What Do Retail Salespersons Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Retail Salespersons

Retail Salespersons sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Salary
$30940
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality



Job Description

Job Description

Retail Salespersons sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers. They also greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.

Other tasks include:

  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • Maintain records related to sales.
  • Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
  • Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
  • Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
  • Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.

We asked Retail Salespersons how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

55%

How meaningful is this job

35%


55% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 35% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Retail Salespersons greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. They bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.

A typical day for a Retail Salesperson will also include:

  • Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
  • Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
  • Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • Maintain records related to sales.

We asked some Retail Salespersons a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 99% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 44% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 88% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 86% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 17% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 60% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Retail Salespersons also clean shelves, counters, and tables. They may also estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Retail Salespersons Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items. They might also Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.

In addition, they Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.

To some Retail Salespersons, it is also their responsibility to Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.


Working life

Working hours

Less than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Retail Salesperson, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Do Retail Salespersons work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
78%


Never
19%


Do Retail Salespersons work outdoors?

Never
43%


Every day
32%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Entrepreneurs and The Organizers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Retail Salespersons

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Related to Retail Salespersons Job Description

Retail Salespersons job description, what do Retail Salespersons do, typical day for Retail Salespersons, what is it like to work as a Retail Salesperson, how many hours do Retail Salespersons work, day to day work of a Retail Salesperson

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm
http://www.nada.org/
http://www.rwdsu.info/


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