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Career Exploration

Retail Salespersons

Also called: Sales Associate, Sales Clerk, Sales Consultant, Sales Person

What they do:

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

On the job, you would:
  • Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
On the job, you'll need:

Business

  • sales and marketing
  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
  • looking for ways to help people

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Enterprising

People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Data base user interface and query software

  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access

Word processing software

  • Google Docs
  • Microsoft Word

Point of sale POS software

  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • TokenWorks Magnetic Card Reader

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will have large numbers of openings.

Median Annual Salary: $30,600

Education

High school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED is usually needed.