The Jobdescriptionandresumeexamples, JDRE, team conducts a research to reveal the top employers’ requirements for the retail sales associate role in the United States.
This includes the major skills, abilities, knowledge, personality/physical attribute, minimum education, and experience that most employers want applicants for the retail sales associate position to meet to be hired.
The research involves a study of job postings on the major job boards by 135 U.S. companies for the retail sales associate position across a wide range of retail stores, including grocery, luxury goods, jewelry, fashion, pharmacy, shoes, hospitality, furniture, gold exchange, and hardware stores.
Research Data and Statistics
The findings from the study give the following data and statistics:
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Skills Requirements:
The number and percentage of sampled employers requiring specific skills in their job postings are shown below:
| SKILLS | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| Communication (written and oral) | 92 | 68.15 |
| Customer service | 76 | 56.30 |
| Interpersonal | 50 | 37.04 |
| Organizational | 40 | 29.63 |
| Problem solving | 34 | 25.19 |
| Multi-tasking | 34 | 25.19 |
| Basic computer | 25 | 18.52 |
| Basic math | 20 | 14.81 |
| Attention to detail | 19 | 14.07 |
| Sales | 18 | 13.33 |
| Prioritizing | 15 | 11.11 |
| Bi-lingual/Multilingual | 9 | 6.67 |
| Listening | 6 | 4.44 |
| Leadership | 5 | 3.70 |
| Negotiation | 4 | 2.96 |
| Time management | 4 | 2.96 |
| Manage, guide or supervise junior staff | 2 | 1.48 |
| Social Media | 2 | 1.48 |
| Proficient with peripherals, copier, fax, telephone and calculator | 1 | 0.74 |
| Persuasion | 1 | 0.74 |
| Phone etiquette | 1 | 0.74 |
| Planning skills | 1 | 0.74 |
| Phone etiquette | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Abilities Requirements
| ABILITIES | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| Work a flexible schedule | 80 | 59.26 |
| Working in a team | 77 | 57.04 |
| Accurately handle cash/Use Computerized cash register or point-of-sales system, calculator | 70 | 51.85 |
| Lift and/or move up to 15-50 pounds | 47 | 34.81 |
| Work in a fast-paced environment | 45 | 33.33 |
| Constantly stand, crawl, walk, squat, bend, kneel, twist, climb a ladder, reach, stoop | 39 | 28.89 |
| Maintain clean and safe sales floor or shop environment | 37 | 27.41 |
| Interaction with people in a professional manner | 36 | 26.67 |
| Provide information about products, e.g. advantages, benefits, and prices | 35 | 25.93 |
| Build rapport or relationship with customers | 24 | 17.78 |
| Follow specific instructions and procedures | 14 | 10.37 |
| Work independently | 11 | 8.15 |
| Willing to learn all facets of retail shop operation | 11 | 8.15 |
| Visual merchandising/Place and arrange items on all shelves and racks daily | 11 | 8.15 |
| Safely use office equipment and supplies, e.g. copy/printing machines, telephone, and photographic and video equipment | 8 | 5.93 |
| Utilize Microsoft Office products (i.e. Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). | 8 | 5.93 |
| Utilize retail tools and technological devices to foster sales | 7 | 5.19 |
| Easily adapt to organizational and environmental changes | 7 | 5.19 |
| Work in inclement weather conditions including but not limited to heat, cold, rain, dust, and noise. | 4 | 2.96 |
| Learn new products | 4 | 2.96 |
| Meet established sales, retention and customer experience targets. | 3 | 2.22 |
| Read, write | 3 | 2.22 |
| Identify trends through shopping the competition and other trend resources | 3 | 2.22 |
| Perform repetitive tasks with accuracy | 2 | 1.48 |
| Work in all areas of the shop | 2 | 1.48 |
| Obtain sales related licensure or registration | 1 | 0.74 |
| Work under pressure | 1 | 0.74 |
| Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. | 1 | 0.74 |
| Utilize all company training tools to maximize results | 1 | 0.74 |
| Report HR issues to manager or supervisor | 1 | 0.74 |
| Engage in upselling techniques | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Knowledge Requirements
| KNOWLEDGE | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| Product knowledge | 59 | 43.70 |
| Basic knowledge of sales principle and techniques | 9 | 6.67 |
| Customer service standards and procedures | 4 | 2.96 |
| Inventory procedures | 3 | 2.22 |
| Knowledge of store layout and location of products | 3 | 2.22 |
| Basic Retail principles such as sales, stock and service delivery in stores | 2 | 1.48 |
| Role of merchandising in stores to drive results | 2 | 1.48 |
| Knowledge of Mobile Devices | 2 | 1.48 |
| Working knowledge of customer and market dynamics and requirements | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Personality/Physical Attribute Requirements
| PERSONALITY/PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| Positive attitude | 37 | 27.41 |
| Friendly/Helpful /Caring | 33 | 24.44 |
| Self- motivated | 28 | 20.74 |
| Energetic | 24 | 17.78 |
| Ambition and passion for achieving goals or Result-oriented | 23 | 17.04 |
| Outgoing/Confident | 15 | 11.11 |
| Honest/Integrity | 9 | 6.67 |
| Creative | 6 | 4.44 |
| 18 years or older | 6 | 4.44 |
| 16 years or older | 5 | 3.70 |
| Work ethic | 4 | 2.96 |
| Passion for brand | 4 | 2.96 |
| Drive to learn and develop | 2 | 1.48 |
| Fair | 1 | 0.74 |
| Adaptable personality | 1 | 0.74 |
| Professional demeanor and appearance | 1 | 0.74 |
| Competitive spirit | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Minimum Education Requirements
| MINIMUM EDUCATION | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| High school diploma or GED | 42 | 31.11 |
| BS degree | 3 | 2.22 |
| Certification | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Retail Sales Associate Experience Requirements
| EXPERIENCE | NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS | PERCENTAGE % |
| Retail sales experience | 77 | 57.04 |
| Customer service experience | 27 | 20.00 |
| store operations experience | 1 | 0.74 |
| Cashier | 1 | 0.74 |
| Management | 1 | 0.74 |
Employers’ Top Requirements for Retail Sales Associates
Here are the top requirements that employers want job seekers to meet to be employed for the retail sales associate job, according to our research finding:
| REQUIREMENT | PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYERS |
| Communication skill (written and oral) | 68.15 |
| Customer service skill | 56.30 |
| Interpersonal skill | 37.04 |
| Organizational skill | 29.63 |
| Problem solving skill | 25.19 |
| Multi-tasking skill | 25.19 |
| Basic computer skill | 18.52 |
| Basic math skill | 14.81 |
| Attention to detail skill | 14.07 |
| Sales skill | 13.33 |
| Prioritizing skill | 11.11 |
| Ability to work a flexible schedule | 59.26 |
| Ability to work in a team | 57.04 |
| Ability to accurately handle cash | 51.85 |
| Ability to lift and/or move up to 15-50 pounds | 34.81 |
| Ability to work in a fast-paced environment | 33.33 |
| Ability to constantly stand, crawl, walk, squat, bend, kneel, twist, climb a ladder, reach, stoop | 28.89 |
| Ability to maintain clean and safe sales floor or shop environment | 27.41 |
| Ability to interaction with people in a professional manner | 26.67 |
| Ability to provide information about products, e.g. advantages, benefits, and prices | 25.93 |
| Ability to build rapport or relationship with customers | 17.78 |
| Ability to follow specific instructions and procedures | 10.37 |
| Product knowledge | 43.70 |
| Positive attitude | 27.41 |
| Friendly/Helpful /Caring | 24.44 |
| Self- motivated | 20.74 |
| Energetic | 17.78 |
| Ambition and passion for achieving goals or Result-oriented | 17.04 |
| Outgoing/Confident | 11.11 |
| High school diploma or GED | 31.11 |
| Retail sales experience | 57.04 |
| Customer service experience | 20.00 |
- Communication Skill
About 68% of employers sampled require applicants for retail sales associate role to have strong communication skill.
Sales associates need to be able to effectively communicate the features and benefits of their products to potential customers.
- Customer Service Skill
56% of employers require applicants to have customer service skill to be hired for the retail sales associate job.
Provision of top-notch customer service is important to retail stores. Sales associates need to be able to give their customers the best service possible to keep their patronage for their company.
- Interpersonal Skill
37% of employers require individuals seeking the retail sales associate job to have good interpersonal skill.
Sales associates mostly work with people of diverse backgrounds and so need to be able to effectively interact and relate with them and close deals.
- Organizational Skill
About 30% of employers want the sales associates they are hiring to have a good organizational skill.
Retail sales associates are expected to be able to keep the sales floor clean and organized.
- Problem Solving Skill
25% of retail stores require their sales associates to have good problem solving skill.
The job of the sales associate requires them to help customers resolve issues that may occur.
- Multi-tasking Skill
Also, 25% of employers require candidates for the retail sales associate position to have multi-tasking skill.
The sales associate needs to be able to perform multiple functions simultaneously to be effective in their job.
- Basic Computer Skill
About 19% of employers sampled say they want their sales associates to have basic computer skill.
The role of a retail sales associate involves working on computers, including imputing data into computers and using Microsoft Office package.
- Basic Math Skill
About 15% of employers require candidates for retail sales associate position to have basic math skill.
Math skill is necessary for sales associates to be able to effectively handle cash, including calculating change.
- Attention to Detail Skill
14% of retail stores require individuals seeking the role of sales associate to have attention to detail skill.
Sales associates need to be detailed oriented to be effective in their job, including arranging items on shelves.
- Sales Skill
13% of sampled employers require candidates to have sales skills to get the retail sales associate job.
A sales associate needs some sales skills to be successful in achieving sales target.
- Prioritizing Skill
11% of retail stores sampled require having prioritizing skill to be hired for the sales associate position.
Sales associates need to be able to prioritize their duties so they can get more important things done and achieve better result.
5 Top Retail Sales Associate Skills
What Does a Retail Sales Associate Do?
A retail sales associate is responsible for helping a store meet and exceed its sales goals and ensure customers continue to patronize their store.
See detailed retail sales associate job description.
Conclusion
The above research has revealed the important requirements, including skills, abilities, knowledge, personality/physical attributes, and experience that employers typically want candidates for the retail sales associate position to meet to be hired.
The data and statistics that have been generated are useful to both employers and job seekers.
Employers looking to hire for the retail sales associate role can apply the above data and statistics in preparing the job requirements for candidates to meet to be hired.
Also, individuals seeking to work as a sales associate can learn the common requirements to be hired for the position and improve themselves on them.
They can also apply these requirements in making their resumes or CVs.