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Description
Example Titles
Classified Elsewhere
Duties
Skills
Employment Requirements
Terms & Conditions
Earnings
Education / Training
Career Paths
Outlook
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies

Employment by Age Group
Employment by Industry
Employment by Region
Employment by Gender
Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
Employment by Visible Minority

Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks (NOC 6421)

Description

Retail salespersons and sales clerks sell, rent or lease a range of technical and non-technical goods and services directly to consumers. They are employed by stores and other retail businesses, wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the public.

Example Titles

audio equipment salesperson
automobile salesperson
car rental agent
clothing salesperson
computer salesperson - retail
counter clerk - retail
department store clerk
furniture salesperson
hardware store clerk
jewellery salesperson
retail sales associate
retail sales clerk
retail salesperson

>> View all titles

Classified Elsewhere

Cashiers (6611)
Retail stock clerks (in 6622 Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers)
Sales clerk supervisors (in 6211 Retail Trade Supervisors)

Duties

Retail salespersons and sales clerks perform some or all of the following duties:

Greet customers and discuss the type, quality and quantity of merchandise or services sought for purchase, rental or lease
Advise customers on use and care of merchandise, and provide advice concerning specialized products or services
Estimate or quote prices, credit terms, trade-in allowances, warranties and delivery dates
Prepare merchandise for purchase, rental or lease
Prepare sales, rental or leasing contracts and accept cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit payment
Assist in the display of merchandise
Maintain sales records for inventory control
Operate computerized inventory record keeping and re-ordering systems
May conduct sales transactions through internet based electronic commerce.

Skills

Retail salespersons need the following skills and abilities:

an interest in working with other people,
good health, physical stamina to stand for long periods,
the ability to maintain a neat, well-groomed appearance,
the ability to remain polite, patient and tactful when dealing with difficult customers,
be able to work under pressure,
be able to perform arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately,
good verbal communications skills, with ability to persuade people to try or buy,
a second language and awareness of other cultures may be useful.
For some sales jobs, particularly those involving expensive and complex items, retail salespersons need special knowledge or skills. Sometimes an awareness of current fashion trends or customer tastes and an interest in the product or service being sold is enough.

Employment Requirements

Depending on the type of store and the product or service being sold, workers may need high school completion. However, retail stores frequently hire students for part-time or seasonal jobs.
Some companies with technical products may require university degrees or college diplomas, or specific training.
Specific product knowledge is required for sales workers selling complex or valuable merchandise, e.g., automobiles, antiques, computers.

Terms & Conditions

Retail salespersons and sales clerks usually work in an indoor environment serving customers in stores. Shift work is usual, including evenings and weekends. Depending on the employer, there may be some flexibility or choice regarding shift patterns and hours worked in a given week.

Part time work is very common in this occupation as only 53% of the workforce work full time hours. Self-employment is not very common (5%). Some retail salespersons and sales clerks work on a commission basis.

Earnings

$18,800 per annum - starting

$31,700 per annum - average

$41,600 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

Education / Training

Retail sales jobs do not normally require much formal education or specific training. Training is usually provided on the job, either informally or through a structured company program.
Red River College offers a Customer Service Representative Certificate program through the Continuing Education Division.
Herzing College, a private vocationnal institution, offers a Sales and Marketing Professional program.
The Manitoba Tourism Education Council promotes a training culture in the tourism and hospitality industry through a number of courses.

Career Paths

Many sales clerks begin as cashiers and move to sales as they gain knowledge of different products. Advancement is based on experience and job performance.

Experienced salespersons may move to busier stores, supervisory and management positions, or related departments such as purchasing, human resources, staff training or customer relations.

Large department stores, retail chains or mult-store operations offer more opportunities for advancement than small stores.

With additional training, retail sales workers may move into related occupations such as technical sales (for manufacturers or distributers), real estate sales or insurance sales.

Outlook

Employment prospects for retail salespersons and sales clerks are expected to be good in the period 2010 - 2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 21,770.

This is a large occupational group with a high turnover rate due to relatively low wages and the high incidence of part time and shift work. It is one of the easiest occupations to enter for individuals with limited education and skills. Demand for sales staff is influenced by economic conditions, although to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the type of retail outlet.

Individuals with experience and good communication skills will be in the greatest demand. Electronic cash register and computer inventory system knowledge will also be helpful. Retail salespersons and sales clerks that sell specialized merchandise, such as automobiles or computers, require considerable product knowledge in addition to demonstrated sales ability.

A proportionally larger share of jobs for retail salespersons and sales clerks are located in Winnipeg. Across industries, they work primarily in Retail Trade (78%), followed by Manufacturing (4%) and Wholesale Trade (3%).

Employment by Age Group

Employment by Industry

Employment by Region

Employment by Gender

Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification

Employment by Visible Minority

Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.

Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...

Manitoba Motor Dealers Association, http://www.mmda.mb.ca/