RECRUITMENT GUIDE
Retail Manager
The role of a retail manager is to oversee and monitor all of the operations of a retail store. They are responsible for managing the employees, stock levels, store profitability, and all of the day to day activities.
A retail manager is often in charge of interviewing, hiring, and training new staff, and conducting performance reviews for current employees. They need to promote the products that are sold, and keep an eye on stock that is running low, reorder popular stock and place products in strategic positions around the store to increase sales.
Their role is ultimately to ensure that everything is running smoothly and as effectively as possible, that all stakeholders are happy and have a positive experience with the company, and that sales and profit are being made consistently, and targets are being met.
Day-to-day tasks of this role:
- Hire, interview and train employees.
- Handle customer complaints and issues.
- Perform staff reviews.
- Manage stock levels.
- Create staff rostering.
Recruitment Process
UNDERSTAND THE ROLE
Skills profile for a Retail Manager
In most organisations, there are no tertiary qualifications necessary in order to become a retail manager. Relevant retail and industry experience is the most valued prerequisite for this role. There are some common skills required for this position.
An important skill for a retail manager to have is having retail sales experience. They need to be confident with working towards daily, weekly, and monthly key performance indicators, and be motivated by reaching and exceeding targets. They must also understand sales cues from customers, and be confident in recommending supplementary items to help with customers and sales.
A retail manager must also be a good team leader. They must motivate and empower the team, including staff, and suppliers, to perform at their best at all times, and create a positive working environment in which staff will be motivated to thrive. They must also be comfortable with performance management, giving staff both positive and negative feedback, and engaging in conflict resolution.
A retail manager must also have strong customer service skills. They must always prioritise customer experience within the store, and greet all customers with a positive and welcoming demeanour. They must also always provide helpful service to customers to ensure a positive store experience, and face complaints with poise, and a calm attitude.
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position.
SOURCE APPLICANTS
Retail Manager Job Description
Summary:
- Why is this role being filled?
- How does this role fit into the organization and the team?
- What makes your company unique?
- What would it be like to work for you?
Requirements:
- What technical skills are needed for this role?
- Which soft skills are applicable?
- What are the nice-to-have experiences of your ideal candidate?
- Include availability preferences in this section
Responsibilities:
- What are the key deliverables for this role?
- What does the day-to-day of this role look like?
Benefits:
- Compensation & bonuses
- Employee benefits & perks
- Ongoing training benefits
PRO TIP #1
Ensure to include in the job description what it is like to work for your company, what your company values and what your expectations are for the successful candidate. This will ensure you identify the right person for your company.
PRO TIP #2
Be sure to include precise information about the kinds of duties that are expected in this role. It is particularly important to note if the work required is full or part time, if the candidate needs to have proficiency with certain software, online programs, or will be required to take any management/leadership seminars or training days.
Sample skills assessment
Question 1
Customer Service
Question Type: Document
Tell us about a time where you diffused a situation with an angry customer. What was the situation and how did you manage it? Please do so in the document below.
Question 2
Team Leader
Question Type: Text
Why do you think store culture is important for customers? How do you ensure there is a positive culture in the stores you manage?
Question 3
Retail Sales
Question Type: Video
Tell us about a time where you missed your target. What did you learn from this?
INTERVIEW
Interview guide for a Retail Manager
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The PDF interview guide contains structured questions against each of the competencies for this role.
This interview guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the Vervoe skills assessment. Where a candidate has scored Low – Medium on a skill, focus on asking more questions from that skill to gain deeper insight into their level of competency.
PDF INTERVIEW GUIDE
Get your copy of the interview guide to complete the hiring process. Includes questions against each of the skill competencies for the role.
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