If you have never thought of retail as an area in which you can build a career, then you have simply not given enough thought to the retail world! For every store with a handful of cashiers and stock boys working the floor, there are supervisors, buyers, managers, HR people, accountants, and more. The lists of people who support a retail store are huge, and not all of them are jobs that sit at the bottom of the food chain.
Looking for a retail career means looking for something in retail that interests you. If you have a particular hobby, like math, then you may find that an accounting or bookkeeping career at a retail store is ideal for you. In fact, if you are interested in a particular type of object, activity, or field, then you may already know the ideal store for you.
If you know where you would like to work but do not yet have the education to apply for a job in an executive type of position, then consider applying for a job as a retail store clerk at that store instead. Deal with customer service, work as a cashier, or otherwise spend your employment hours at the store of your choice for later in life. This has several benefits.
One benefit of working in a low position at a retail store that you enjoy is that you will be able to earn money to pay for the education that you are probably getting so that you can apply for your dream job. This is an excellent way to get your foot in the door and to start making a little bit of income at the same time, even if the position is not one that you particularly enjoy.
Another great benefit of working at your chosen retail location while you are in school is that it allows the supervisors to notice you early on, and gives you a history with the store. If you apply for an HR position within the company and they see that you have a perfect work record with them already, they may be more willing to take a chance on you and your new degree than on an equally qualified person with whom they have no direct experience.
As you make your way through the ranks you’ll find a number of doors opening. According to your formal education, training, skill, and personal interests, you should be able to find a number of career options including the following:
* Human Resources Managers: Work to solve employee problems, supervise payroll, hire new employees, and plan corporate events
* Buyers: Find the best product options for your store and control inventory
* Merchandisers: Create in-store campaigns, work with buyers to find the best products, and influence the layout of the store to maximize sales
* Loss Prevention Officers: Supervise security, deal with shoplifting problems, come up with creative ways to cut costs, and find problems in paperwork
* Corporate Managers: Make big decisions about the company, come up with new campaign strategies, meet with investors, research customer preferences, price products, oversee all daily operations, and dictate company policy
You may also want to create a career out of the retail industry by opening a store of your own. Being a small business owner can be daunting, but if you have experience in the retail industry, you’ve got a start on preparing to run your own store. Owning a business can be quite rewarding!
Retail is full of career opportunities; however, the popularity of low paying jobs in the retail sector has led people to believe that the only job that you can get in retail is cashiering. This is simply not true, and hard work and drive can actually lead you to a successful and pleasing retail career in your life. Just like any other job, it takes planning, education, and dedication to make a career in retail your reality.