Retail Associate
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Retail Associate hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
HOW TO HIRE A Retail Associate
What does a Retail Associate do?
A Retail Associate is the first contact point for a customer in a retail store. They are tasked with helping customers make buying decisions and will process the transaction. Retail Associates will also carry out visual merchandising tasks and inventory management and assist in the day-to-day running of the store.
Day to day tasks of a Retail Associate
- Assist with picking and packing online orders as required
- Customer engagement & service
- Opening and closing store
- Recommending products and/or services
- Cash handling
- Cleaning of the store
- Stock room/stock take duties
Retail Associate definition
A Retail Associate helps customers find products in a store and recommend appropriate products for customer’s needs. Their duties include ensuring the store is appropriately stocked, assisting customers as needed and performing transactions like sales and returns. They will also maintain the shop floor and perform administrative tasks as requested. These are purely entry-level positions.
HIRING PROCESS
Retail Associate Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Retail Associate
A retail associate must be customer-focused and willing to learn. Because each customer is different, a retail associate needs to have exceptional verbal communication skills and listening skills.
- Attention to Detail
- Active Listening
- Communication
Pro Tip
For entry-level roles, you’re likely to receive a larger number of applications than you would for a senior position. Ensure you provide details about what it’s like to work for your company, and what your company values are so applicants know whether your company is the right fit for them.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a Retail Associate job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your Retail Associate job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a Retail Associate must empathize with customer’s concerns and problems, but it would be nice to have sale experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Retail Associate
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Question 1
Attention to Detail
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Find the two identical codes and select the corresponding letter below.
Question 2
Active Listening
Question Type: Audio
What two follow up questions could you ask Barbara to help find what the customer is looking for?
Question 3
Communication
Question Type: Video
What is your idea of quality customer service? Define in a 1 minute video.
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Retail Associate
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a Retail Associate?
The US average for a Retail Associate is $22,535 according to Comparably.com while the reported average salary on Talent.com amounts to $27,300. Entry level positions start at $23,400 per year while most experienced workers make up to $39,021 per year.
Retail Associate Salary United States
Retail Associate salaries in the United States range from $24,300 – $39,021 (USD). Retail Associate salaries in the U.S vary a lot depending on the industry, location and any commission incentives.
Source: Talent.com
Retail Associate Salary United Kingdom
Retail Associate salaries in the United Kingdom range from £13,000 – £26,000 (GBP). Retail Associate salaries in the UK vary a lot depending on the industry, location and any commission incentives.
Source: Glassdoor
Retail Associate Salary Australia
Retail Associate salaries in Australia range from $46,000 – $65,000 (AUD). Retail Associate salaries in Australia vary a lot depending on the industry, location and any commission incentives.
Source: Talent.com
