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Breaking into the Retail Industry

Why would I want


to work in retail?
The retail industry employs around 2.9m people in the UK
and generates over £260bn a year in sales – larger than the
combined economies of Portugal and Denmark.
By its very nature retail is a fast-moving industry as organisations try
to respond to - and predict - customer demand and future trends. But
if you think that a career in retail is limited solely to the shop floor,
think again.
From sourcing new producers to transporting goods, ordering stock
and forecasting trends, there are a multitude of roles that are critical
to the retail operation that you may never have even realised.
And these roles can also be found in a number of associated
sectors, from warehousing and distribution to finance, marketing and
design.
Here are a few examples of jobs from across the retail spectrum:
• Merchandiser - Forecasting trends and budgeting
• Store Manager - Running an outlet and meeting targets
• Visual Merchandiser - Designing product displays
• Logistics Manager - Distributing and storing products
• Market Researcher - Analysing consumer behaviour
• Buyer - Finding new products and anticipating demand
• PR & Marketing - Promotion of brands to consumers
• Design - Creating and developing new products and packaging
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There are many opportunities to move between each of these


disciplines if you feel you’d like to move your career in a different
direction.
As many departments work closely together of projects, it’s likely
that you will pick up a diverse range of skills in various business
disciplines without you even realising.
One of the other benefits of retail is the flexible working hours and
Retail Sales Assistants account for 13% of all part-time positions in
the UK.
In an age when consumers demand access to goods and services
24/7, retail workers are needed to 'man the shop' around the clock
meaning there are many opportunities to fit your working hours
around your personal and family commitments.
The retail industry has plenty of variety – not least because of the
vast array of products in the marketplace.
In both traditional retail stores and in new online markets, there
really are limitless opportunities for people to work within a sector
that interests them regardless of whether you are a petrol-head or
fashion lover.

How much can you earn in the Retail sector?


Salary by Gender Salary by Company Size
Salary by Experience Salary by Location
Salary by Job Role

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What are the common


retail career paths?
A career in retail is not just for the shopaholics among us -
although the prospect of receiving staff discounts off our
favourite brands is enough to woo many candidates.
The industry takes people from a wide range of backgrounds and all
stages of education. So whether you have just taken your GCSEs or
have recently graduated with a degree, there are openings and
career paths to suit you.
Experience is often key. If you want to work in fashion, the best way
is to learn about the industry from the ground up. If you want to
move from entertainment retail to fashion retail later on in your
career it can be done, but you will need to prove you have the
transferrable skills to deal with the switch.
For Graduates
Large retailers offer graduate trainee schemes designed to provide a
broad experience and understanding of the entire retail sector; from
head office roles to store management or distribution.
Schemes will typically last between one and three years and upon
completion, you can choose to specialise in your preferred role.

Further Reading
- How can I choose the right company?
- What are my transferrable skills?
- Should I work part-time, temporary or permanent?
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For head office roles, the next move is into a senior position, such as
Senior Buyer. From here your career will typically take the route into
management before specialising in a certain area and taking over as
departmental head.
Alternatively, if you are involved in store management, your career
path will take a slightly different route. From managing a single store
your next move will invariably be as an Area Manager with
responsibility for a number of different stores before eventually
progressing to National Manager and Director level.
For Non-Graduates
Senior roles within the retail industry are not solely reserved for
graduates. A number of the UK’s leading retail giants are starting to
recruit non-graduates into their management training schemes,
although the route to the top may take slightly longer.
A Trainee Store Manager, for example, could progress to Duty or
Line Manager before taking on the responsibility of managing their
own outlet.
Entry level positions which are not necessarily restricted to
graduates include sales assistants and customer services.

Job Searches
Assistant Buyer Assistant Manager
Buyer Department Manager
Human Resources Marketing
Merchandiser Senior Buyer
Sales Assistant Store Manager

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

Where can I find out about


retail employers?
Now that you have decided to make a career in this sector,
your next big task is to decide which employer you want to
work for. With literally thousands to choose from and each
varying in size, culture and location, you need to identify who
your ideal employer might be.
The best way to find out about a company is to have worked there
yourself. If you are still at university, target a specific organisation for
a work placement or internship. If you have already graduated, find
someone who already works there or in a similar company – some
university careers advisory services will keep in contact with ex-
graduates for this very reason.
For non-graduates without these readily available contacts, you will
need to be more proactive in your information gathering. Ask friends
and family if they know of anyone who works in your chosen field
who they can introduce you to - ask them questions about how they
started their retail career, what constructive advice and pointers they
can give and, more importantly, if they are aware of any
opportunities within their organisation.

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Stay up to date with the latest news from the Retail sector by
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Once you have identified some of the companies that you want to
target, research them. Don’t just rely on the PR-blurb that promotes
the organisation as an ‘employer of choice’.
Look at their website to see what they expect of their staff and the
opportunities available. Google them to see what is being written
about them by others outside the organisation.
And if there is a retail outlet nearby, make sure you visit the store so
you can get an idea of how the staff feel. Were they smiling and
happy to help or did they look like they really didn’t want to be there?
Attend recruitment fairs and prepare some probing questions in
advance, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn about the
organisations culture, their expectations and what it is really like to
do the job on a day-to-day basis.
There are a significant number of trade publications serving the retail
industry which will keep you informed about the latest trends,
developments and challenges facing the sector.
Professional associations will also give you some useful information.

Key Industry Associations

- British Retail Consortium


- Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT)
- Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)
- National Retail Federation

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What qualifications are


important in retail?
The qualifications that you will need will be decided by the
direction you plan to take your career. Some roles demand a
university degree as a minimal entry, whilst other people
come into the industry through an entry level position on the
shop floor.
If you are taking the university route, there are a number of degree
courses that will provide a basis upon which to launch your retail
career, notably:
• Marketing
• Business Management
• Fashion or Textiles
• Engineering
• ICT

For most roles a subject-specific degree is not important, so if you


have your sights set on working in Marketing, you don’t necessarily
need a Marketing degree to qualify. There are a few prime
exemptions, such as IT, Fashion and Food Technology.
Some fields within the industry are more competitive than others,
such as Marketing, Buying and Merchandising, where a good degree
(2:1 or above) will boost your chances of employment
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And for these highly sought-after fields, post graduate study is often
encouraged with some employers prepared to fund your course and
give you time off to study.
Although post graduate study on the whole is not necessary to
succeed within the industry, it demonstrates your eagerness to
develop your business and practical skills which - in terms of your
career - can enhance your profile and increase your earning
potential.
There are many general courses that you could look into, such as a
certificate in Introduction to Retailing or a certificate in Retail
Principles. If you have an area of interest in mind, you could look into
a Certificate in Visual Merchandising for Retail or a Target Award in
Retail Stock Control.
Careers in retail management are often more dependent up the
individual’s passion for retail, their drive, experience, ambition,
leadership ability and commercial acumen rather than academic
qualifications.
The qualification of 'experience' is not easy to get, so do what you
can to gain work placements and part time positions so your ability
to make an impact in the real world can be judged along with your
academic ability. This will provide you with an insight into your
chosen sector and could place you at an advantage if a suitable
permanent vacancy comes up.

Find Retail Courses


- UCAS
- The Open University

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What skills are retail


employers looking for?
Retail is a popular industry, so it's imperative to find out what
the in demand skills are, acquire these skills and give
yourself a competitive advantage over your fellow applicants.
Some roles will require a very specific set of skills. For instance,
Visual Merchandisers will need to have a creative flair with an eye
for three-dimensional design and the ability to translate design
concepts into tangible displays that will woo potential customers.
Buyers and Merchandisers need to be analytical, numerate and
commercially astute. Whilst Store Managers need to be good all-
rounder’s – sales people, team leaders, target driven and the ability
to juggle a number of different tasks simultaneously.
Luckily, most of the skills that are required for each position will be
learnt on the job but, you may have already acquired some of them
during your career or work placements.
Regardless of whether you enter your career via the graduate or
non-graduate route, the retail industry recognises a set of four key
competencies that anyone serious about carving out a career for
themselves in this sector will need.
• Business Focus
• Personal Effectiveness
• Relationship Management
• Critical Thinking
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These competencies include a range of typical skills that employers


are looking for in applicants, such as:
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• good standard of IT and numeracy
• effective influencing and negotiation skills
• strong customer focus
• ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• analysing and problem-solving skills
• commercial awareness
• flexibility
• strong time-management skills
• attention to detail
• demonstrable leadership and management qualities
Above all else, employers are looking for people who can use their
initiative to look for ways of improving the way things are done, are
committed to their employer and are passionate about their sector
whether it be fashion, food or cars.

Further Reading
- What are my transferrable skills?
- How can I improve my skills on my own initiative?
- Should I become a specialist or a generalist?

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What makes a
good retail CV?
When submitting your CV, it's vital to know what it is your
potential employer is looking for in the perfect candidate.

By reading the job advert you'll get a good idea of what they are
looking for. If you can go one further and get yourself a full copy of
the job spec from the HR department or your recruitment agent, then
you'll have all the information you need to tailor your CV to include
the key skills that you know they're looking for.

Find out as much as you can about the job and the company to
make sure you can match your abilities to their requirements. Look
at the company website, call the company directly or speak to
someone you know who has worked there previously.

Think about what you have to offer and ensure that your skills,
experiences and career aspirations are in sync with the employer’s
requirements and their company values. If they are a company that
believes in creativity, try to demonstrate how you have been
innovative throughout your career.

Further Reading
- How can I tailor my CV to an audience?
- What are my unique selling points?
- What are the classic CV mistakes to avoid?
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Most retail roles are reliant on knowing what customers want so it's
important that you can demonstrate that you know the theory behind
this, as well as how to put it into practice.
The theory part is relatively simple to demonstrate by listing your
certificates and qualifications. If you state that you have a BSc
(Hons) degree in Retailing, Marketing and Management then they
can immediately determine that you will have knowledge within
which retailers operate.
The key to creating a CV that really catches the eye is showing how
you're used these skills to achieve results in a professional
environment. Be specific to the job you're applying for and use
examples of projects you have worked on which made a difference.
For example, Buyers need good negotiating skills. So instead of
simply stating that you have ‘strong negotiation skills’, explain how
you successfully negotiated the best possible price with a supplier
which resulted in significant cost savings for the company.
The key to writing an interviewing-winning CV is to keep it as
relevant to the advertised role as possible. Only include information
that will support your application and always try to add value to what
you claim you can do.
Finally, consider who will be reading your application. Avoid using
technical jargon which only people working in this role will
understand because your CV may be read by a HR assistant or
recruitment consultant who isn’t conversant with retail-speak.

Free CV Templates
Buyer Sales Assistant
Store Manager Visual Merchandiser
Warehouse Manager

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What does the job interview


process consist of?
Your CV has sufficiently impressed an employer to invite you
to an interview. Now you are just a couple of steps away
from securing the job that you want. But first you need to
make a good impression at the interview.
In general, large retailers will conduct interviews via a series of
assessment tests which can range from a couple of hours to an
entire day where you will be surrounded by other candidates who
are applying for the same post.
The assessments will be held at the company’s head office, one of
their retail stores or in a dedicated training centre where you will take
part in a programme of tasks.
These will be designed to test your skills and abilities that are
required for the job role, such as problem-solving, communication or
analytical skills.
This may include group exercises, interviews, presentations,
personality tests and case-studies.

Take part in a Virtual Job Interview to find out if your


answers are what Retail employers want to hear.

Click here when you’re ready to begin.


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Be prepared for the interviewer to test you on the things you claim
you can do on your CV. If you're applying for a store management
position, your interviewer is likely to present a hypothetical situation
or ask you to describe a time when you have used your problem
solving skills - one of the key skills required for this role.
Before the interview, think of a time when you have encountered a
difficult situation, the steps you took to resolve it, the eventual
outcome and the lessons you learnt from the experience.
Anticipate the 'strengths and weaknesses' questions that you will
inevitably be asked, and brush up on your industry and company
knowledge because you will be expected to understand the sector in
which you are hoping to work and to have done your homework on
the company.
Also consider where you see yourself in five years time: Store
Manager? Senior Merchandiser? Head of Buying? Retail employers
want to see what motivates you and what your ambitions are.
Interviews are a two-way street where you need to determine if the
company is right for you in the same way that they want to find out if
you are right for them.
So you need to ask your own questions about the organisation, the
job itself, training opportunities - and then you can decide if the
employer is positioned to meet your expectations

Further Reading
- How do I make a good first impression?
- What should I wear to my job interview?
- How can I calm my job interview nerves?

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

What career goals should


I set myself?
Once you have got your foot in a retailer's door and started
out on your career, what opportunities are there for you to
move up the career ladder and how do you know if you have
made the right career choice?
The positive news is that opportunities for career advancement
within retail are very good – all you have to do is identify the path
that you want to follow then plot a course.
Most large retailers will have good training development
programmes at both store and head office level that will provide you
with what you need to take your career to the next level, such as
training plans and skills workshops.
Whether you entered the retail industry via the graduate or non-
graduate route will largely determine the length of time it will take for
you to realise your career ambitions.
A non-graduate working at a store will typically start out as a Sales
Assistant and work their way up to management positions, whereas
a degree holder on a graduate programme will be propelled into a
management role within 2-3 years.

Monster’s Career Snapshots show you the skills you


need in order to take your career to the next level:
Buyer Cashier
Merchandiser Retail Salesperson
Store Manager
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One of the great features of the retail industry is the freedom to


choose from a range of different roles across a number of sectors -
let’s be honest, you never really know what its like to work in a
particular role until you have experience of doing the actual job itself.
So if you feel that the role you are in is not quite right for you, there
are opportunities to switch over to a new position in a different
department such as distribution, head office or one of the company’s
local stores.
Or you could move across different Head Office disciplines like
marketing, IT, Merchandising or Finance.

What Next?

If you’re still looking for advice on finding the right job, creating a
great CV or tips on job interview, career-advice.monster.co.uk
contains everything you ever wanted to know, and more!

If you’re ready to apply for jobs, upload you CV to Monster and


then take a look through the latest Retail roles.

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

Retail Glossary
Anchor store - one of the larger stores in a shopping centre,
usually a department store or a major retail chain, that
attracts more footfall and benefits smaller retailers within the
outlet

Brand - used to distinguish one product from its competitors.


It can apply to a single product, an entire product line, or
even a company.

Customer - one who purchases or receives a product or


service from a business or merchant. ‘The customer is
always right’ is a phrase often used in the world of retailing.

Drop shipping - a supply chain management technique in


which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead
transfers customer orders and shipment details to either the
manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods
directly to the customer.

Exit interview - An exit interview is an interview conducted by


an employer of a departing employee. They are generally
conducted by a relatively neutral party, such as a human
resources staff member,
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Fair trade – an organized social movement and market-


based approach that aims to help producers in developing
countries and promote sustainability.

Goods - t hat which is produced, then traded, bought or sold,


then finally consumed.

Homebase - a British home improvement store and garden


centre, formerly owned by Sainsbury’s with over 300 stores
in the UK.

Inventory - a list for goods and materials, or those goods and


materials themselves, held available in stock by a business.

John Lewis Partnership - a major UK retailer who operate


John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets and
direct services company Greenbee.

Kiosk - any small structure that stands alone, usually for the
purpose of supplying a product or service.

Layaway - also referred to as lay-by, is a way to purchase an


item without paying the entire cost at once.

Mark-up is the difference between the cost of a good or


service and its selling price. A mark-up is added on to the
total cost incurred by the producer of a good or service in
order to create a profit.

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

Next - Next plc is a British clothes retailer, with its head office
in Enderby, Leicestershire. It is one of the United Kingdom's
largest clothing retailers.

Organising - the act of rearranging elements following one or


more rules. This forms a key part of a Store Manager’s role
where they need to maximise layout to increase sales.
POS- standing for Point of Sale, this generally refers to a
checkout counter in a shop, or the location where
a transaction occurs and a final opportunity to offer additional
products to consumers.

QVC – a multinational corporation, specialising in televised


home shopping. The Shopping Channel broadcasts live 17
hours a day for 364 days a year.

Retail Week - the UK’s leading news magazine for the retail
industry, covering food, fashion, property, technology and
stores.

SKU - Stock Keeping Unit is a unique identifier for each


distinct product and service that can be ordered from a
supplier.

Transaction - transaction is an event or condition under the


contract between a buyer and a seller to exchange an asset
for payment
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Uniform - a set of standard clothing worn by members of an


organisation while participating in that organisation's activity.

Vendor - any individual or organisation who promotes or


exchanges goods or services for money

Warranty – or guarantee, is a written assurance that a


product or service will be provided or will meet certain
specifications.

Zavvi - an entertainment retail chain that launched in the UK


after a buy-out of Virgin Megastores in September 2007
before falling into administration in December 2008.

Think you know retail?


When going for a job interview it really pays to know
about the issues affecting the industry the company
operates in.

We’ve devised a short quiz to help you judge how much


you know about the retail sector.

Take the quiz now!

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Breaking into the Retail Industry

They say that the grass isn’t greener on the other side, but
often it is. Our series of eBooks brings together expert advice
to help you secure the job you want and build a successful
career.

For more career tools, visit career-advice.monster.co.uk.

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