How to Choose the Best Retail Resume Format

Whether you're an experienced professional or just entering the workforce, a job in retail can be a great way to make the most of your skills while learning new ones. With the freedom of flexible schedules and the ability to start at an entry level, working in retail is a versatile option for many people.

So, how do you choose the right retail resume format to best showcase your attributes and talents? While all good resumes should include the five essential resume components, your level of experience and individual skills will dictate how you arrange them. These five resume components are: 

• Header (name, phone number and email address; Note: due to privacy issues, it is not recommended that you include your street address)
• Summary statement 
• Skills
• Work history
• Education 

Retail sales resume format for experienced applicants

Whether you're seeking to supplement your current income with a part-time job or considering a career change, constructing a standout resume is crucial. If you've worked consistently for a decade or more, or have held many noteworthy positions, consider a chronological resume. 

In this format, which is the most familiar to hiring managers, you list your most recent job, and work backward by date from there. Hiring managers can easily see your most recent job experience, which is most likely your most relevant. They can also track your path of promotions, responsibilities, and tenure. 

Retail resume format for entry-level employees

If you feel your work history won't effectively sell your skills, consider the functional resume format. This style focuses on skills over experience and can be the best retail resume format for new job seekers, those with employment gaps, or frequent job changers. Many retail businesses are open to hiring employees with limited experience. And hiring managers expect that they will need to train you, regardless of your experience level.

Hiring managers often seek candidates who are hardworking, dependable and eager to learn. Examples of soft skills and attributes such as these can be found in your personal history, even without a lengthy list of previous jobs. Consider including school achievements, volunteer experience and individual projects that exemplify your tenacity and work ethic.

For those who had an employment gap to take care of children or parents, the empathy, patience, multi-tasking and budgeting skills you used are valuable to employers. Make sure to include them.

Are you a student on the honor roll while juggling extracurricular activities? Have you volunteered at a charity or non-profit event? These are testaments to your work ethic that show you would make a valuable employee. If your work history is light, consider developing your personal summary to highlight the skills you plan to utilize as a prospective employee. 

Resume format for the retail industry that highlights skills and experience

Unsure which format to use, the chronological or functional one? There's a third option to consider. The hybrid resume format allows you to showcase your employment history, skills and accomplishments as you see fit.

Some people choose to list their work history in order of relevance. Others include a brief chronological list of positions while highlighting a well-developed skills section. This decision is entirely up to you. What's great about the hybrid approach is that it's a versatile retail job resume format that allows you to present yourself to a potential employer precisely as you wish them to see you.

Regardless of which format you choose, there are many resources available to help you construct an engaging and memorable retail resume. Our Resume Builder will help you craft a resume that lets you put your best foot forward on your retail application.

Our Cover Letter Templates can assist you in writing a compelling letter that will catch a hiring manager's eye and make him/her want to continue on to your resume. Both provide easy to use templates, writing and editing advice and step-by-step instructions to get your application materials created in a snap.