Retail Sales Associate
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this Retail Sales Associate hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
HOW TO HIRE A Retail Sales Associate
What does a Retail Sales Associate do?
A Retail Sales 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 and also upsell the customer as required. Retail Sales Associates will also carry out visual merchandising tasks and inventory management.
Day to day tasks of a Retail Sales Associate
- Assist with picking and packing online orders as required
- Meet & exceed daily sales targets
- Customer engagement & service
- Opening and closing store
- Cash handling
- Cleaning of the store
- Secure merchandise by following all security systems' protocol
- Stockroom duties
Retail Sales Associate definition
A Retail Sales Associate helps customers find merchandise and purchase products in a physical store. 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 ad hoc requests as needed.
HIRING PROCESS
Retail Sales Associate Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a Retail Sales Associate
A retail sales associate must be customer-focused and empathetic. Because each customer is different, a retail sales associate needs to have skills in resilience and learning agility. They must also have exceptional verbal communication skills.
- Attention to Detail
- Sales
- Active Listening
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 Sales 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 Sales 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 Sales Associate must empathize with customer’s concerns and problems, but it would be nice to have wider sales experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a Retail Sales Associate
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Question 1
Sales
Question Type: Video
Now imagine you have found a product that is perfect for Barabra’s gift but it is out of the price range. Record a video selling this to Barbara.
Question 2
Attention to detail
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Refer to the following information: Acquisition Global’s account number is 11456789 – their status is active and authorisation code is TNAv8xUOr. For Landec Limited, their account number is 12178957, they are inactive and their authorization code is z2aRt8dlZ. Then there is Helios Incorporated who are active with an authorization code of Ws6R2tRRC. Which of the following is Acquisition Global’s account number?
Question 3
Active Listening
Question Type: Audio
What two follow up questions could you ask Barabara to help find what the customer is looking for?
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a Retail Sales 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 Sales Associate?
The US average for a Retail Sales Associate is $44,559 according to Indeed.com while the reported average salary on Salary.com amounts to $31,600. Commission and bonuses are payable depending on experience and what targets are met.
Retail Sales Associate Salary United States
Retail Sales Associate salaries in the United States range from $24,913 – $39,624 (USD). Retail Sales Associate salaries in the U.S vary a lot depending on the industry and the commission structure.
Source: Salary.com
Retail Sales Associate Salary United Kingdom
Retail Sales Associate salaries in the United Kingdom range from £12,000 – £51,000 (GBP). Retail Sales Associate salaries in the UK vary a lot depending on the industry and the commission structure.
Source: Glassdoor
Retail Sales Associate Salary Australia
Retail Sales Associate salaries in Australia range from $39,000 – $72,000 (AUD). Retail Sales Associate salaries in Australia vary a lot depending on the industry and the commission structure.
Source: Payscale
