Retail Associate: Responsibilities, Skills, and How to Get Started

Key takeaways

• Retail associates work on-site at store locations, providing customer service and performing other operational duties.

• This entry-level role can be an excellent opportunity to develop essential customer service skills that can be applied to career paths within or beyond the retail industry.

• After gaining experience as a retail associate, you can explore careers in store management, human resources, sales, and more.

Learn what a retail associate is, what they do, and the key skills you'll need to succeed in this role. Afterward, learn how to create positive interactions with customers and de-escalate conflict with the CVS Health Retail Customer Service Professional Certificate.

What is a retail associate?

A retail associate helps customers while they shop at a retail store. They're often responsible for answering questions about products and assisting with daily store operations, such as checking out customers, restocking items, maintaining the store's cleanliness, and performing other essential duties. In this entry-level role, you will serve as a representative of the retail brand and play a crucial role in the store’s overall success.

The skills you gain as a retail associate, such as customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, and product knowledge, are transferable to many industries and can serve as a foundation for various career paths, including those in sales, human resources, management, and marketing.

Retail associate vs. sales associate

Retail associate and sales associate can be used interchangeably, depending on the company. However, there are some key differences. While a retail associate handles a broader range of tasks, such as stocking, organizing, and cashiering, a sales associate typically focuses more on selling products and closing deals. Sales associates may have a quota to meet.

Where these two roles work also tends to differ. A retail associate works on-site at different retail stores, whereas a sales associate may work in specialized or high-end retail, car dealerships, or other sales-focused environments.

What does a retail associate do?

As a retail sales associate, your day-to-day job duties and responsibilities might include:

• Greeting customers

• Answering customer questions related to merchandise and store policies

• Recommending products or services based on customer needs

• Processing customer payments and refunds 

• Cleaning the store or keeping it tidy

• Restocking merchandise and taking inventory

Is a cashier a retail associate?

A cashier is not the same as a retail associate. A retail associate handles multiple responsibilities, including checking out customers and managing cash flow. In contrast, a cashier would primarily operate the cash register, process coupons, and oversee exchanges or returns, among other payment-related duties.

Retail associate requirements

Most retail sales positions require no formal education. Some employers prefer candidates with at least a high school diploma or equivalent, particularly for those selling more expensive items. Most companies offer on-the-job training for new associates. During these sessions, you’ll typically learn about customer service, store policies and procedures, and how to process payments.

While a college degree isn’t usually required, having one could help you advance to a supervisory position, such as a store manager.

Retail associate skills

To be a successful retail associate, it's best to develop the following skills:

• Good customer service

• Product knowledge 

• Interpersonal skills, including verbal communication, empathy, and the ability to work as a team

• Basic computer skills

• Time management

• Ability to multitask

How much do retail associates make?

The median hourly pay for retail sales workers in the United States is $16.30 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. As a retail associate, you'll usually be paid hourly and may also be eligible for commissions. Your wage can also vary based on the company you're working for, how much experience you have, and where you live.

Many retail jobs require night and weekend work, and may be part-time or full-time, offering flexibility to earn money while working toward a degree or managing other life commitments.

How to become a retail associate

As long as there are stores selling products, companies need retail associates to assist customers and facilitate transactions. Consider which type of retail you'd like to work in as you research potential roles and follow the steps below.

Do your research.

Research stores you might be interested in working for, particularly those located nearby. Consider whether you'd do well in a bookstore, clothing store, shoe store, general goods store, computer store, beauty store, or some other kind of retail store. There are many different options.

Once you've identified the stores you'd like to work at, learn what you can about their products. This will help you demonstrate that you’re interested and engaged with potential employers. 

Reach out. 

Apply online via the company's website or in person by filling out a paper application. When it comes to working in retail, it may also be beneficial to stop by a retail location, drop off a resume, and meet the manager to express your interest. Being proactive can be useful in this type of role.

Prepare your resume. 

Speaking of the resume you may drop off, be sure to highlight any previous work experience and relevant skills. If this is your first job, focus on school or extracurricular accomplishments. Try to highlight experiences that demonstrate leadership, time management, problem-solving, and math skills.

Read more: 16 Resume Tips for Your Job Search

Practice common interview questions. 

It’s normal to feel a bit nervous when interviewing for a job. Build confidence by rehearsing some answers to common questions. Retail hiring managers might ask:

• Why are you interested in working at this store?

• What do you think is required to be successful in sales?

• How would you respond to a rude or angry customer?

• What does outstanding customer service look like to you?

• Tell me about a time when you’ve worked as part of a team.

• What hours are you available?

Follow up. 

If you don't hear back about your application, follow up by email or phone one to two weeks after you apply. Express your interest in the role and ask about any next steps you can take. 

Retail associate career advancement

After you've gained experience as a retail associate, which may include taking on additional responsibility at your retail store, you can consider the following careers:

• Store management: Assistant manager, store manager, and eventually district manager

• Specialized retail: Visual merchandiser, buyer, or inventory specialist

• Customer service: Customer service representative or call center manager

• Human resources: HR coordinator or training specialist

• Sales: Sales representative and eventually account manager

• Operations: Operations coordinator or logistics specialist

• Loss prevention: Security specialist and eventually loss prevention manager

• Warehouse management: Inventory manager and eventually warehouse supervisor

• Hospitality: Front desk receptionist and eventually hotel manager

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