How To Tailor My CV for Retail Jobs?

ordinary_girl

I've done unpaid work experience placements in the media, but I feel like I'd have a better chance at getting a job in retail if I omitted the work experience placements from my CV. I do want to work in retail, I've applied for a few supermarket jobs but to no avail.

Basically, I think because I have media work experience they'll discard my application so perhaps I'd have a better chance if I just didn't mention it at all on my CV? Oh, and I'm a student, if that makes a difference? Does anyone have any advice on how best to present my CV for a retail job?

tinnuvial

Hi Rest, don't leave off your work experience - especially if it is your only experience. You just need to sell it in terms of the job you are applying for. Think about the skills that retailers are looking for - customer service, organisational skills, muti-tasking etc. Then look at how you used/developed/learned those skills in your media work experience and highlight them on your CV. If you think they'll have questions then answer them in your cover letter. Be upfront and say you had an interest in media but once you worked in it you realised it wasn't for you. Convince them then that you've really thought about retail and why it is ideal for you so they don't think you'll try it and then leave.

ordinary_girl

Hi tunnuvial, thanks for replying! The thing is, the course I'm doing is actually a media course so I can't really say that it wasn't for me. I'll certainly take your other advice on board, thank you!

peanuthead

Retail outlets want to see that you have experience in the following areas:

customer service
dealing with the public
cash handling

Also, they like to know that you are flexible and available to work various shifts/hours as the rosters can sometimes shift about.