Communication, leadership, teamwork: the top skills retail recruiters want from graduates
Retail recruiters have lists of skills or comptences they look for when assessing applicants during the application process. To give you the lowdown we've brought in experts from Sainsbury's, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Barclays Bank, Argos, McDonalds and Waitrose. If you're applying for any job which will need retail skills, or if you want to explain the skills you've gained from work in retail, make sure you take a look.
Commercial awareness | Communication skills | Creativity | Leadership skills | Teamwork | Work experience
Commercial awareness
The retail industry is all about customer service, so it’s no surprise that the key competences recruiters look for include commercial awareness and communication skills.
Name: Jo Gidley
Job title: Graduate and company recruitment manager
Employer: Sainsbury’s
Commercial awareness means staying up to date with what’s going on in the retail sector as well as developments in the wider world that could affect it. Many issues impact on customers and affect their buying habits.
Gain commercial awareness by reading relevant literature such as the Financial Times and the specialist trade press and bring your knowledge to the interview.
Communication skills
Name: Donna Miller
Job title: European HR director
Employer: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
In any retail environment, you will be asked to work with others – colleagues, the general public and business partners – and you will need to listen to them and work with them to get the job done.
Understanding how to adapt your own style and language to suit others is critical in delivering impactful messages. It’s imperative that you get your message across confidently and openly. You can inspire others to act based on your style.
Creativity
Name: Ed Fox
Job title: Retail graduate and development manager
Employer: Barclays Bank plc
Every business seeks creative individuals who will be able to come up with innovative ideas and solutions, so that services can be adapted to changing customer needs. You can illustrate your creativity to employers by recalling simple and practical examples of when you’ve done things differently and made an impact. Remember, it’s your ideas that will mark you out from the pack.
Leadership skills
Name: Lisa Bradley
Job title: Talent manager
Employer: Argos
Developing your leadership skills and being able to convey them during the selection process is essential. Holding key roles in clubs, societies or group projects shows your commitment to developing your leadership skills.
Employers are looking for you to demonstrate that you have the drive, energy and focus to achieve your goals; they are also keen for you to show that you have an understanding of their business and the sector.
Teamwork
Name: Nicky Ivory
Job title: Reputation and resourcing consultant
Employer: McDonald’s Restaurants Limited
In retail, employees will always be working as part of a team regardless of the size of the business. If you’re working on the shop floor it’s vital to have a good team ethos, both to support each other and to create a good atmosphere for customers.
Whatever your role in the business, you need to be able to understand the needs of other teams and work well across functions. Before applying, analyse your relevant experiences: you need to be specific about your role and achievements to demonstrate this skill convincingly.
Work experience
Name: Susie Barker
Job title: Graduate recruitment manager
Employer: Waitrose
While it isn't a 'skill' as such, work experience is one of the best ways that you can give yourself an edge. It provides you with tangible evidence to discuss at interview and assessment centres, where you can expand upon some of the valuable, transferable skills you may have acquired.
It is an obvious differentiator you can use to make yourself stand out from a crowd. You will also be able to bring your newly acquired innovative thinking into the workplace of your future employer.
