Retail Salespersons

What the job really is

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

At a glance

• Sector: Sales
• O*NET-SOC code: 41-2031
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
• Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
• Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
• Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
• Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
• Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
• Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
• Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
• Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
• Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
• Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.
• Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Apple macOS, Autodesk AutoCAD, Eclipse IDE, Facebook, Google Docs, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cashiers
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
• Stockers and Order Fillers
• Demonstrators and Product Promoters
• First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
• Parts Salespersons
• Customer Service Representatives

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Retail Salespersons — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.