How to Write a Resume for a Retail Position
by Bonnie Dewkett
A professional, standout resume is essential in the retail industry. Whether you work in sales, customer service or deliveries, your skills and experience set you apart. It’s important to highlight these effectively.
If you’re wondering how to write a resume for a retail position, there’s a simple formula to follow that’ll give you an edge on the competition.
How to format your retail store resume
The first step is to determine the best format for your resume. One popular and effective option is the chronological resume. This structure lists your experience in reverse chronological order and is the best retail store resume format to use if you have consistent work history and relevant experience. Our Resume Builder can guide you through every step of the chronological resume building process.
The five main components of all resumes are:
- Header
- Summary
- Skills
- Work history
- Education and training
Let’s break down each section to give you an understanding of what to include — and what to leave out. Keep in mind that you should always create a custom resume for each position to which you apply.
Resumes are often scanned first by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), so it’s critical to include relevant keywords from the job listing in your resume and cover letter. Doing this will get your resume past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager.
1. Header
The header includes basic information such as your name, phone number and email address. If you don’t have a professional-sounding email address or are concerned that you may miss job-related emails because of the amount of emails that you currently receive, it’s best to open a new email account for job hunting purposes.
When selecting a new email address, choose something that will appear professional. Due to concerns with personal information tied to identity theft, we don’t recommend including your mailing address in your header.
2. Summary
In this portion of your resume, you’ll give the hiring manager a glimpse into who you are, your experience and your goals. Keep it brief and professional (2-3 sentences, tops) and highlight how your skills will benefit the employer. Check out this excellent example of a retail job summary.
3. Skills
When you’re crafting your resume, think about what skills you use on the job, and what tasks you perform. Chances are, your skill set is much more varied and developed than you think. You’re likely multitasking all the time, without realizing how critical these actions are to your company. Consider tasks you may be performing, such as:
- Shipping/receiving
- Public relations
- Management
- Scheduling
- Training
- Hiring
- Planning
- Customer service
Review the job description and include any skills you have that match up with specific skills the hiring manager is seeking for that particular position.
4. Work history
Starting with your most current position, list your work experience in reverse chronological order. It’s important to state where you worked, dates employed, and what your responsibilities and key accomplishments were. It’s also beneficial to include word on any promotions or awards you received, as well as initiatives you implemented. Quantify them, if possible, and present them in bullet point format.
5. Education and training
Your education and training appear last on your resume. Include training sessions and classes you’ve taken, as they show your desire to learn continuously.
Typos and bad grammar will be picked up quickly by hiring managers, who may dismiss your application out of hand when they see the errors. It’s critically important to make sure you’ve proofread your resume carefully. Read it yourself, step away, then read it again. Add another reviewer, like a friend or family member, to make sure you don’t miss anything important or overstate your skills or experiences.
As you’re making a resume for your retail job, consider using our Resume Templates to create a standout application. Our templates can help you prep a well-designed and written resume in only a few steps.
And if you are interested in learning about non-chronological formats to consider for your resume, check out our Resume Formats page.
