Jobs in the retail industry

Jobs in the retail industry by Michael Cheary Looking for some retail therapy?OK, so you love working as part of a team and excel in customer-facing positions â€" whether it’s talking about the latest trends or pontificating on state-of-the-art products. But what happens when you’re ready for retail, but just don’t know where to start?To help you choose the career that’s right for you, here are some of the best jobs in the  retail industry  (and some tips on how to get there):Sales AssistantWhat they do:  Sell the products and/or services of their business, to help meet the company’s sales targets. Sales Assistants are usually customer-facing, and their main role is to ensure shoppers have a pleasant shopping experience â€" whether it’s by giving advice on products, answering questions, or processing payments. They may also replenish, restock, and tidy sales areas.What you need:  A confident, outgoing, and accommodating attitude with an ability to communicate with all kinds of people. You’ ll also need to use your knowledge and initiative to diffuse tough situations with unhappy customers.What you can earn:  This may vary according to industry, experience and hours worked. However, full-time Sales Assistants will usually earn between £12,000 and £16,000 â€" which is often paid at an hourly rate.Perfect for: People who love people.Our advice:  Don’t be tempted to take the first role that comes up. Instead, play to your strengths and try and find a store you’re passionate about. Not only will you enjoy working there more in the long run, your enthusiasm will also help you to stand out at the interview.How to become a Sales Assistant View all Sales Assistant jobsStore ManagerWhat they do:  Oversee the overall operation of a retail store to maintain the smooth-running of a business, and meet budgetary demands or sales goals. Store Managers are also accountable for all aspects of service â€" so it’s vital that they motivate and guide colleagues, maintain team moral e and set the bar for excellent customer service.What you need:  Aside from excellent management and customer service skills, you’ll also need an ability to delegate tasks and motivate others. Store Managers often start from the bottom in order to learn the skills needed to progress, so previous experience in retail is usually essential.What you can earn:  Salaries will vary depending on location and the size of the store you work for â€" and your pay will usually reflect the amount of money the store makes on average. Store Managers in smaller stores could earn around £20,000, while those based in larger stores could earn £30,000 or more.Perfect for:  People who like to lead.Our advice:  If you’re struggling to break into a store management role, consider getting experience in similar retail positions. Even if you join a company as a Sales Assistant, there are almost always opportunities to quickly move up â€" whether it’s to a supervisory or team leader position, or to an assistant/deputy manager role. From there, you’ll gain the essential leadership attributes many employers consider prerequisites. And, as an internal employee who’s knowledgeable about the company, you’ll be more likely to be considered for a Store Manager role if it comes up.How to become a Store ManagerView all Store Manager jobsMerchandiserWhat they do:  Design window displays, in-store promotions and product placements to increase a business’ overall aesthetics and sales. Whether they’re arranging the window displays of a big high-street brand, or presenting a range of products in a smaller retailer â€" a Merchandiser’s role is based around improving and maintaining the effective organisation of the products sold in a retail store.What you need:  You’ll need to be commercially aware, with an eye for detail and a good knowledge of effective visual sales techniques. Excellent creative ability is also essential.What you can earn:  Salaries start at around £15,000, ri sing to around £24,000 once you’re fully qualified and experienced.Perfect for:  People who like to make things look pretty.Our advice:  If you’re not successful applying directly for visual merchandising positions, don’t be discouraged. Working in other retail roles can be a great way to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t and can help provide some essential experience to help you become a Merchandiser when the right role comes up.How to become a MerchandiserView all Merchandiser jobsBuyerWhat they do:  Use factors such as customer buying habits, price, quality, market trends, to select a range of suitable products to sell in the retailer they work for. Buyers need to be ahead-of-the-game in terms of what’s popular (and what’s not) to keep their business as cutting-edge and relevant as possible.What you need:  Excellent commercial awareness, good business acumen, and the ability to anticipate what people will want before they know themselves. As the role will in volve observing and examining buying patterns, an analytical mind is equally essential.What you can earn:  A Junior or Assistant Buyer will make around £14,000. But with a proven track record of success, it’s not uncommon to earn £30,000+ especially when working for a premium brand.Perfect for:  People with who can predict the future (trends).Our advice:  Keep up-to-date with developments in your industry, whether it’s the latest fashion trends or upcoming developments in technology. You need to know what the next big thing will be before anyone else does (or, at the very least, at the same time as everyone else)How to become a BuyerView all Buyer jobs  Head Office positionsWhat they do:  Aside from the aforementioned buying and merchandising positions, everything from careers in HR and finance to administration and marketing can be found in the head office of most retailers.What you need:  To be an advocate of the brand, whatever position you’re in. You will also need exce llent skills in your specialism, as well as the ability to work as part of a team. Specific requirements will vary from role to role.What you can earn:  Initial salary may range between around £15,000 and £20,000 depending on your position, but this will quickly increase if you’re working for a recognisable name.Perfect for:  People who like to be behind the scenes.Our advice:  Even if you’re looking for something that isn’t traditionally considered a retail role, don’t rule the industry out completely. Working for a retailer in a finance position, for example, may be easier to get into than some other roles in the industry and could allow you to gain qualifications while you work which will take your career to the next level.View all retail jobs  Other jobs in retail to consider:  Personal Shopper, Area Manager, Team Leader, Supervisor.  Top tipsHere are some of our top tips for finding a job in the retail industry:Be practical â€" Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom . With the right attitude and experience you will quickly work your way up.Be passionate â€" Choose a store or product you actually like â€" it’ll be far easier to sell the products effectively.Be pro-active â€" Keep up-to-date with developments in your industry.Be focused â€" Where do you want your career to take you? ‘I want to work in retail’ will not give you the direction you need to succeed.Be specific â€" Use specific examples of how you’ve hit previous targets to help quantify your CV.Be confident â€" Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive and enthusiastic nature will be key to finding the right role. Underestimate their importance at your peril…Ready to work in retail? View all available retail jobs now.!Ready to find your ideal position in the retail industry?  View all retail jobs now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Getting Started What job suits me?

Tips For Writing Resume Online

Tips For Writing Resume OnlineAs a job seeker, you may be one of the many people who are trying to write a resume online. Whether or not you can successfully craft a resume online depends on how much effort you put into it. The right resume writing is all about being able to capture the attention of the person reading your resume.You need to use keywords in order to create a resume online that has the right amount of search engine traffic. You also need to ensure that the content of your resume is written in such a way that it stands out as the best. In this instance, the important thing to remember is that people are looking for resumes that are filled with details. When your resume is too wordy, the reader may quickly lose interest and move on to other resumes.Your resume should also contain certain keywords that you need to include in order to be successful in writing it. You want to be able to attract the reader's attention. You also need to consider how long you have been workin g for a particular company before sending the resume out to someone else. This is a key factor in the job search process.There are also techniques that you can use in order to ensure that you write your resume online properly. Keep in mind that when you are working on this part of the job search process, the internet is your best friend. Take advantage of your web connection to help you generate the best content possible.Writing the first part of your resume is important. This includes including your name, address, telephone number, current employment and even your personal skills. You want to do this so that the readers are able to build a strong impression. Use this information to lure in potential employers.It is also important to consider the basics when you are writing a resume online. Youwill want to make sure that you include your qualifications and education. You can include educational attainment and grade point average. You will also want to include other relevant informat ion regarding education, work experience and educational training.Of course, you will want to mention your previous jobs if you were successful in getting any type of education information. You can include anything from volunteer work to work experience to anything in between. You want to be sure that the reader can see your work ethic and character.Writing a resume online is about writing a resume that is interesting. One of the most important things to remember is that you are using the power of the internet to help you get your point across. The more attention you can attract, the better off you will be. Use this knowledge to write your own resume online.

5 Dental Trends Which Can Harm Your Teeth

5 Dental Trends Which Can Harm Your Teeth Celebrities are quick to embrace the latest and strangest trends in all areas, from fashion to health. This comes as no surprise, given the fact they are always in the spotlight. But some of the dental trends you see at Hollywood can actually harm your teeth instead of giving you a perfect, white smile. Charcoal toothpaste One of the latest cure-all remedies in the beauty industry is charcoal. More and more product containing activated charcoal promise to remove blemishes from your skin and stains from your teeth. Charcoal toothpaste is advertised as the ultimate whitening toothpaste, which can give you pearly whites in no time. The only problem is it can actually damage your teeth. According to America’s Top Dentists SohoSmile, charcoal is too abrasive and can actually remove the enamel from your teeth, making them sensitive to damaging agents. Apple cider vinegar Katy Perry swears by drinking apple cider vinegar before breakfast to lower your appetite and lose weight. While losing weight you might be also losing your teeth, according to dentists. Apple cider vinegar is an acid and it attacks tooth enamel. In time, it can make the enamel so soft that you will be brushing it away, without knowing, leaving your teeth exposed. On top of this, most people cant cope with the taste of apple cider vinegar and rush to brush their teeth right after drinking it â€" resist this temptation if you do want to follow this weight loss recipe and wait at least one hour before brushing. Juice cleanings A restrictive diet can harm your teeth by lacking the minerals they need to be healthy, but juice cleanses are the most harmful diets for your smile. Considered to be the top of the detox diets, juicing leads to spikes in your insulin level, changing the natural body process of producing and retaining collagen. This weakens your gums, leading to a lot of problems for your teeth. Another problem with juice cleanses is that they are very acid, which damages your tooth enamel. To avoid ruining your teeth while detoxing your body, make sure you only follow this diet for a couple of days. Teeth jewelry Teeth jewelry is another sure way to ruin your teeth while trying to look amazing. Tiny gems are glued to a tooth with glue, providing your smile with a sparkle. The jewelry is going to fall after a month, but even during this short period of time it can damage your teeth because the glue erodes the enamel. This can increase your risk of developing tooth decay or even an infection. Oral piercings Oral piercings are a bold fashion statement, but they can lead to a lot of oral health issues. Tongue or lip piercings can be a source of infection in your mouth. Tongue piercings often became a sort of toy, resulting in chipped teeth. The constant pressure of a lip or tongue piercing on a tooth can actually make it loose or make it move, creating an unwanted gap between your teeth.

Personal Branding Interview Lylah Alphonse - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Lylah Alphonse - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Lylah Alphonse, who is a full-time editor and writer at the Boston Globe and the managing editor at   WorkItMom.com.   In this interview, Lylah reviews how to become a freelancer, why you need to be a writer and an editor, and how to pitch the media. How does someone get started in freelancing? How did you originally choose that type of career? My advice to anyone who wants to get started in freelancing would be consider non-traditional media that is, dont turn your nose up at the idea of writing for an online publication. Start a blog to showcase your writing or as a place to collect all of your virtual clips. Read as much as you can, and write your take on events, your reactions, and your opinions on your blog. Dont expect to make your living by writing (or editing, or shooting and producing video) right away, but keep at it and dont get discouraged every opportunity is a little more experience under your belt. My freelance career came about by accident. Ive been a full time editor at The Boston Globe since 1994, so I started my freelance career by writing for some of my colleagues. A few years ago, it occurred to me that I could write elsewhere as well, as long as it didnt conflict with my work at The Globe, and so I dove in. Im working on building my own brand outside of the editing work I do at the Globe, and so far its been extremely satisfying. What would you say your major strength is: writing or editor or both? Both. I dont think you can have one without the other. You need to hone your editing skills (copy editing and enterprise or story editing) in order to write effectively, since the way you write depends on the subject of the article and the medium in which it will appear. You typically write about money and childcare, which are two completely different topics. How do you juggle both? Im a mom and step mom to five kids, age 16 to 3; Im the breadwinner for our household, and I work full time outside of the home and freelance at night. So, basically, I write about what I know (or about what I know how to research): Parenting, work-life balance, career, and money. Parenting topics and career/finance topics seem very different, but theres actually a good amount of overlap. A lot of the skills you develop in order to be successful in your career translate well to parenting, and vice versa. And a lot of the money management you do at work is similar to what you do as the breadwinner at home, just on a different scale. Where do you think youll be in five years? Where will your industry be? In five years, Id love to have a good amount of flexibility in my career, so that I can set my own schedule and better juggle my life work, family, and self. Im not sure where the newspaper industry will be in five years, but I firmly believe that there will always be a need for good writers and reporters and solid editors, no matter the medium. You must get a lot of pitches each day. How do you decide which ones you want to write about? Youre right I do get a lot of pitches! I try to respond to all of them, even if just to say that Im not interested, but some days Im just not able to. I wrote a post some time ago, about how to write a press release that gets noticed and I think the ones I decide to pursue follow those guidelines, for the most part. If its obvious that the PR person has taken the time to see what I write about, then Im more likely to take a closer look at the pitch. But if a pitch is poorly written, gimmicky, has my name spelled wrong, or is for something that clearly doesnt appeal to my main readers, I hit delete right away. Lylah Alphonse is a full-time editor and writer at the Boston Globe, where shes worked since 1994. Shes also a freelance writer, editor, and blogger: She writes about parenting issues for the Boston.com/Moms parenting blog, Child Caring, and about juggling career and parenthood at The 36-Hour Day at WorkItMom.com, where shes also the Managing Editor. She weighs in on work and money issues for Yahoo.com, and writes articles, profiles, book and product reviews for The Boston Globe.

Resume Writing Jobs - Tips For Finding Resume Writing Jobs

Resume Writing Jobs - Tips For Finding Resume Writing JobsResume writing jobs can be found easily as the number of quality online resume service providers is increasing all the time. Many people are finding that they can achieve great success by simply searching for resume writing jobs on the internet and applying for them. This method of finding these positions is very cost effective and anyone looking to hire a professional for this purpose should keep these tips in mind.The first tip to keep in mind when searching for resume writing jobs is to make sure that you use the right place to apply. While many companies will post a free option for you to get in touch with them, many of these are simply scams that will require you to pay money in order to receive employment. By avoiding these scams you can avoid wasting your time and have a chance at finding a position that you can truly be proud of.Most of the companies that offer resume services online will have a page or two that descri bes what they do and how they can help you. This is usually a great way to find these jobs since it lets you know exactly what you are getting into. In some cases the description may be very detailed and in other cases it may be just as brief.It is important to not only look for a company that will do the work for you but one that can provide you with the best services available. Most of the large companies will have staff members who specialize in these types of projects and this is a great way to get the job. You will be able to get the right amount of help that you need to succeed in your project and you won't have to worry about being told to keep working or to stop trying to complete the task on your own.Another tip to keep in mind when searching for resume writing jobs is to make sure that you have the best possible resume that you can create. When it comes to this task, you really do not want to have the same looking document that your competition has. The goal here is to mak e yourself stand out from the rest of the competition and you should be making this a priority.Creating your own resume can take a lot of time and a lot of money which is why most people opt to get an already written one from one of the websites. The great thing about these services is that you don't even have to put much effort into this process. All you need to do is send in your information and let the pros take care of the rest.Companies can also be contacted directly if they are not located within your area. Again, this is an easy way to get these jobs since there are many companies that will be willing to communicate with you directly if you do not live near them. This gives you the ability to contact them directly with questions about what you are doing as well as how to improve upon your project.As you can see, there are many ways that you can get to reputable resume writing jobs. By following the tips in this article you can ensure that you have the best possible chances at success. This will give you a much better chance of landing the job you need and will allow you to use your time more efficiently.

Customer Service Is Something We All Need To Offer

Customer Service Is Something We All Need To Offer Customer Service Is Something We All Need To Offer Earlier this week, I went out to dinner with my husband to celebrate making big strides in a diet Ive been on Ive lost 16 pounds in 2 months, and a burger sounded really good as a splurgy reward. Off we went to the restaurant.  When the next morning arrived, however, I found myself in the throes of a particularly nasty bout of food poisoning caused by the potato salad I consumed the night before.  Fearful that others might become likewise sickened, I called the restaurant and asked for the manager to let them know of the tainted food to get it pulled immediately. The astounding lack of customer service floored me.   Not only did I not get an Im sorry, but I also didnt feel as though they cared enough about my businesses to try and do right to win it back. I wasnt asking for anything like a refund or any other special consideration. But when I hung up, I felt as though my concerns about a very serious situation fell on deaf ears, and I wasnt even sure that the manager cared enough to dump the bad potato salad so other people didnt get sick. Anyone who has been in this scenario feels like all they want from the other party is to be acknowledged, and get a little sympathy.  And that the concern being raised will be addressed/rectified.  Thats what customer service is all about. Each of us has a role to play in customer service on the job whether we are working directly with company customers, or with internal customers (colleagues). How we treat others is our brand, and can make a difference on how people come away feeling about the company and you. However, that still doesnt mean that there arent customer service bullies out there who wont see anything you do as right.  Baron Christopher Hanson wrote an incredible blog post about this topic, where he talks about the people who capitalize on companys fear of angry customers to get more than what they should. These clients border on scam artistry to get add-ons, freebies, and additional new demands. We have to protect the company reputation at all costs.  And thats exactly where the bullies get you. Oftentimes, they think the company policies/procedures dont pertain to them, and basically ride over the top of those rules. And if you try to enforce those policies (which 99.9% of the rest of the customers have no problem following), the bully starts their song and dance routine. The truth is: customers are not always right, and each company has to decide how far this game can be played and at what cost to the company.  Most of us are not in positions of power to make decisions as to when or how we might cut them loose. But what we can do is control how we handle those difficult people in order to still provide customer service. If we can take the time to train ourselves to think about customer service and anticipate peoples needs, then we are doing more to enhance our personal and company brand in the long run. Customer service is a skill that everyone can benefit from, and enhances our ability to serve the people with whom we work regardless if we are working with a good customer or a bad one.

In Periods of Hyper Growth, Be Careful Not to Overhire - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

In Periods of Hyper Growth, Be Careful Not to Overhire There are a lot of things to consider when looking at the hiring process. The usual priority is getting the right person in the right role, preferably as soon as possible. However, when you have a new business or are experiencing an unprecedented period of growth, the challenge is ensuring that you don’t hire too many people. Here are a few ways you can assess seasonality in your business and avoid over hiring during periods of hyper growth in your business. Use Smart Scheduling Software Technology has changed the way we do business on a global scale. At one time, teams had to be in the same building to function. Now, you can have team members scattered around the world with no physical location and grow a thriving business. One of the ways in which technology has helped profusely is in scheduling. Using Online Employee Scheduling Software Humanity to schedule employees not only saves time but can help create insights and analytics to identify periods of growth and increased employment requirements. It also helps give an indication of how long these periods last so you can identify and fill gaps temporarily. This technology can help determine seasonality in your business so that you can plan accordingly without overreaching. Work with Contractors Rather than hiring employees, reach out to contractors to fulfill your business needs. For example, if you have a content marketing startup and bring on a few new clients, outsource or subcontract some of your workload to ensure that the clients’ needs are well met. Rather than passing along client work, you may hand over the reigns on other daily tasks like social media marketing or customer service management. Working with a contractor also gives you flexibility in trying different people out. You may find a contractor that you enjoy working with and offer repeat business to, developing a rapport and a long-lasting business relationship. Term Employees Hire employees for a term rather than offering a permanent position. This will give you some freedom to make changes if you discover that you’ve hired too many people during a period of hyper-growth. You may require these additional people until your permanent employees settle into a new routine and balance their workload. If you reach the end of the term, you have the option to offer an extension and keep employees around longer. Alternatively, you may discover someone that you want to stick around your business for the long run and offer them a permanent position when their term ends. Revisit Your Business Model If you constantly find yourself without enough employees or hiring too many during periods of hyper growth, you may need to readdress your business model. Perhaps you underestimated how fast your business would grow. In this case, you need to sit down and reframe your business goals and plan based on the outcomes you’ve experienced thus far. Take some time to make a plan for how your organization will function during periods of growth. If you’ve made the mistake of hiring too many people already, write a corrective action plan to avoid doing so in the future. It’s only a mistake if you can’t learn from it. Slow it Down One of the most damaging mistakes that businesses make is hiring too quickly. While you might be feeling panicked about the growth you’re experiencing, putting everyone under stress and causing late nights at the office, it’s better to have an extra week of chaos than to hire the wrong person. Don’t let the panic take the wheel. Slow down the process and follow the necessary steps to hire a qualified employee that will contribute to the company culture. You may find that by the time you’re ready to hire someone, the period of growth has leveled out, and your organization has a new normal. Where does this leave you? With the right amount of staff and a handful of qualified candidates to consider in the future. Periods of hyper growth are often temporary, and your people are more capable than you think. Take a smart approach to hiring to avoid overhiring mistakes.