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Want a stronger resume? Use our extensive library of professional resume examples as practical starting guides. You’ll also find ready-made content with our helpful Resume Builder – simple click, customize, and download.

Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.

How to Format a Retail Associate Resume

An experienced retail associate with over five years of experience can use a hybrid or chronological format to write resumes. These two formats allow you to describe a timeline of your previous sales experience and subsequent growth of retail skills such as customer service, styling advice and sales floor assistance, as seen below with Candidate A.

However, if you have little to no experience, you should consider the functional format. Candidate B is a current student with only one year of experience at the campus bookstore. However, they are a prolific and loyal shopper with extensive product knowledge of select clothing stores. They can use the functional resume to highlight this independently earned knowledge and customer service skills.

Chronological Resume

Candidate A

  • 12 years of experience
  • 4 years at this job
  • BA Journalism

Work History

Retail Associate, Bloomingstrum
October 2019 – now, New York, NY

  • Holiday hire quickly became an integral part of the floor sales team by successfully convincing 48% of customers to purchase an item.
  • Regularly convinced an average of two to four customers to sign up for the store’s loyalty credit card, securing repeat customers and future business.
  • Occasionally provided fitting room support by offering customers fit suggestions, alteration services and alternate sizes.

Functional Resume

Candidate B

  • 1 year of experience
  • 1 year at this job
  • HS High School Diploma

Professional Skills

Customer Service

  • Cheerfully greet every customer within two minutes of entering the store.
  • Approach customers and offer assistance within five minutes of entering the store.
  • Offer to start a fitting room or give customers a shopping bag if they hold two or more products in their hands.

Product Knowledge

  • Review new products weekly to provide up-to-date fit and product knowledge.
  • Sample seasonal items upon arrival to offer customers personalized reviews.

Retail Associate Resume FAQ.

How do I tailor a resume to a retail sales associate position?

Most store managers look for flexible schedules, strong customer service skills and collaborative natures in their job applicants. You can tailor your retail associate resume by focusing on skills and accomplishments that match those attributes. We studied job postings to pull together a list of highly requested resume skills to help you craft your resume.

What is a good summary for a sales associate's resume?

A strong resume summary will highlight one impressive sale or retail accomplishment, such as processing the highest number of store credit card applications or earning regular positive online reviews.

We wrote two sample resume summaries of an experienced fitting room attendant. The good example uses evidence-based accomplishments to appeal to hiring managers and demonstrate the writer’s training. The poor model fails to show any retail skills or achievements.

Good sales summary statement: Experienced retail associate with over four years at a fast-paced flagship store. Oversaw a fitting room with 14 booths and was responsible for styling customers, processing go-backs and clearing rooms for new customers in under 10 minutes. During peak hours, was able to assist 35 customers an hour.

Poor sales association resume summary: Experienced retail associate looking for a new position. Available to start in three weeks. Eager to develop cashier skills.