastly, add impact by highlight 1-3 key achievements  that you made within the role.

Struggling to think of an achievement? If it had a positive impact on your company, it counts.

For example, you might increased company profits, improved processes, or something simpler, such as going above and beyond to solve a customer’s problem.

At the bottom of your CV is your full education section. You can list your formal academic qualifications, such as:

• GCSE’s

As well as any specific Retail qualifications that are essential to the jobs you are applying for. Note down the name of the qualification, the organisation at which you studied, and the date of completion.

Interests and hobbies

This section is entirely optional, so you’ll have to use your own judgement to figure out if it’s worth including.

If your hobbies and interests could make you appear more suitable for your dream job, then they are definitely worth adding.

Interests which are related to the industry, or hobbies like sports teams or volunteering, which display valuable transferable skills might be worth including.

Essential skills for your Retail CV

Tailoring your CV to the roles you are applying for is key to success, so make sure to read through the job descriptions and tailor your skills accordingly.

However, commonly desired  Retail skills include:

• Customer service
• Complaint resolution 
• Stock management
• Rota creation
• People management
• Retail knowledge
• Product or service knowledge 
• Transaction handling
• Refunds and returns
• PoS systems
• Customer databases 

Writing your Retail CV

When putting together your Retail CV, there are a few key points to remember

Always tailor your CV to the target role, even if it means creating several versions for different roles.

Additionally, remember that the structure and format of your CV needs just as much attention as the content.

Remember to triple-check for spelling and grammar errors before hitting send. If you’re unsure, use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to add pre-written expert content with one click.

Good luck with your job search!

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9 Real Retail Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

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• Retail Resumes
• Retail Resumes by Experience
• Retail Resumes by Role
• 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

or download as PDF

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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How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples]

Creating an effective CV takes time and close attention to detail. You've already included your jobs and experience , and now you want to allow the recruiter or hiring manager to understand the strategic value you can add.

This is when you need to utilize a personal statement at the top of your CV.

How to Write a CV Personal Statement [+4 Real-life Examples] 

What is a Personal Statement? 

A personal statement is a few brief and direct sentences at the top of your CV. The personal statement is also referred to as a career summary or personal mission statement.

This is used to grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and summarizes essential experiences or training that you can bring to this position.

Why do I Need a Personal Statement?

A recruiter or hiring manager is tasked with sorting through an enormous amount of resumes every single day. A personal statement is a way to separate yourself from the other applicants.

This statement summarizes your experience and highlights your unique talents . The CV personal statement is meant to demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the job. 

Even med students need a medical school personal statement , as it is what differentiates them from all the other students applying. Plus, it allows them to share their personal stories and objectives.

Where do I Start? 

Always begin by reading the job description carefully and thoroughly.

Your personal statement should be tailored to each job description, so it explicitly states the value you’ll bring to the position you are applying. A generic personal statement cannot do that. 

Once you have a solid handle on the job description, you can begin writing. It’s important to keep your personal statement brief, about 50-200 words will do.

Don’t forget that you have your whole cover letter to show some personality and include engaging content.

The personal statement should be a quick summary that highlights why you are the best person for the job. 

You’ll need to decide whether you are writing your personal statement in first- or third-person. This should follow how you've written the rest of your CV.

For example, if you've already written, “I grew and developed a team of 50 salespeople,” in your CV then you will want to keep your personal statement in first-person to match the prevailing style.

No matter what you choose, make sure that you keep it consistent throughout. Do not switch between first- and third-person as that will get confusing to the hiring manager.

Writing a personal statement for your CV in first-person does not mean you need to start every sentence with “I.”

There are ways to craft your personal statement to sound snappy, concise and personal, and here are a few examples to help inspire your personal statement. 

CV Personal Statement Examples

It doesn’t matter what chose as your desired career or how much experienc e you have, use these examples to drive the creation of your own personal statement.

You can take snippets from each or write something completely different. Always remember that your personal statement is a reflection of yourself and should align with your own personal goals and experience.

If these examples don’t fit your exact career, feel free to take some pointers and write yours from scratch. 

#1: Personal Statement Example for Recent Graduate CV

“As a recent graduate from university, with an honors degree in communications, I held several internships within leading organizations, including Bertelsmann. These internships enabled me to gain experience in the field and learn how to serve up valuable contributions in a fast-paced, professional environment.”

Explanation: This example should be customized to include the university you’ve graduated from and any relevant internships. A compelling personal statement always highlights relevant skills and experiences.

In this case, a recent graduate does not have extensive experience in the workforce, so soft skills like experiencing success in a fast-paced work environment and becoming a trusted team member become even more critical.

#2: Personal Statement Example for Returning to the Workforce CV

“A highly motivated and experienced office administrator, I am currently looking to resume my professional career after an extended hiatus to raise my family. Proficient in all Microsoft Office programs, I can lead meetings and work with clients to keep your office running smoothly and efficiently. After spending several years volunteering as an administrative worker for a local charity, I am committed to resuming my professional career on a full-time basis.”

Explanation: After time off from a career, it can be hard to break back into the market. This personal statement outlines the reason for the break, the relevant qualifications and what the applicant has been doing in between jobs.

Any volunteer experience becomes highly relevant when there is no concrete professional experience to draw upon, to demonstrate the use of those skills. 

#3: Personal Statement Example for a Career Change CV

“With over 15 years as a sales manager, I have extensive experience building high-functioning sales teams that consistently achieve budget numbers. In fact, my ability to grow talent led to a 20% increase in annual renewals across the board. Now, after 15 years, I am seeking new challenges to flex my marketing muscles in a fast-paced environment.” 

Explanation: When changing careers , it's essential to highlight skills that are transferable between industries.

In this case, leadership and team-building experience can apply to any industry. Homing in on concrete numbers and percentages increases credibility when applying for a position.

The applicant ends with the reason behind the desired career change. This part is not necessary but may be appealing to some hiring managers who are wondering what the impetus for the career change.

#4: Personal Statement Example for a Experienced Professional CV

“As a friendly, professional and highly trained educator, I am passionate about teaching and have an innate ability to understand student’s needs. Creating a safe and productive environment for optimal learning is my top priority. I’ve worked as a teacher for nearly 10 years in a variety of subjects and my experience and skill set make me the perfect fit for your team.”

Explanation: With more experience comes more skills and a better idea of strengths and weaknesses. Showcasing your passion for the industry is a great way to begin a personal statement, as it shows the hiring manager your dedication to the craft. 

A personal statement can be written in many different ways, but it is ultimately up to you to determine what skills you want to highlight for your chosen position.

You can follow these examples or take learnings from each to contribute towards your personal statement. 

If you understand the job you are applying for and know the unique skill set that you bring to the table, you will have a stellar personal statement for your CV that will get you across the table from the hiring manager in no time.  

Suggested Reading:

• How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae) in 2024 [31+ Examples]
• 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job
• 150+ Must-Have Skills for Any Resume  [With Tips + Tricks]
• How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

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• CV Examples
• Retail Worker

Retail Worker CV Example & Writing Guide

At cvapp.nz, we’re committed to empowering our users in their professional journeys. We’re supporting professionals in the retail industry and enabling them to achieve career success. With our wide range of high-quality career resources and tools, cvapp.nz can provide the essential guidance and support you need to secure your next role in retail. Let’s get down to business!

How to write a job-winning CV

Generally speaking, all job-winning CVs typically have the following elements:

• The CV Header
• The professional statement
• The employment history section
• The education section
• The skills section

Including these sections are important – but if you don’t know how to write these just yet, don’t worry, we’ll help you out! It's also important to read over the job description and conduct additional research on the potential role. Reading and thoroughly understanding the job description is crucial when applying for a new role. It gives you valuable insights about the specific responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations that your employer is looking for. By doing your research, you can also gain a better understanding of the company culture, values, and industry trends, which can help you tailor your application accordingly. It's always a good idea to show the employer that you have taken the time to understand their needs and can align yourself well with the position.

Formatting: The perfect presentation for retail workers

For a retail worker CV, we recommend using the reverse chronological format. This format places a strong emphasis on your work experience and showcases your most recent and relevant positions first. By starting with your current or most recent job and working your way back, you can effectively demonstrate your career progression and highlight any promotions or increased responsibilities you've taken on.

If this is your first job, it may also be worth exploring alternative formats for your CV. As a first-time job seeker, you may not have an extensive work history to showcase, so utilising a different CV format can help highlight your skills, education, and any relevant volunteer work or internships. Considering alternative formats, such as a skills-based CV or a combination CV, can help you present your qualifications effectively and make a strong impression on potential employers. These formats allow you to emphasise your abilities and achievements, even if you lack direct professional experience. By tailoring your CV to suit your unique circumstances, you can increase your chances of securing your first-ever job opportunity. If you'd like to use another CV format or want to see more examples of the reverse chronological format, we have a ton of resources on the cvapp.nz website for you!

Professional statement: Express your authentic self

As a retail worker, your personal statement should effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and career aspirations in the retail industry. It is an opportunity to briefly highlight your professional background, achievements, and demonstrate your potential for success in the field. 

Start by introducing yourself and mentioning your interest in retail work. You can explain why you find the retail industry appealing and what motivates you to excel in it. Share any relevant educational background, such as retail management courses or certifications, to emphasise your commitment to developing your skills in this field. It's important to keep this section concise: personal statements should ideally consist of no more than 3-6 sentences. The main objective of personal statements is to capture the attention of employers and encourage them to delve deeper into your profile. Check out this example of a great personal statement below: 

Attentive and approachable retail assistant dedicated to finding effective solutions for customers and providing excellent customer service. Reliable retail worker skilled in a range of retail-centred skills, including inventory management and customer relations. Committed to delivering exceptional results and outcomes, and focused on providing positive retail experiences for customers at all times. Dedicated to putting the needs of customers first.

Employment History: Your professional track record

Your employment history section should provide comprehensive information about your previous roles and experiences. This section allows potential employers to gain insight into your skills, responsibilities, and achievements. Here's a suggested method to rewrite and expand upon this section:

Begin with your most recent role and work backwards. Include relevant information such as job title, company name, employment dates, and location. If you have worked in the retail industry before, be sure to describe your responsibilities and achievements here clearly. You'll also want to outline your responsibilities and accomplishments. For each employment role, clearly outline your primary responsibilities and day-to-day tasks. Describe the scope of your work and any achievements or projects you completed, and emphasise the impact you had on the company or team and quantify results whenever possible using numbers, data and figures. Lastly, when applying for retail roles, adjust the descriptions of your previous roles to highlight relevant experiences and achievements. Focus on skills and projects that directly align with the job requirements, demonstrating how your past experiences make you an excellent fit for the new role. Check out our retail worker employment history example below: 

Retail Assistant at HER FOR HER, Whanganui

• Greeted and assisted customers with product questions, queries and concerns
• Assisted customers with finding correct clothing sizes, finding alternatives and making recommendations as requested
• Operated the cash register and processed sales, ensuring transactions were recorded accurately and securely
• Handled exchanges and returns in accordance with store policy

Checkout Operator at Countdown, Whanganui

• Processed sales and transactions using EFTPOS and cash systems, ensuring each transaction was accurately stored and recorded 
• Provided customer service by greeting and assisting customers in a friendly and diligent manner
• Ensured the store environment remained clean and organised and restocked shelves as required
• Answered customer queries and resolved issues, escalating complaints or concerns in a professional, timely manner

Retail Assistant at Glassons, Whanganui

• Processed sales and transactions, ensuring each sale was recorded securely and accurately
• Restocked clothing racks and managed inventory as necessary and as requested
• Assisted customers with queries, issues or concerns 

CV Skills: Outline your strengths

Retail workers rely on a diverse range of skills to excel in their roles, and effectively communicating these skills on your CV is essential. Highlighting your abilities not only sets you apart from other candidates but also demonstrates your suitability for the demands of the retail industry. By emphasising your skills, you showcase your potential value to prospective employers. Remember to focus on skills that are relevant to the retail industry, such as customer service skills, communication skills and effective problem-solving skills. 

By effectively highlighting your skills, you can create a positive impression and increase your chances of attracting the attention of those who are looking for individuals with your specific set of talents. When you’re finished, your skills section should look something like this: 

• Time Management
• Communication Skills
• Effective Time Management
• Customer Service

Education: Elevating your potential

The education section provides an overview of your educational background, highlighting any degrees, certifications, or courses you have completed. It helps potential employers gain insight into your level of knowledge and expertise in a specific field. As a retail worker, it's not always necessary to have advanced degrees or extensive academic experience, however, including your educational background is still important for employers to see. In this section, you should include details about the degree you achieved and the institution you obtained it from. Start with the highest level of education you have obtained, such as your university degree, NCEA results or school leaver results. Mention the degree title, the name of the institution, and the location. You can also choose to include outstanding academic results, awards or accolades.

Here’s an example of an effective education section: 

Education NCEA Level 3, Cullinane College, Whanganui

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