Shop Assistant CV Example & Writing Tips

Britain has famously been described as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’. And where would the great British shop be without an army of shop assistants to run them. You provide expert product knowledge and warm customer service. Online shopping has its place but you give a uniquely human face to the shopping experience.

But competition is fierce, the retail sector is facing ever-increasing challenges. To get the best jobs you need to stand out like a bright red ‘Sale’ sign. That’s why you need a job-winning shop assistant CV.

Read on and see a shop assistant CV example that you can adjust and make your own. And you’ll learn an easy formula for writing a CV for shop assistant jobs that’ll help you beat the competition and land those all-important interviews.

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Looking for CV templates for other jobs? Read more:

• Customer Service CV Example 
• Retail CV Example
• Hospitality CV Example
• CV for 16-Year-Old Example
• School Leaver CV Example
• Cleaner CV Example
• Marketing CV Example
• Web Developer CV Example
• Architecture CV Example
• Business Analyst CV Example

Shop Assistant CV Example

Now let’s browse a step-by-step shop assistant CV template that’ll make your own a CV as good as the example you’ve just read.

1. Use the Best Shop Assistant CV Format

A shop assistant works in the retail industry and helps to serve customers and process sales. A CV for shop assistant jobs needs to show you have the customer service skills and all the other abilities required to help create a profitable and customer-friendly shopping experience. 

Use the right format and you’ll make the same good impression as a perfectly merchandised shop floor. Here’s how to do it:

• Use the right CV format. The best choice for your shop assistant CV is chronological format. It focuses on your experience and it’s the classic format that hiring managers are most familiar with.
• Set up a neat and tidy CV layout. Set your page margins to one inch, left align your text and double space between your CV sections for a well laid out CV structure.
• Choose a simple and easily readable CV font. Times New Roman, Cambria and Georgia are tried and true classics that won’t let you down.
• Stick to the right CV length, you shouldn’t exceed two pages.
• Don’t forget to include your personal details in your CV header.
• For the perfect CV use clear headings to make every section stand out and help the reader quickly locate important information.
• And save your CV as PDF unless specifically instructed to do otherwise, that way your content stays intact and your CV stays readable on all devices.

Read more: CV Layout: How to Lay Out a Professional CV

2. Write a Personal Statement for Your Shop Assistant CV

Your CV personal statement is also known as a CV profile or CV summary. But regardless of the name, it has the same purpose, to introduce you as the ideal candidate for the job. It should be brief, 3–5 lines long, and attention-grabbing. And writing it is easier than you think. Just think of it as answering these three questions.

1. Who are you? 
2. What can you offer to the employer? 
3. What are your career goals? 

Then you can adapt the way you answer depending on how experienced you are. So for experienced candidates, use this approach.

• Write down a list of your abilities as a shop assistant. All of the experience, skills and achievements that make you good at the job.
• Then take another look at the job advert and note the job requirements mentioned there.
• Finally, use a couple of points from your own experience that match up with the job requirements. Be sure to mention how much experience you have and add a juicy achievement to impress the hiring manager.

And if you’re writing a shop assistant CV with no experience? Don’t fret, use this approach instead.

• List any transferable skills and experience you have and highlight those that are relevant to a shop assistant job.
• Then use those relevant abilities, combined with knowledge you’ve researched about the employer to prove you’ll be a great fit, even though you may be lacking in experience.

Read more: How to Write a CV Personal Statement: CV Personal Profile Examples

3. Set up an Impressive Shop Assistant Work Experience Section

In the year 2020, the number of retail job losses in the UK up until November reached more than 140,000. That’s a lot of shop assistants looking for work. And if you want to stand out the most important section of your CV needs to be perfect. It’s your work experience section, and here’s how to get it right.

• Set out your previous roles in reverse chronological order. Most recent employer first and work back from there.
• For every entry include the same basic information, the name of your employer, your dates of employment and your job title. When you’re listing your current place of employment use ‘Present’ as the end date.
• Follow this with up to six bullet points describing the position. Make sure you don’t just list what you did but prove how well you did it. Add in achievements and quantify them with numbers.
• Start each bullet point off with a CV action verb for additional impact and structure them by using accomplishment statements.
• And always target your experience to each job you apply for. Check your trusty job advert, see what experience is required and make sure you match it as closely as possible.

Read more: How to Write an Effective CV Work Experience Section

4. Include an Education Section

Many candidates treat their education section as an afterthought, but it’s an important part of your CV for shop assistant jobs in its own right and has to be written correctly. Here are the basic facts you need to include.

• If you went to university list your degree name, the name of your uni, and your dates of study. Still studying? Then list your expected graduation date as the end date.
• If you’re writing a school-leaver CV then you should name your A-level subjects and include your dates of study and the name of your college/school.

In both cases, if you’ve only just graduated you can change the order of your CV and put your education first, before your work experience.

Read more: How to Write Your CV Education Section

5. Showcase Your Shop Assistant CV Skills

There are plenty of skills involved in being a good shop assistant. But it can be hard to decide which skills to include on your CV. So how do you narrow it down and choose the skills that are most likely to land you the job? Just use this approach and you’ll be set.

• Go back to the job advert again, this time noting all the skills it requires. Then make a list of your own skills, reviewing your work experience to help prompt you.
• Then compare the two lists, and include 5–10 of your own skills that match the job requirements list as closely as possible. 
• Include both hard skills and soft skills.
• And for each skill, back it up with evidence by giving a brief statement explaining your abilities. E.g. Product knowledge. Developed and maintained a detailed knowledge of product specifications and current promotions.

Here are some examples of skills for your sales assistant CV.

Sales Assistant CV Skills

• Customer service skills to address the needs of customers and create a positive customer experience.
• Teamwork to be able to work effectively with your colleagues.
• Leadership skills for shop assistant roles that involve supervising others.
• Attention to detail to create effective merchandising and maintain a tidy shopping environment.
• Product knowledge to advise customers on the features of products and services.
• Technical skills to operate point of sale systems.
• Active listening skills to help resolve customer complaints.
• Multitasking and prioritisation to deal with the conflicting demands of a busy shop.
• Working under pressure to be able to maintain composure during busy periods and stressful situations.

Read more: Best Skills for Your CV: Top List of Skills and Examples

When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your CV here.

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6. Add Extra Sections to Your Shop Assistant CV

We’re not quite done with your shop assistant CV yet. Finishing with your skills section is OK, but if you want a CV that’ll stand out like a freshly painted well-lit shop front, you need to include some additional sections. They’re a great way of making the hiring manager notice you. Here are some ideas that will work well.

• Languages. If you can speak a foreign language then include a languages section. It’s a highly sought after skill for customer facing roles like a shop assistant.
• Other solid picks include volunteering, awards and hobbies and interests. If it’s relevant and shows off additional skills, experience or achievements it’s worth mentioning.

Read more: 20+ CV Writing Tips and Advice for Job Hunting Success

7. Include a Shop Assistant Cover Letter With Your CV

A well-written cover letter for shop assistant jobs enhances your CV and let’s you add even more reasons why you’re the perfect candidate. Use these cover letter tips to get started.

• Set yourself up for success with the right cover letter format and stick to the best cover letter length.
• Then start your cover letter with a ‘hook’. Include an impressive achievement that’ll grab the hiring manager’s attention.
• In the body of your cover letter, add more proof of your abilities by mentioning other relevant professional accomplishments and skills.
• End your cover letter with a call to action by asking the hiring manager to get in touch so you can discuss the role further and prove how you can help achieve their business goals.
• And for one last professional touch? Use a matching CV cover letter template to give your whole job application a seamless look.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Thanks for reading. Is there anything else you need to know about how to write a CV for a shop assistant? Let us know in the comments section and we’ll be happy to help.