As a store manager, I play a lot of different roles. Sometimes I act as a therapist, sometimes I act as mom or dad, and sometimes I'll be that intense leader that my team needs. I help mitigate my associates' wants, needs, and personal development. On any given day, I'll deal with very upset or very happy customers. I also work with administrative things like profit loss statements.
CAREER
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$41,580
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-5.5% (decline)
Most Common Level of Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Do
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
Other Job Titles First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers May Have
Bakery Manager, Delicatessen Manager, Department Manager, Department Supervisor, Grocery Manager, Key Carrier, Meat Department Manager, Parts Sales Manager, Shift Manager, Store Manager
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Meetings, discussions, planning sessions, changes to existing plans, status update meetings.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
Education
Level of Education Attained by First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (29%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Graduate
Business Administration and Management, General
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Business Administration and Management, General
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
I believe good listening skills are most important as a leader. Patience and accountability have also been helpful skills in my career. And finally problem-solving skills, specifically root cause analysis, are important in a leadership position.
Social Interaction and presentation skills are key. The ability to manage and influence others is also a key success factor!
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Talk to many people about what they do to find out what you are interested in.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
