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First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $27K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $33K
Median Salary: $41K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $55K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $72K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.

Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.

Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.

Formulate pricing policies for merchandise, according to profitability requirements.

Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.

Assign employees to specific duties.

Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.

Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.

Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.

Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.

Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.

Plan and coordinate advertising campaigns and sales promotions and prepare merchandise displays and advertising copy.

Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.

Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.

Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures for the department.

Establish credit policies and operating procedures.

Enforce safety, health, and security rules.

Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.

Estimate consumer demand and determine the types and amounts of goods to be sold.

Plan budgets and authorize payments and merchandise returns.

Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Accounting software
Sage 50 Accounting
Analytical or scientific software
SAS
Business intelligence and data analysis software
Tableau
Calendar and scheduling software
TimeTrak Systems SchedTrak
Computer aided design CAD software
Autodesk Revit
Customer relationship management CRM software
Salesforce software
Data base management system software
Teradata Database
Data base user interface and query software
Yardi
Data mining software
Google Analytics
Desktop publishing software
Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
SAP
Financial analysis software
Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
Graphics or photo imaging software
SmugMug Flickr
Human resources software
Oracle Taleo
Internet browser software
Internet browser software
Inventory management software
Inventory management software
Object or component oriented development software
R
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Point of sale POS software
WinMan SureSell
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Sales and marketing software
Google AdWords
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software
TimeTrak Systems ClocTrack
Video conferencing software
Google Meet
Video creation and editing software
YouTube
Web page creation and editing software
Social media sites
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Point of sale POS computer terminals
Construction and maintenance support equipment
Ladders
Consumer electronics
Video cassette recorders VCR
Hand tools
Adjustable widemouth pliers
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Cash registers
Security surveillance and detection
Security cameras
Signage and accessories
Sensormatic systems
Vending machines
Money order terminals
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
97%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management
90%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Sales and Marketing
79%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

English Language
78%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education and Training
72%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Computers and Electronics
67%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Mathematics
67%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Personnel and Human Resources
67%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Economics and Accounting
65%
Importance

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Clerical
64%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
78%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Service Orientation
75%
Importance

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking
75%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination
70%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking
70%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring
70%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness
70%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Instructing
65%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Management of Personnel Resources
65%
Importance

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Negotiation
65%
Importance

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
78%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity
78%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
75%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Problem Sensitivity
65%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning
63%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering
63%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Near Vision
63%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Category Flexibility
60%
Importance

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Fluency of Ideas
60%
Importance

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Top 10 Work Activities
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
82%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Training and Teaching Others
82%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
79%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Coaching and Developing Others
78%
Importance

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
78%
Importance

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
77%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
77%
Importance

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
77%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Getting Information
76%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
75%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Detailed Work Activities

Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.

Answer customer questions about goods or services.

Supervise sales or support personnel.

Examine condition of property or products.

Monitor sales activities.

Train sales personnel.

Assign duties or work schedules to employees.

Maintain records of sales or other business transactions.

Clean work areas.

Set up merchandise displays.

Sell products or services.

Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.

Monitor inventories of products or materials.

Purchase stocks of merchandise or supplies.

Establish operational policies.

Monitor work areas to provide security.

Monitor market conditions or trends.

Develop marketing plans or strategies.

Coordinate sales campaigns.

Authorize financial actions.

Prepare operational budgets.

Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Coordinate or Lead Others

How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Responsible for Others' Health and Safety

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Education
Majors
Major
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
Business Administration, Management and Operations
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
Interests
Enterprising
100%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional
77%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Social
62%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Realistic
43%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Artistic
24%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Investigative
15%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
98%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Stress Tolerance
97%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Leadership
96%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Cooperation
95%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Dependability
95%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
94%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Self Control
94%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Attention to Detail
91%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Concern for Others
88%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Social Orientation
86%
Importance

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values
Independence
67%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Relationships
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.