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Conduct a job search. Decode the job description. Prepare your resume. Highlight retail friendly skills. Write a cover letter.
If you know the company you would like to work for, you can go to the "Careers" section of the company's website to apply for a position. If you are unsure of where you would like to work, you should go to a job search engine such as Monster, Career Builder, Indeed, or Simply Hired. You should be as specific as possible in your job search. This will make your search be more efficient. Specify the job title or job description by putting quotation marks around the keywords. For example, you could enter "retail," "sales," or "cashier" in the search box. You can often specify your location by state, city, or by distance from a certain zip code. If you are applying to local or independent store, you may have to go to the store to complete an application. The job description will tell you what kind of person the company is looking for and if you are a good fit. Focus on the qualifications section which includes required and preferred skills. You should apply if you meet the required qualifications. You can still get the position if you do not have all of the preferred qualifications/skills. The first three qualifications listed are usually the most important. If the job description is looking for someone that is a team player, any experience you have working on a group project or belonging to a club or sports team would be a match for the skill they are looking for. If the job description is looking for someone who is friendly and confident, you should demonstrate this during your interview. This includes smiling, making eye contact, giving a firm handshake, and generally being pleasant through any communication you have with the company. Focus on the skills you have gained through your previous experiences and not necessarily your actual job titles or positions. Many skills are transferable. Your resume should include your contact information, employment history, education, and any relevant skills. Make sure that your resume is tailored to the job you are applying for.If you are applying to be a cashier, your resume may highlight your ability to communicate with people and any experience you have with handling money. Make sure your resume is easy to follow and error free. Include keywords and skills from the job description in your resume. If the job description uses the phrase "team player," you should use a phrase like "team player," "worked on a team," or "contributed to a team" in your resume. Three skills that are important for retail jobs are leadership, being responsible, and good people skills. Even if you have never had a retail job before, you have probably developed these skills through other experiences. These skills are often called "soft skills." Volunteering in the community, babysitting, involvement in sports teams or clubs, having a leadership role in a project or group activity are all examples that you have developed these skills. A cover letter is a great way to introduce yourself and cover any topics that you cannot convey in your resume. Your cover letter should not be more than one page and should be tailored to the job you are applying for. It should include a heading, introduction, body, and a closing. Your cover letter should not just repeat what is in your resume. It needs to tell the employer who you are, and why they should hire you. The heading should contain your contact information, date, and the address of the company. In the introduction, greet the recipient of the letter, state the position you are applying for and why you are a good match for the position and company. The body is where you can provide specific examples of the skills you have and how you used these skills. You might say "During my time as a X, I met people from all walks of life and learned how to communicate with all types of people." The closing of the letter should reiterate why you are a good candidate for the job, thank the person for reading your application material, and mention that you look forward to speaking with them in the future. You should also sign your name at the end. A cover letter may be especially helpful if you have no prior retail experience, but have developed soft skills that would help you be successful in retail. The cover letter is an ideal place to talk about those skills.