Here is a brief description of the sales assistant profession.
Sales assistants may work in small stores or in large stores in shopping centres. The job requires a high level of customer contact, which means sales assistants must have good communication skills.
The role is not as simple as it seems, because in addition to sales, employees are also responsible for the storage of goods and administrative tasks.
Sales assistant, professional qualifications
There are no specific schools for the sales assistant profession. However, a high school diploma is often required.
Duties
- Greet customers as they enter the shop
- Help customers find the goods and products they are looking for
- Inform customers about ongoing promotions
- Answer customer questions
- Advise and guide customers on product selection
- Handle customer complaints
- Performing sales transactions
- Assist with inventory control and management
- Perform regular price checks
- Receiving and ordering products
- Decorating shop windows
- Cleaning duties at opening and closing of the shop
Sales assistant, requirements and skills
Have a friendly and outgoing personality.
Be helpful and courteous. You should have a peaceful character and remain calm even in front of an angry customer.
You must have a good knowledge of the shop’s products.
You must be able to handle various equipment such as labelers and price readers.
You must be able to work in a sales team.
You should be in good physical condition as you will have to stand most of the time and may have to lift large amounts of products
Wages
On average in Europe (with differences between countries), an inexperienced sales assistant can earn about €900 net per month, while an experienced sales assistant earns €1,300/1,400. Sales assistants working in luxury stores can earn €1,700 to €2,000.
In the United States, a sales assistant can earn between $2,500 and $3,000