Skills & Competencies for Retail Sales Staff

Retail Sales Staff job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Retail Sales Staff

Responsible for selling goods and assisting customers on the selling floor.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Retail Sales Staff

Provides suggestions and product information based on customers' needs. Maintains a thorough, up to date knowledge of products, sales and promotions. May help with store opening and closing procedures.

Retail Sales Staff SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$31,428
TOTAL 50%
$31,696
Job Level
A02
Job Code
SM15000039
Education/Degree
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
Reports To
Supervisor

Retail Sales Staff Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Retail Sales Staff skill and competencie below to view definitions.

5 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Retail Sales Staff

1 Industry Competency – Retail Industry
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Applying comprehensive knowledge of retail principles, inventory management, pricing strategies, and consumer behavior to effectively manage and operate retail businesses.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists diverse activities and functions of retailing including buying, advertising, and data processing.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Records and reports customer feedback to assist in optimizing retail offerings and improving service quality.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes advanced software and technology to automate and optimize retail operations.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees inventory control and supply chain processes to ensure optimal stock levels and minimize costs.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads omnichannel optimization initiatives to ensure a seamless and integrated customer journey.
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2 Industry Competency – Retail Customer Interaction
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Communicating and engaging with customers to boost satisfaction, loyalty, and retention for the sales and revenue growth of retail stores.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Identifies the critical role of customer interaction and service within a retail context.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Quickly establishes rapport with customers, addresses their concerns, and offers references in peak hours.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Provides personalized recommendations or suggestions based on customer wants and preferences.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Implements customer feedback and survey programs to gather valuable insights and boost customer interaction.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops virtual reality customer interaction simulations to enhance emotional connections between staff and customers.
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3 Retail Sales Staff - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 5

5 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Retail Sales Staff

1 Job Family Competencies – Customer Acquisition
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Attracting and converting new customers for our business.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Documents the best practices used in customer acquisition strategies.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Tracks market needs, industry trends, and competitive dynamics in customer acquisition.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Performs customer analyses to make acquisition offers and maximize customer acquisition volume.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees customer acquisition funnel to improve the effectiveness of attracting customers.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops value-based customer segmentation models to ensure the acquisition of new customers.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Customer Behavior Analytics
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and applying customer data to gain insights into their behavior, preferences, and needs.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists commonly used data collection strategies for analyzing customer purchasing behavior.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies key customer segments to detect product preferences and demand patterns efficiently.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Reviews marketing campaign effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) using customer behavior data.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leads complex analytics projects to solve strategic business challenges and customer-specific issues.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops customer churn prediction models to identify at-risk customers and implement retention strategies.
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3 Retail Sales Staff - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 5

8 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Retail Sales Staff

1 Core Competencies – Self-Motivation
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Ability to identify one's own strengths, set goals and work hard in achieving goals, standards, and targets without external rewards or punishments.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Distinguishes the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Seeks recommendations and advice to improve future work processes and refine own competency gaps.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Encourages self to keep learning and acquiring knowledge on industry trends or skillset development.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Recognizes employees' achievements and milestones with word praises to encourage continued performance.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Shares innovative motivation techniques and exercises to boost self-motivation within our business.
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2 Core Competencies – Flexibility
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Adapting, responding to, and dealing with the changing environment and new situations.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Documents variations in work schedules, locations, and responsibilities.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Listens carefully and patiently to other people's points of view.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Integrates innovative ways of working into an existing process.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leverages prior experience in handling changing situations and unexpected obstacles.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Shifts organizational strategy in response to changing priorities.
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3 Retail Sales Staff - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Sales Staff
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Retail Sales Staff skills and competencies

There are 5 hard skills for Retail Sales Staff, Retail Industry, Retail Customer Interaction, Product Demonstration, etc.
5 general skills for Retail Sales Staff, Customer Acquisition, Customer Behavior Analytics, Promotion, etc.
8 soft skills for Retail Sales Staff, Self-Motivation, Flexibility, Initiative, etc.
While the list totals 18 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Retail Sales Staff, he or she needs to be proficient in Self-Motivation, be proficient in Flexibility, and be proficient in Initiative.

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