Retail Sales Associate Resume Examples & Templates

What you put on your resume will depend in part on the specific job you’re applying for. Your sales associate resume must, at the very least, display your contact information, hard and soft skills, job history, education and certifications, if applicable.

But what you choose to highlight should be guided by the requirements of the position. Here’s some key information to include:

• Hard skills that show your ability to do technical aspects of the job, including knowledge of relevant software and technology. 
• Soft skills that you would draw on to deal with customers effectively.
• Relevant work experience that’s similar to the job at hand, with emphasis on measurable achievements from each position.
• Any training you’ve completed that shows your commitment to professional development.
• Important keywords from the job description so that your resume isn’t rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

If you’re still unsure of what to put on your resume, have a look at a resume sample for a sales associate role to get more ideas.

If you want to be a sales associate but have no prior experience, you can still create an impressive resume by focusing on your transferable skills, relevant courses and any volunteer or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your sales, communication and problem-solving skills. Here are some tips for writing a sales associate resume with no experience:

• Emphasize your transferable skills, such as communication, problem-solving and relationship-building. These skills are valuable in any sales environment and can be gained through various experiences, such as part-time jobs, internships or volunteer work.
• Highlight any relevant coursework or training you have completed, such as customer service training and computer skills, and any other relevant training related to a sales associate role. This demonstrates that you have a solid foundation of knowledge and are willing to continue learning.

See our guide on how to make a resume with no experience for additional tips and tricks.

As noted in our sales associate resume sample, it’s important to list your current and previous job titles, employer names, locations and the dates you were employed by each company. 

Under every heading, it’s better to include specific work accomplishments from each position rather than your duties and responsibilities. Try your best to quantify your achievements (e.g., Exceeded monthly sales quota by 25% for three months in a row) because numbers tend to stand out in hiring managers’ minds and are great indicators of impact. 

If you don’t have any work experience, focus on volunteer work, internships, courses and extracurricular activities that have helped you hone skills that are relevant to sales.

A standout sales associate resume should incorporate the following design tips:

• Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages. 
• Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be 1 inch on all sides, and line space should be set to single or 1.5 spacing. 
• Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
• Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.

To impress employers, your resume should also include measurable accomplishments, for example:

• Led a team of sales associates, providing guidance and training that resulted in the team achieving a 15% increase in quarterly profits.
• Successfully worked with customers to overcome objections and concerns in a timely manner, increasing items sold per sale by 10%. 
• Implemented a streamlined closing process for sales associates, resulting in 9% increase in productivity and improved accountability.

We also recommend exploring how long a resume should be for tips and guidance from career advice experts. 

The best resume format for your document will depend on the amount of work experience you have and the seniority of the position you’re applying for. 

The functional format is a good option for entry-level sales professionals with no or very little work experience as it keeps the focus on your skills and training.

A combination format highlights both your skills and your work experience, so it’s ideal for midlevel job applicants.

The chronological resume format is the best choice for experienced professionals with consistent career progression as it places emphasis on your job history. 

Alongside your resume’s format, ensure you use a professional font as well as clear headers and bullet points, like our sales associate sample resume demonstrates.