Sales Associate Job Description

Summary

A sales associate helps customers find what they need in a store or showroom. The job combines friendly service, product knowledge and keeping the sales floor in order.

Say what you sell. Candidates who love your products are the ones who will talk about them well.

Duties and responsibilities

• Greet customers, ask what they are looking for and help them find it.
• Explain products, features and prices honestly.
• Ring up sales or direct customers to the register.
• Restock shelves, arrange displays and keep the floor neat.
• Receive deliveries and check items against the paperwork.
• Answer phones and online questions, if your store offers that.
• Follow store policies for returns, special orders and security.

Skills and qualities

• Friendly, curious and good at listening.
• Willing to learn about your products.
• Comfortable on your feet, lifting and moving stock.
• Organized and attentive to detail.
• Good with a register and basic computer tasks.
• A team player who helps coworkers.

Typical requirements

• Earlier customer service or retail experience, or willingness to train.
• Ability to stand for long periods, climb a step stool and lift the weight you name.
• Comfort with a register and with basic computer tasks.
• Minimum age that meets your state’s rules.
• Availability for evenings, weekends and holidays if the job needs them.

Requirements differ by state, city and employer. Check the licensing, age, safety and pay rules that apply to your business before you post. This page is a starting point, not legal advice.

Schedule and conditions

Retail hours follow store hours, with the busiest times on weekends and around holidays. Give the usual shifts and whether holiday work is required.

Explain how any commission or bonus works if the pay includes one, and follow the pay rules in your state.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of the products you sell.
• Earlier sales experience.
• Visual merchandising or display experience.
• A second language, if your customers need it.

Tips for posting this job

• Name the kind of store and the products.
• List the shifts and how schedules are posted.
• Explain how commission or bonuses work, if any, in plain words.
• Describe the training for new associates.
• Mention discounts or other benefits for staff.

Put your real pay, schedule and location in the posting. Candidates skip posts that leave them out.