The Education and Training Needed to Work in Retail

There are various roles in the retail trade, ranging from salespeople to executive management in the corporate offices. The amount of education needed as the type of training provided has transformed over the years as retailers have begun pressing for more sales-driven, result-oriented individuals with their focus on the bottom line.

Salesperson

The salespeople in any retail store work directly with customers, assisting them in finding a product or service and persuading them to buy it. Although there is no formal education necessary to work in retail sales and many individuals work in this position while in high school or part time, most employers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Most training is provided on the job, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months. For smaller stores, training may be conducted by a more experienced employee and is informal, but larger retailers may have several days of formal training, particularly for the cash register software, customer service tactics and procedures and product specifications.

Office and Administrative Support

Stock clerks, order filers and customer service representatives are office and administrative support positions for retail stores. There are no formal educational requirements for these positions, but a high school education is preferred, especially with larger retailers. According to information reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many individuals who apply for these positions are recent immigrants, so strong written and English language skills may be required, and some employers may offer language training.

Management, Business and Financial Operations

In the past, salespeople could work their way to store or district management positions, but according to employment data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the 2010 to 2011 "Career Guide to Industries", increasingly businesses are preferring individuals to obtain an an associate or bachelor's degree with course work in marketing, merchandising or business. Many colleges offer degrees in retail management or fashion and apparel merchandising in response to this growing demand. Management positions may require training in information technology, human resources, basic business math and accounting, sales forecasting and inventory control.

Supervisors

Sales worker supervisors or store managers are responsible for interviewing, hiring and managing salespersons. As stated in the Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook". there is no standard educational requirement, but for some businesses a college degree may be required. Individuals with college degrees will be more likely to enter directly into a management training program rather than beginning work as as a salesperson. Supervisors without a college degree typically require experience in a sales occupation. The type and amount of training required to be completed by supervisors varies by company. Many larger companies have formal programs that include on-site training and course work in a traditional classroom setting.

Real Estate Executive

Real estate executives may hold the title of vice president of real estate or director of real estate and may report directly to the chief financial officer or work in the operations department. Generally, a college education is required for these jobs, as they are corporate executive positions and they may manage a junior buyer or administrative assistant. Training on financial procedures of the organization and general requirements of store size, organizational goals and preferences of the higher level executives are required. Before assuming the position, the executive would need experience working under a tenured real estate professional to learn how to negotiate lease terms with a broker, what the industry standards are and how to present and close.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Retail Salespersons
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Clothing, Accessory, and General Merchandise Stores
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Sales Worker Supervisors

Resource

National Retail Federation