Sales Associate Skills List and Examples

Sales Associate Skills List and Examples



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BY ALISON DOYLE

 

Updated June 08, 2018

Sales associates have broad and flexible responsibilities that often include acting as cashier, customer service representative, stocker, and stepping into other roles, sometimes multiple roles, in a single day. Different stores will emphasize different skills, so sales associate jobs vary from company to company What all of these positions have in common is a focus on helping customers get what they need in a retail environment.

Some sales associates go on to move up the corporate ladder, others stay where they are, and still, others move on to other fields. But if you have these skills, you can find work almost anywhere.

How to Use Skills Lists

Look through these lists of skills. Even if you have not worked as a sales associate previously, you may have acquired some of these skills at previous positions, or in volunteer work or in school, club or sports activities. You may be better prepared than you thought you were.

You can also use this list to help prepare your application materials; use these skill-names as keywords to highlight what you can do. Prepare specific examples of how you embody these skills so that you can discuss them in job interviews.

Skill requirements will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so be sure to read the job description carefully and review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill.

Top 5 Sales Associate Skills

Some of the skills you will need are specific to particular positions, either because each store does things a little differently, or because companies vary in how they define these jobs. For example, you may or may not be expected to work with vendors or stock shelves. Other skills are common across virtually all sales associate positions.

Money-Handling Skills

Most sales associates are involved with finalizing sales and handling money and credit card transactions. You’ll need to know how to use a cash register, and possibly Microsoft Office as well. You’ll need basic accounting skills to make a change and to notice errors. You may need to be bonded.

Communications and Customer Service Skills

Because sales associates work directly with customers, skills and experience in communications and customer relations are a necessity. These include verbal communication for providing customer assistance and dealing with difficult people, but you also need written communication for developing signage, writing emails, and possibly keeping records.

Knowledge of Products and Services

If you have in-depth knowledge of the products and services you are selling, you can help customers make informed choices. That’s good for your customers, and it’s good for your employer as well, since people bring their business to places where the service is reliable. An in-depth knowledge of your store is important, too. From giving simple directions (“where do you keep cookies?”) to being able to explain services and policies, your assistance allows customers to better use your store.

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Sales Skills

Selling can range from simply helping customers find what they’re looking for, to actively encouraging customers to buy more or to buy specific things to achieve sales goals. You’ll need good attention to detail and strong relationship building skills. It is another place where having in-depth knowledge of what your store sells is crucial. You’ll need to understand basic accounting and stocking to keep track of where you are with respect to your goals and where you need to be.

Personal Mastery Skills

There are also personal qualities, habits, and talents that can be of value to a sales associate. You might not think of them as skills, but they can be learned, and if you highlight them in the hiring process, you will be more likely to get the job. You must be dependable, efficient, and able to multitask. You must be punctual, yet able to be flexible in your scheduling. Personal cleanliness is important, as is a professional appearance and demeanor. You must be able to take the initiative, but must also be a team player, able to follow instructions.

You must be polite, friendly, and enthusiastic. A positive attitude helps at all times.

Position-Based Sales Associate Skills

These skills are often related to specific positions or job titles. Have you performed any of these jobs or functions?

Cashier





Department Maintenance





Display Building





Displays





Front End Operations





Loss Prevention





Maintain Store Standards





Planogram Changes





Point of Sale Systems (POS)





Pricing





Retail Operations





Returns





Sales





Stock Management





Stock Replenishment





Stocking





Vendor Relations





Visual Merchandising



Money-Handling Skills

Sales associates positions often involve finalizing sales and handling money and credit card transactions. Have you developed any of these skills?

Cashier





Cash Handling





Cash Register





Credit Cards





Making Change





Microsoft Office





Money Handling





Monetary Transactions





Transactions



Communications and Customer Service Skills

A sales associate works directly with customers and employers will value people with skills and experience in communications and customer relations.

Communication





Communicate Brand





Customer Assistance





Customer Relations





Customer Service





Dealing With Difficult People





Greeting Customers





Verbal Communication





Visual Displays





Written Communication



Knowledge of Products and Services

A sales associate can assist customers in making the best choices if they have good knowledge of the products and services they are selling.

Brand Awareness





Product Enthusiasm





Product Knowledge





Sizing





Store Services Knowledge



Sales Skills

What experience and talent do you have in selling?

Achieve Sales Goals





Attention to Detail





Merchandising





Persuasive





Relationship Building





Sales





Sales Volume





Selling



Personal Mastery Skills

These are personal qualities, habits, and talents that can be of value to a sales associate. Your resume and cover letter can be more appealing if you list these keywords when describing your past experience.

Cleanliness





Dependable





Efficient





Enthusiasm





Flexible





Flexible Schedule





Follow Instructions





Friendly





Initiative





Interpersonal





Multitasking





Organization





People





Personable





Persuasive





Politeness





Positive Attitude





Professional





Punctual





Reliable





Team Focus





Team Player





Teamwork





Timeliness



 https://www.thebalancecareers.com/sales-associate-skills-list-2062477