Retail job - how to improve my chances

[Sunnyday]

I just applied for my first retail job. It was a long online process. I streamlined my resume and didn't do a cover letter. I know that competition for retail jobs is quite high, but what are the chances that I get it.

It was all online, so I will only get called back on the strength of my resume, which lists no retail experience.

The only time I did retail was for a now defunct chain 20 years ago. Now, that I'm thinking about it, I realize that they only have my resume to go on and I should have put more effort into it. I think that if someone saw me in person they would like how I looked (I am the demographic for this brand), I would have had a chance. Does not having retail experience get me booted out automatically? The online system they used was Taleo, which is known  as a resume blackhole by all job seekers the world over.

How do I improve or change my resume from a professional one to one that would make me look like I would be successful at retail? Anybody work in retail? How does the hiring process work?

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

I have worked in retail and it seems to be very heavily dependent on who you know.  Especially when going through the online submissions.  

Is there a way you can speak to a manager or someone at the store level?  They can go to HR and tell them to send your info through. Without that, it just goes into an electronic holding area and sits.

[Cass]

I didn't change mine when job searching.  When I applied to serve tables at a Retirement Home, the Chef called me immediately (like within an hour) to tell me it looked like I had done some interesting stuff and she would like to meet me.  I was working within the week.

Good luck! 

[tskeeter]

Feb 5, 2015 14:47:55 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

I just applied for my first retail job. It was a long online process. I streamlined my resume and didn't do a cover letter. I know that competition for retail jobs is quite high, but what are the chances that I get it.

It was all online, so I will only get called back on the strength of my resume, which lists no retail experience.

The only time I did retail was for a now defunct chain 20 years ago. Now, that I'm thinking about it, I realize that they only have my resume to go on and I should have put more effort into it. I think that if someone saw me in person they would like how I looked (I am the demographic for this brand), I would have had a chance. Does not having retail experience get me booted out automatically? The online system they used was Taleo, which is known  as a resume blackhole by all job seekers the world over.

How do I improve or change my resume from a professional one to one that would make me look like I would be successful at retail? Anybody work in retail? How does the hiring process work?

SD, if there was a way to work into the resume/application something that said "I worked in retail 20 years ago, at XXX, and really enjoyed the experience, helping customers solve their problems and sharing my product knowledge.  I'd look forward to an opportunity to return to the world of retail sales.", I'd think that would attract the attention of anyone skimming the resume.  It would certainly attract my attention.

[Deleted]

Working retail is competitive? What kind of retail are we talking about? True, my last stint was over 10 years ago, but I had a job offer the same night I walked in and applied at Macy's. This was pre-online applications, though. And I got paid above minimum.

But there are various types of retail.  So maybe the place you applied is more competitive.  But I would think next time I would list a skills section that included something like "Enjoy helping people solve problems." 

That's really all retail is.  People have a job interview.  Problem solved.  Someone is going clubbing.  Problem solved.  You get the idea.  If you approach it like that, you don't have to sell. 

Good luck.

ETA:  Tskeeter said the same thing. 

[zibazinski]

I was just as confused. When did retail become so complicated? Both DD, DS, and I worked retail and it wasn't so complicated.