What do Retail Assistants do?
A retail assistant works in a variety of retail settings, this could be a shop, a department store, a supermarket, or a petrol station, for example. Their primary responsibilities include assisting customers, processing transactions, restocking shelves, and maintaining the cleanliness and organisation of the store. A retail assistant may also help with stock management, product displays, and providing information about products or promotions to customers. They play a crucial role in ensuring a positive shopping experience for customers and contributing to the overall success of the retail business. With experience, a retail assistant could progress to become a supervisor, store manager, or an area manager, or move into other retail sector roles such as in visual merchandising or buying.
What can I expect to earn?
The starting salary for a retail assistant is typically around £18,000 to £20,000 per annum. With experience this is likely to increase to between £24,000 and £28,000 per annum. Some employers may also pay a commission or bonus, which can increase this figure further. Store or area managers can earn significantly higher than this.
What subjects should I study?
There are no formal academic qualifications required to become a retail assistant, but some employers may want you to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including maths and English.
How can I start my career?
There are several ways to start a career as a retail assistant. You could complete a retail or customer service course at college and then apply for work, you could complete a retail apprenticeship, or you could apply directly to a retail organisation for work.
If you do not have any retail experience, you could volunteer, apply to work on a temporary basis, or apply to work on a part-time basis, to get experience before applying directly to an employer for permanent work.
To research local education and training opportunities that could lead to a career as a retail assistant, visit our partner website >log on | move on>.
Download this Career
Businesses in Your Area
Use the interactive map to discover employers in your local area
