Retail Sales Specialist Resume Guide
Retail Sales Specialists are responsible for helping customers find the products they need, providing customer service and advice, processing payments, and keeping track of sales. They must be knowledgeable about all store merchandise in order to answer questions from customers and help them make informed decisions.
You know the ins and outs of retail sales, so any store would be lucky to have you on their team. But potential employers don’t know about your experience yet. To make them aware of what you can do, you need a resume that stands out from the competition.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Retail Sales Specialist Resume Sample
Olga Prosacco
Retail Sales Specialist
[email protected]
074-400-8079
linkedin.com/in/olga-prosacco
Summary
Dependable retail sales specialist with over 7 years of experience in the retail industry. Achieved an average of 32% growth for ABC Store’s revenue by optimizing product placement, developing new promotions and implementing effective marketing strategies. Skilled at analyzing customer needs and providing customized solutions to maximize sales volume and profits. Proven ability to identify trends, forecast market conditions and drive positive change in a competitive environment.
Experience
Retail Sales Specialist, Employer A
Henderson, Jan 2018 – Present
- Utilized sales techniques to successfully close over 150 sales of retail items per day, increasing total store revenue by 20%.
- Sold a variety of product lines including clothing, accessories and home furnishings; consistently met daily targets for each item category with minimal returns or exchanges from customers.
- Upsold additional products on top of customer orders to meet monthly profit goals; generated an extra $1,000 in profits through upselling alone last quarter.
- Structured incentives and promotions across multiple product categories while actively seeking out new opportunities to increase sales figures; exceeded quota objectives by 10% every month since starting employment 6 months ago.
- Meticulously managed inventory levels according to company policies and procedures, reducing stock counts errors & wastage incidences by 25%.
Retail Sales Specialist, Employer B
Salt Lake City, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Prepared and maintained detailed product displays, ensuring all items were accurately marked and priced; drove a 15% increase in sales by identifying customer needs quickly.
- Assisted over 100 customers each day with choosing products, answering inquiries about pricing/availability and providing information on promotions; achieved 95% positive feedback from clients for excellent service.
- Promoted new merchandise to customers through special offers & discounts resulting in an additional 25% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter.
- Diligently tracked inventory levels across multiple retail outlets using POS software, reordering stock as necessary while reducing wastage of out-of-date goods by 10%.
- Spearheaded storewide projects such as creating customized promotional materials for events and training staff members on applicable sales techniques; increased efficiency at checkouts by 30 minutes per hour overall.
Skills
- Time Management
- Merchandising
- Customer Satisfaction
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Account Management
- Retail Sales
- Visual Merchandising
- Sales Operations
Education
High School Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Retail Sales Specialist Certification
National Retail Federation
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
Your resume summary is your chance to make a great first impression on potential employers. As a retail sales specialist, you can use this section to highlight the skills and experience that make you an ideal candidate for the job. For example, mention how many years of customer service experience you have, any awards or recognitions received in past roles, and what sets you apart from other candidates (such as fluency in multiple languages). This will give hiring managers an overview of why they should consider bringing you onboard.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Talented retail sales specialist with 5+ years of experience driving revenue growth in high-end retail environments. Skilled at analyzing customer preferences to create tailored experiences and generate repeat business. Achieved 68% increase in average order value at XYZ by introducing best practices during the onboarding process for new employees. Seeking to join ABC Retail Group as a Sales Specialist and help drive further success through excellent customer service.
Enthusiastic retail sales specialist with 5+ years of experience in the retail sector. Proven track record for providing excellent customer service and developing effective sales strategies to meet store goals. At XYZ, increased total sales by 25% within six months through market research and product positioning initiatives. Highly skilled at using POS systems, merchandising techniques, and inventory management software solutions.
Amicable and persuasive retail sales specialist with 2+ years of experience in the industry. Possesses a solid understanding of modern marketing strategies and an eye for detail when it comes to customer service. Driven to increase store revenue at ABC by utilizing superior product knowledge and top-notch communication skills. At XYZ, increased sales by 13% year over year while also delivering excellent customer experiences.
Diligent retail sales specialist with 5+ years of experience working in customer service and retail environments. Possess a proven track record of increasing sales, exceeding targets, and delivering excellent customer service to maximize repeat business. Currently looking to join ABC Store as their next Sales Specialist to promote the store’s products and services through effective selling techniques.
Well-rounded retail sales specialist with 8+ years of experience in providing top-notch customer service. At XYZ, achieved a 20% increase in total store sales by driving operations and increasing average ticket size through upselling and cross-selling techniques. Enjoys developing strong relationships with customers to build loyalty while consistently exceeding individual performance goals.
Reliable retail sales specialist with 10+ years of experience in customer service, store operations and inventory management. Proven ability to increase revenue by up to 20% while providing exceptional customer service. Seeking the opportunity to apply my expertise at ABC Stores where I can help improve the bottom line through effective merchandising strategies and cross-sell initiatives.
Hard-working retail sales specialist with 5+ years of experience in the field. Proven track record of increasing sales by 20% on average year-over-year, and exceeding individual goals by 40%. Seeking to join ABC Retail as a Sales Specialist where I can use my knowledge and skills to help grow the business. Passionate about helping customers find exactly what they need for their needs.
Driven Retail Sales Specialist with 8+ years in the retail industry. Highly experienced at developing and executing effective sales strategies to maximize revenue growth. At XYZ, increased store profits by 35% within 6 months through targeted promotions and customer incentives. Expertise in product knowledge, merchandising displays, inventory management, and customer service.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience/employment/work history section, you want to provide details on your past roles. This should be written in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent job is listed first.
When providing information about what you did and achieved, use bullet points for clarity and brevity. You can also include any quantifiable results that demonstrate success or growth in sales or customer satisfaction levels.
For example, instead of saying “Assisted customers with their purchases,” you could say, “Provided excellent customer service to over 500+ shoppers per week resulting in a 15% increase in sales from repeat customers.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Sold
- Assisted
- Advised
- Demonstrated
- Merchandised
- Processed
- Resolved
- Promoted
- Upsold
- Greeted
- Informed
- Restocked
- Tracked
- Balanced
- Reconciled
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Mentored new sales associates on customer service techniques and product knowledge, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat customers.
- Optimized store operations by strategically organizing products for maximum impact and visibility; increased overall retail sales revenue by $6,000 within three months of implementation.
- Balanced the daily cash drawer to the penny while handling multiple transactions concurrently with accuracy; reduced discrepancies and chargebacks from 0.5% to 0%.
- Thoroughly managed inventory levels across all departments through regular reviews and adjustments based on seasonality/trends; decreased out-of-stock occurrences by 25%.
- Participated in weekly team meetings where strategies were discussed to improve customer experience, leading to a 40% boost in positive feedback over six months.
- Tracked and monitored daily sales, accurately updating the database with over 500 transactions and successfully achieved monthly sales targets by 15%.
- Competently managed customer inquiries related to product availability, prices, promotions and order status; effectively resolved all issues in a timely manner while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Introduced new products into the store’s inventory through successful negotiation with suppliers; increased stock diversity by 40%, leading to an overall 20% increase in revenue for the store year-on-year.
- Merchandised retail displays according to changing trends and promotional campaigns; boosted visibility of featured items resulting in an additional 10% rise in same-day sales figures each month.
- Developed relationships with existing customers as well as potential buyers through effective communication skills and providing excellent service standards; generated leads from 100+ referrals which led to 25% growth in client base within 6 months.
- Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets by 15%, driving retail revenue up by $7,500 in the last quarter.
- Expedited customer service and product delivery to over 500 clients each month; improved response times for email inquiries from 48 hours to 24 hours on average.
- Reduced store operating costs by 10% through effective inventory management, regularly reviewing stock levels and restocking merchandise as needed.
- Facilitated team training sessions twice a week on new product lines & services offerings; shared best practices with colleagues that led to an increase of 20% in overall staff performance ratings within 1 year period.
- Represented the company at regional trade shows and events, connecting with potential customers across multiple industries while effectively promoting brand awareness and increasing leads generation rate by 40%.
- Reconciled daily sales reports and inventory logs to ensure that all transactions were properly recorded; reduced discrepancies by 25% in the last quarter.
- Streamlined store operations by creating an efficient stock rotation system, resulting in a 24% increase in customer satisfaction ratings over 3 months.
- Reorganized product displays to provide customers with better visibility of merchandise options; increased retail revenues by $10,000 within 2 weeks of implementation.
- Actively engaged customers on the shop floor providing them with detailed information about products and services, helping close 7+ deals each day during peak hours increasing store revenue significantly.
- Advised management team on pricing strategies based on market trends and competitor analysis which resulted in a 10% growth rate year-on-year for the past 12 months.
- Demonstrated strong customer service and interpersonal relations skills to successfully meet or exceed sales goals by 10%; effectively upsold customers on products and services.
- Processed purchases for over 500 clients daily, ensuring accuracy in order entry and payment processing; reduced refund rate from 3% to 1%.
- Compiled weekly summary reports of revenue performance, providing detailed data analysis that identified key areas of improvement in sales operations.
- Informed customers about product features & benefits thoroughly while driving promotional events like discounts or seasonal specials; increased store traffic by 15%.
- Substantially improved cross-selling capabilities through effective training sessions with junior staff members; boosted average transaction size by 8%.
- Assessed customer needs and preferences to sell over 300 products daily, resulting in increased retail sales by 25%.
- Presented product features and benefits to customers through persuasive selling techniques, upselling on average $150 worth of additional merchandise per sale.
- Revised pricing strategies based on customer feedback, leading to a 15% increase in profit margin for the store within 3 months.
- Reliably met or exceeded monthly sales goals by actively seeking out new potential clients and forming relationships with existing ones; achieved 110% target every month for 6 consecutive months.
- Resolved customer complaints efficiently while maintaining professionalism at all times, receiving positive reviews from 90% of customers surveyed upon completion of transactions.
- Restocked over 200 items on store shelves daily, ensuring product availability and increasing customer satisfaction by 15%.
- Confidently provided customers with detailed information about products, services and promotions; upsold over 300 additional items every week.
- Improved sales performance in the department by 10% through creative merchandising techniques such as strategically placing promotional materials near featured products.
- Greeted all customers entering the store and offered assistance to ensure a positive shopping experience; helped an average of 100+ shoppers per hour during peak hours resulting in increased loyalty rates by 6%.
- Achieved $7000 monthly sales targets consistently for 3 consecutive months while effectively managing inventory levels to prevent out-of-stocks or overstocking issues at any time.
3. Skills
Two organizations that have advertised for a position with the same title may be searching for individuals whose skills are quite different. For instance, one might be looking for someone with a strong knowledge of retail software, while another may require the candidate to have experience in customer service.
Therefore, when creating your resume skills section, you should tailor it specifically to each job that you are applying for. This is essential because many companies now use applicant tracking systems which scan resumes for certain keywords and characteristics before passing them on to a human recruiter or hiring manager.
To ensure that yours passes through this filter successfully, make sure that all relevant skills are included here as well as further elaborated upon in other sections such as the summary or work history.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Account Management
- Advertising
- Coaching
- Communication
- Customer Satisfaction
- Data Entry
- Direct Sales
- Event Management
- Fashion
- Forecasting
- Inventory Control
- Loss Prevention
- Merchandising
- Retail Sales
- Sales Operations
- Social Media Marketing
- Social Networking
- Store Management
- Teaching
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Visual Merchandising
4. Education
Including an education section on your resume will depend on how much work experience you have. If you just graduated and don’t have any prior retail sales specialist experience, mention your education below your resume objective. On the other hand, if you’ve been working in this field for a while and want to highlight that more than anything else, omitting an education section is perfectly acceptable.
If including an education section is necessary or desired, try to mention courses relevant to the retail sales specialist job you are applying for as well as any awards or honors received during school.
High School Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your proficiency in a certain field. They show potential employers that you have been tested and certified by an organization, proving that you are knowledgeable in the subject matter.
Including certifications on your resume can be beneficial when applying for jobs as it shows hiring managers that you have taken the initiative to stay up-to-date with industry knowledge and trends. Make sure to list any relevant certifications related to the job position so they know exactly what skillset you bring with you.
Retail Sales Specialist Certification
National Retail Federation
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Olga Prosacco, this would be Olga-Prosacco-resume.pdf or Olga-Prosacco-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Providing a cover letter with your job application is a great way to make an introduction and provide extra information about yourself. It should consist of 2 to 4 paragraphs and be separate from the resume you submit.
Cover letters give hiring managers important insights into who you are, what experience and skills you have that might not already be mentioned in your resume, as well as how enthusiastic you are for the role being offered. They can also help demonstrate why it’s worth taking a chance on someone with less experience than other applicants may have.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Nathen,
I am writing to apply for the Retail Sales Specialist position at XYZ Store. As a highly motivated and experienced retail sales professional, I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team.
In my current role as a Retail Sales Associate at ABC Store, I provide excellent customer service while maintaining in-depth knowledge of products and services. I consistently meet or exceed sales goals by leveraging my interpersonal skills to build relationships with customers and drive sales. In addition, I effectively train new employees on company policies and procedures.
I am confident that I can contribute to the success of XYZ Store as a Retail Sales Specialist. My proven ability to increase sales through effective customer service will be an asset to your organization. In addition, my experience training new employees will help ensure a smooth transition for any new hires you bring on board.
Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to speaking with you soon about this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Olga