Retail Worker CV Example & Writing Guide

At cvapp.nz, we’re committed to empowering our users in their professional journeys. We’re supporting professionals in the retail industry and enabling them to achieve career success. With our wide range of high-quality career resources and tools, cvapp.nz can provide the essential guidance and support you need to secure your next role in retail. Let’s get down to business!

How to write a job-winning CV

Generally speaking, all job-winning CVs typically have the following elements:

• The CV Header
• The professional statement
• The employment history section
• The education section
• The skills section

Including these sections are important – but if you don’t know how to write these just yet, don’t worry, we’ll help you out! It's also important to read over the job description and conduct additional research on the potential role. Reading and thoroughly understanding the job description is crucial when applying for a new role. It gives you valuable insights about the specific responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations that your employer is looking for. By doing your research, you can also gain a better understanding of the company culture, values, and industry trends, which can help you tailor your application accordingly. It's always a good idea to show the employer that you have taken the time to understand their needs and can align yourself well with the position.

Formatting: The perfect presentation for retail workers

For a retail worker CV, we recommend using the reverse chronological format. This format places a strong emphasis on your work experience and showcases your most recent and relevant positions first. By starting with your current or most recent job and working your way back, you can effectively demonstrate your career progression and highlight any promotions or increased responsibilities you've taken on.

If this is your first job, it may also be worth exploring alternative formats for your CV. As a first-time job seeker, you may not have an extensive work history to showcase, so utilising a different CV format can help highlight your skills, education, and any relevant volunteer work or internships. Considering alternative formats, such as a skills-based CV or a combination CV, can help you present your qualifications effectively and make a strong impression on potential employers. These formats allow you to emphasise your abilities and achievements, even if you lack direct professional experience. By tailoring your CV to suit your unique circumstances, you can increase your chances of securing your first-ever job opportunity. If you'd like to use another CV format or want to see more examples of the reverse chronological format, we have a ton of resources on the cvapp.nz website for you!

Professional statement: Express your authentic self

As a retail worker, your personal statement should effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and career aspirations in the retail industry. It is an opportunity to briefly highlight your professional background, achievements, and demonstrate your potential for success in the field. 

Start by introducing yourself and mentioning your interest in retail work. You can explain why you find the retail industry appealing and what motivates you to excel in it. Share any relevant educational background, such as retail management courses or certifications, to emphasise your commitment to developing your skills in this field. It's important to keep this section concise: personal statements should ideally consist of no more than 3-6 sentences. The main objective of personal statements is to capture the attention of employers and encourage them to delve deeper into your profile. Check out this example of a great personal statement below: 

Employment History: Your professional track record

Your employment history section should provide comprehensive information about your previous roles and experiences. This section allows potential employers to gain insight into your skills, responsibilities, and achievements. Here's a suggested method to rewrite and expand upon this section:

Begin with your most recent role and work backwards. Include relevant information such as job title, company name, employment dates, and location. If you have worked in the retail industry before, be sure to describe your responsibilities and achievements here clearly. You'll also want to outline your responsibilities and accomplishments. For each employment role, clearly outline your primary responsibilities and day-to-day tasks. Describe the scope of your work and any achievements or projects you completed, and emphasise the impact you had on the company or team and quantify results whenever possible using numbers, data and figures. Lastly, when applying for retail roles, adjust the descriptions of your previous roles to highlight relevant experiences and achievements. Focus on skills and projects that directly align with the job requirements, demonstrating how your past experiences make you an excellent fit for the new role. Check out our retail worker employment history example below: 

CV Skills: Outline your strengths

Retail workers rely on a diverse range of skills to excel in their roles, and effectively communicating these skills on your CV is essential. Highlighting your abilities not only sets you apart from other candidates but also demonstrates your suitability for the demands of the retail industry. By emphasising your skills, you showcase your potential value to prospective employers. Remember to focus on skills that are relevant to the retail industry, such as customer service skills, communication skills and effective problem-solving skills. 

By effectively highlighting your skills, you can create a positive impression and increase your chances of attracting the attention of those who are looking for individuals with your specific set of talents. When you’re finished, your skills section should look something like this: 

Education: Elevating your potential

The education section provides an overview of your educational background, highlighting any degrees, certifications, or courses you have completed. It helps potential employers gain insight into your level of knowledge and expertise in a specific field. As a retail worker, it's not always necessary to have advanced degrees or extensive academic experience, however, including your educational background is still important for employers to see. In this section, you should include details about the degree you achieved and the institution you obtained it from. Start with the highest level of education you have obtained, such as your university degree, NCEA results or school leaver results. Mention the degree title, the name of the institution, and the location. You can also choose to include outstanding academic results, awards or accolades.

Here’s an example of an effective education section: