Retail Salespersons
Also called Sales Associate, Sales Clerk, Sales Consultant, or Sales Person
What Retail Salespersons do
Retail Salespersons sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
Who tends to enjoy it
Leading
People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
What you'd actually do
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Persuasion
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Negotiation
What you'll need to know
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
Related careers
Transportation and Material Moving
Stockers and Order Fillers
Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.
Little to some preparation
Sales and Related
Cashiers
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
Little to some preparation
Sales and Related
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
Considerable preparation
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 41-2031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.