Retail Sales Associate Job Description

With most retail stores closing down, retail sales associates are finding themselves in the unenviable position of looking for alternative employment. In the present market, pursuing a career as a retail sales associate, doesn't seem like a feasible option. However, the slump in the retail market will not continue indefinitely. Once the US economy comes out of recession, the retail industry will gather momentum and job opportunities for retail sales associate will definitely improve.

Retail Sales Associate Job Description

Retail sales associates, employed by small specialty stores and large departmental stores, are expected to provide courteous and quality service to the customers. A retail sales associate should be able to connect well with people. Specific education, as such, is not required in order to perform this job. However, periodic training may be provided in order to help the associate excel at work.

A sales associate is expected to generate sales by providing outstanding customer service. Every customer needs to feel welcome to shop at the store. Greeting the customer, attending to his needs and building a loyal customer base are some of the duties of a retail sales associate. The sales associate is expected to be aware of any promotional offers and encourage the customer to avail discounts on the products promoted by the store. The associate is also expected to be aware of the merchandise available in the shop and arrange for stuff not available on the floor of the store. The exact nature of the job would depend on the kind of store that employs the retail sales associate. For instance, a sales associate working in the cosmetics department of a retail store would be expected to assist the buyer by providing tips on the kind of cosmetics that would be most suitable. An associate who works in a store selling women's clothing should have a flair for picking out clothes besides being aware of changing trends and fashion. A person working as a retail sales associate in a car dealership should be comfortable with cars and should provide the necessary technical details about the working of the car, to interested customers. In addition to assisting customers and generating sales, the job description of retail sales associate includes making out sales checks; receiving cash, checks, debit and credit card payments; bagging purchases and giving receipts. They may be required to open and close cash registers and may be held responsible for the contents of their register.

Advancements and Career Prospects

Advancements in this line of work depend on the ability of the sales associate to market products. A good sales associate can become a retail store manager if employed in a large retail store. The larger the store, the better the prospects for advancement. Some retail stores hire college graduates as management trainees. Although a college degree is not mandatory, it does open up a whole new world of opportunities.

The demand for retail sales associates is expected to increase by 12 percent in the next decade. This is because retail associates are needed to service the growing population. Since the employee turnover is very high in case of the retail industry, one can safely assume that as long as people decide to shop, the demand for retail sales associates will continue to be on the rise.