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If you were to survey store managers, merchandisers, buyers, or other high-level retail executives, virtually all of them would say that their first retail jobs were in customer service or in retail sales. They may have started part-time when they were students, took seasonal mall jobs during the holiday season, or started full-time after taking classes in merchandising or in management. For almost every retail professional, though, what began as a retail job turned into a retail career? But the act of keeping customers happy is only one component of enjoying career advancement through retail opportunities. Equally important are the skills you acquire while developing your talent for customer service. After all, customer satisfaction requires a high degree of efficiency (for example, quickly ringing up sales), the ability to troubleshoot (determining what the problem or challenge is and how to fix it), strong interpersonal skills (remaining calm when a customer is upset), and great communication (both in listening and speaking).

Best Retail Jobs
Your resume speaks volumes when it comes to first impressions. Make sure that, whenever possible, you quantify your accomplishments. Saying that you "doubled the average number of units per sale" is more impressive than saying you "contributed to an increase in sales." If you have retail experience, be specific about the types of companies for which you have worked and they type of work you have done. Simply listing your employers and job titles doesn't communicate your full range of skills or specialties.

Just because you're new to retail jobs, there's no reason to be intimidated. The skills you develop at other jobs, through volunteer work, or in school are some of the same skills you will need for retail. While you're working on your resume, and definitely before your interview, think about the ways in which you've developed customer service skills, communication skills, teambuilding skills, organizational skills, or other talents required for the position to which you're applying.

Careers in the Retail
There is a sudden increase in customer bargaining power and this is why the retail industry is growing at a phenomenal rate. Most retail companies have a buying team, which is generally responsible for launching a profitable product portfolio that will attract customers. Customers are smart enough to analyze the product price and quality. So as a part of the purchase team you have to bargain and get the best possible price from suppliers. If you are a graduate and you have negotiating skills and some basic floor experience then this is the best job for you.

Merchandising
This is a field of work where you have to work in coordination with the purchase team at the head office. Your task involves controlling the operation of the department, analyzing the past as well as current price trends and also maintaining stock records. With exciting technology new careers have developed in the retail industry in the E-Commerce field. These careers can vary from the e-commerce website that complements almost all brick and mortar retail operations to technology driven inventory systems.

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