Searching for a job in retail is often approached like it’s a walk in the park. It’s just a clothing/music/shoe/jewelry store, right? Why would you need to have a professional resume, or come prepared for an interview? They’re just a bunch of uneducated paid-by-the-hour hacks, right?
Wrong.
Retail is a challenging, exciting, growth filled career. If you want to work in retail, you have to have a passion for people, excellent service, and an understanding of how to sell. Having trouble getting a prospective store to look at you? The following may help.
When you apply to a store, you need a professional, beautiful resume. Retail managers want to have competent, intelligent people on their teams. If a prospective employee comes in with a resume filled with spelling mistakes and poor grammar, that manager is probably not going to be interested in you. If you’re having difficulty creating your resume, there are resources available to you. You can find sample resumes online, and most writing programs have spell check built in. Don’t let poor spelling trip you up!
Managers will often ask why you’ve applied to their store. Take the time to learn about the company, what they sell, and what their mission statement is. A mission statement is what the purpose of the company is. For instance, Swedish retail clothing company H&M defines their mission statement as "Fashion and quality at the best price." Knowing this kind of information gives you an edge, and insight to the company’s thought process. If you demonstrate a passion for what you’re applying for and a little excitement about the prospective job, the person interviewing you will remember you. You want to stand out from the crowd, and be memorable.
Walking into a store and applying for a position puts you in an opportunity rich position. Ask for 5 minutes of the manager’s time, and talk to them about the job you’re applying for. Smile. Dress appropriately for the store you’re applying to, if it’s a denim store, wear great jeans. Illustrate by how you’re attired that you understand how the product needs to be delivered, accessorized, and sold. If you love the product and believe in it, it’ll show when you talk to that manager for those 5 minutes. Thank them for their time, leave your resume, and ask when you can expect a phone call. There’s nothing wrong with a little confidence.
So, you’ve got a great resume, you know what you’re talking about, you looked awesome and had a nice chat with the manager, and a week’s gone by. They haven’t called. Follow up on the initial 5 minute talk, and ask when would be a good time to schedule an interview. Be polite and positive, and you may find yourself gearing up for an interview.
Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.
When Stepping, Avoid Toes!
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