A shop assistant position is a great way to gain your first work experience or earn some extra cash on the side. Since shop assistants often work part time, this job is also perfect for students and young people. Those looking to advance in retail may even find that a shop assistant position can open up roles in merchandising and management.
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Landing a shop assistant position can be difficult if you’re looking for your first job or if all your professional experience is in a totally unrelated field. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make the transition and earn an interview.
This shop assistant resume example, along with our adaptable shop assistant resume sample, templates and tips are designed to help you highlight your existing skills, charming personality and strong motivation so that your resume stands out to hiring managers from the moment they glance over the page.
Here’s what will cover in the rest of this guide, along with the shop assistant resume example:
- How to write a shop assistant resume (even with no experience)
- Choosing the best format for shop assistant CV
- The most important resume sections for shop assistants and how to work them to your advantage
- The right resume design to create an attractive presentation and a great first impression.
What does a shop assistant do?
A shop assistant handles a variety of tasks to keep a shop running smoothly. The duties can vary widely depending on the type of shop and the amount of experience the shop assistant has. Some of these duties include:
- Ringing up sales transactions and taking customer payment
- Answering customer questions and helping them find merchandise
- Organizing the sales floor and stocking new products
- Labeling merchandise during sales
- Light cleaning of customer areas
For more inspiration, check out our other related retail resume examples including:
How to write a shop assistant resume
Before you get started, you need to know what structure to use. Your shop assistant CV needs to have the following elements:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
One of the best things about working as a shop assistant is that you likely already have all the skills you need to be successful. A cheery, helpful disposition, attention to detail, organization and customer service skills can go a long way in making you a valuable member of the shop’s team.
Your shop assistant resume should highlight the basic skills to do the job, along with any previous experience in retail if you have it. If not, focus on your innate abilities that would be hard to teach in a candidate who doesn’t already possess them. Examples include patience, motivation, a passion for the industry, the ability to learn quickly and follow instructions, and a friendly personality. For inspiration, you can check out writing resume samples in each dedicated section of this guide.
If you’ve never worked as a shop assistant before, you can use other previous experiences to give examples of your outstanding traits. Activities like volunteering, tutoring, or office work can help you highlight your ability to help others and your commitment to a job well done.
Shop assistants earn an average of $15.92 per hour, according to Indeed. How much you make will depend on your experience and where you live.
Whether you’ve got experience as a shop assistant or are just starting out, hiring managers will be expecting to see certain sections on your resume. In the next chapters and resume samples of actual writing, we’ll cover what to write in each of them. Here are the key components:
- A summary that showcases your personality and career path
- An employment history section that dives deeper into your experience
- An education section that fills in your background
- A skills section that highlights your key abilities
Choosing the correct resume format for a shop assistant
A great format or resume template is essential to presenting yourself professionally. To make your writing shine, your resume format should be organized and easy-to-read.
Our resume examples also come with pre-filled sample sentences designed to help simplify the writing process. A resume format for a shop assistant should never be longer than one page. Make sure to keep a balance of white space to text and choose resume-appropriate fonts like Georgia, Helvetica, or Arial.
The best resume design for a shop assistant is usually reverse chronological, since you are unlikely to be showcasing a huge list of technical skills (which is the hallmark of a functional resume format).
Shop assistant summary example: a friendly greeting
Your resume summary for a shop assistant should be a short introduction to your experience and skills. It’s also likely the only place on your resume where you’ll get to connect with the hiring manager through your unique writing style and tone of voice. Make sure to keep this section about 3-5 lines in length and mostly focused on your professional story.
If you’re applying to work at a large shop or national chain, chances are the hiring manager won’t take the first look at your resume. Many online application systems come with built in resume scanners that search resumes for keywords and rank them against other applicants. Only the top percentage of candidates move on to the hiring manager’s desk.
The best way to get past these Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is by placing keywords with the exact wording from the job description throughout your resume, paying special attention to the summary and skills sections. A word of caution – keywords should always be used naturally and only if they are true to your experience.
Check out the summary from our shop assistant resume example for an idea of how to create your own.
Dynamic and reliable Shop Assistant with a unique background working as a team member at Florists and Art Gift Shops. Bringing forth a strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and a love for customer service roles.
Employment history example: your professional path
Your employment history example is a great place to highlight previous work opportunities and the skills they taught you. If you have some previous work history, then the reverse chronological resume format is likely the right choice. Start with your current or most recent position and work backwards until you’ve listed all relevant employers (ideally at least three.) Create bullet points underneath describing your duties and accomplishments. Use strong action verbs and numbers to convey your impact whenever possible.
Below is an adaptable example from our shop assistant resume sample.
Shop Assistant at Little Shop, New York
January 2020 - Present
- Assisted with sales support and post-sales follow-ups.
- Maintained inventory and scheduled new shipments when necessary.
- Helped to build and foster relationships with customers.
- Maintained a clean and orderly work environment.
- Helped with window displays and shop decor.
- Completed check-lists and assisted with additional tasks as needed.
Shop Assistant at Chicken and the Egg, Nyack
September 2015 - December 2019
- Worked as an enthusiastic and reliable shop member.
- Assisted with the creation and implementation of an organized schedule.
- Helped to hire and train new staff.
- Accurately processed sales transactions and kept meticulous work logs.
- Helped to motivate other employees and remained committed to the company goals.
Shop assistant education example: your backstory
The education section is where you’ll list your high school diploma or any advanced degrees. You can signify a degree in progress by adding your expected graduation date beneath it. If you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree, there’s no need to include your high school on your resume. If you have completed any courses relevant to the shop position, you may also highlight them here to show your interest in the industry.
Below is a resume sample of the education section for a shop assistant resume.
Associate of Arts, Rockland Community College, Suffern
September 2013 - May 2015
High School Diploma, Nyack High School, Upper Nyack
September 2009 - May 2012
CV skills example: the foundation of success
Since shop assistant is an entry-level position, your skills will be key when a hiring manager considers your resume. Your CV skills can include any hard skills from the job description like POS systems or merchandising, that can be a big bonus but most shop managers will be willing to teach you these systems if you’re just starting out. In that case, focus on your customers service skills, communication, organization, and motivation.
Below is the skills section from our adaptable shop assistant resume example.
- Computer Skills
- Ability to Multitask
- Fast Learner
- Effective Time Management
- Adaptability
- Customer Service
Resume layout and design: first impressions
- Create a visually attractive header with your name and contact info
- Spell check your resume before you submit
- Use common section headings that employers will recognize
- Overwhelm your shop assistant resume with too much text or design elements
- Use a variety of bright colors, keep it simple
- Include more than two different font styles on one resume
If you want to have a recruiter-tested approach on your side, a resume template might be a good choice. These pre-designed layouts allow you to plug in your personal info, modify the color scheme, and download a perfect resume in a matter of minutes. Shop assistants can benefit from Resume.io’s collection of resume templates designed to highlight your skills first and foremost.
Key takeaways
- A resume for a shop assistant helps explain your experience, skills, and motivations making it an essential document for landing the position.
- Hiring managers understand that shop assistants are often students or career starters. Use your resume to show them what makes you stand out in terms of soft skills and personality.
- Make sure to include all the normal sections of a one-page resume even if you don’t have much experience to show – hiring managers are still expecting these elements.
- Your format doesn’t have to be complicated but it should be well-organized and free from spelling and grammar mistakes.
- When in doubt, a resume template can make it easy to create a strong visual presentation in a few clicks.
