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%
$31,344
TOTAL 50%
$31,612
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)
Identifies and explains the characteristics and key features of various retail business models.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies and explains major operational issues and considerations.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Implements promotional activities to communicate the features and benefits of new products.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors and optimizes retail operations to enhance productivity and cost-effectiveness.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Explores the historical and future positioning of the organization in light of prevailing retail trends.
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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)
Describes the data flow required to fulfill customer acquisition.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports the planning and execution of strategies to gain new customers across multiple channels.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Partners with sales and marketing to execute marketing campaigns for new customer acquisition.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Interprets trends or patterns in complex data sets to improve overall customer acquisition goals.
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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)
Oversees the implementation of marketing changes to measure the impact on customer behavior.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Stay updated with emerging analytics techniques and trends to gain deeper insights into customer behavior.
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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)
Explains the importance of self-motivational skills in our workplace.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Shows initiative in taking on new responsibilities to expand knowledge and gain experience.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Follows SMART principles to set high but realistic goals.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Researches communication techniques and work styles to determine ways to help our employees motivate themselves.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Stays current in new reward schemes to boost our employee's competitiveness and retain top talents.
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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)
Seeks new ways and processes of accomplishing work or tasks.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Responds positively to changing procedures and policies.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Solves problems and sets priorities in unclear situations.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Makes progress in an atmosphere of ambiguity and uncertainty.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Treats issues and risks as opportunities for learning or growth.
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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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