The industry has plenty of rewarding opportunities that don't involve being behind the counter
We welcome you to JobBank USA and hope your job hunting experience
is a pleasant one. We hope you find our resources useful.
August 16, 2006
Of course you love retail. It involves shopping, right?
But maybe a career in the industry just isn't that appealing. You have no desire to run a cash register, man the returns desk or pace the floors selling merchandise, even if it is at your favorite clothing or electronics shop.
Well, bag your image of a retail career and consider what it would be like to work in the second-largest industry in the United States -- one that employed more than 15 million workers and generated $3.8 trillion in sales in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Do we even have to tell you that retail involves hundreds of jobs that you probably never thought of?
"Retailing offers a diversity of career paths that allows virtually everyone to pursue a passion," says Kathy Mance, vice president of the National Retail Federation Foundation. "The list goes on and on."
Here are five careers. To find more, visit www.nrf.com/retailcareers.
Loss prevention agent
If you've ever wanted to be a private eye, this is the career for you. Unofficially called store detectives, they are responsible for controlling losses and protecting assets at a retail establishment. They watch for shoplifting by customers and prevent theft by vendors and employees.
They conduct inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms and restrooms and prepare reports for management.
In some cases, the loss prevention agent may be responsible for apprehending the people attempting to steal merchandise and then are asked to testify in court against the suspects they apprehend.
Retail management
One minute you might be out among the shoppers and the next minute checking inventory in the back room. Later, you'll be poring over budgets in the office.
"You have to have a balance of operations and merchandising skills," says Greg Roberts, store manager of Stein Mart at 86th Street and Ditch Road. "But you have to have people skills, too. It's a must."
Store managers perform staffing, administrative and financial duties. These posts often are earned through experience starting at the store level. But a degree in retail management may land you the job without ever working the cash register.
Retail buyer
This job involves buying goods -- such as clothing or home furnishings -- for resale at a retail store.
Buyers determine which products their company will sell and then purchase the goods from wholesale firms or directly from manufacturers. They constantly must stay informed of the latest trends to help them predict what will appeal to consumers.
Buyers keep track of inventories and sales through computer software linked to the store's cash register. If you work as a buyer for a large company, you probably will be in charge of one or two lines of merchandise. Buyers at small stores may purchase all inventory.
Personal shopper
This could be a dream career for people who like just one aspect of retail: shopping. Imagine taking other people's money and spending it. In the Indianapolis area, 30MinuteMALL hires personal shoppers, called cyber valets, to cater to their clients' whims. If a customer wants a little black dress from Nordstrom in a size 6, the cyber valet goes out and buys it. These shoppers also are called on to buy big-screen TVs, jewelry and more.
At department stores like Stein Mart, personal shoppers are more specialized. They pull clothing for customers to try on and offer consultation to patrons who don't know what they want.
Distribution
Ever pictured a burly trucker guy working in the world of retail?
Well, it happens every day.
Retail distribution is all about transportation. It involves logistics, supply chain management and overseeing the movement and storage of consumer products.
There is the trucker who drives the goods to the retailer's warehouse.
There is also the logistics traffic manager -- the person who pours over maps and GPS software and then tells the operator of the truck, airplane or boat the quickest and most logical way to get to a destination.
Email This Page!