What does a sales associate do?

Sales associates are the cornerstone of your retail success. They impact your bottom line by expertly guiding customers through the purchase journey, turning casual interest into lasting customer loyalty. By proactively engaging with customers and offering knowledgeable advice, they maximize sales opportunities, process transactions efficiently, and resolve customer issues, minimizing friction and enhancing overall experiences. Their ability to strategically upsell and cross-sell contributes to revenue growth. Additionally, their dedication to maintaining an appealing sales environment elevates your brand image, reinforcing a commitment to quality, which leads to increased customer retention and repeat business.

Sales associate skills and qualifications

A sales associate helps customers make critical purchasing decisions that can impact a company’s success. Therefore, strong customer service skills for dealing with different types of customers and product knowledge are essential to close sales and retain customers. A successful sales associate candidate will have various prerequisite skills/qualifications needed for duties, including:

• Excellent communication skills to convey product benefits, build relationships, and close sales.
• Strong problem-solving skills to efficiently resolve customer complaints, minimizing negative impacts on customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
• Cross-selling and upselling skills to boost revenue by maximizing each customer interaction and increasing average transaction value.
• Time management and multitasking skills to handle multiple tasks and clients at once.
• Strong organizational skills to optimize sales floor efficiency and inventory management.
• Up-to-date understanding of the industry’s consumer behaviour.
• The ability to remain stationary for extended periods.
• Proficiency in handling cash registers and point-of-sales transactions.

Sales associate experience requirements

Employers generally look for sales associate candidates with at least one year of experience in a sales position, such as a sales assistant, customer service representative, or similar role. If on-the-job training is to be provided, then previous experience may not be required. Ideal candidates have experience with inventory management, point-of-sale systems, and bookkeeping to balance cash registers effectively. Some experience in marketing to promote products and services to customers is also advantageous. Employers should always check references to ensure the candidate has a proven track record of sales success.

Sales associate education and training requirements

While there are no specific education requirements for sales associates, employers often prefer candidates with a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers may prefer candidates with a degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field if the role involves specialized products or services. For example, relevant coursework or a degree in the specific field can be an advantage in industries like technology or pharmaceuticals. Some provinces, such as Ontario, regulate sales positions in the automotive, hardware, lumber, and building material industries.

Most employers provide on-the-job training that covers product knowledge, company policies, and customer service procedures. Employers may also offer formal sales training programs to improve their sales associates’ skills. With the increasing use of technology in retail, sales associates may also receive training on point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Sales associate salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a sales associate is $70,563 per year. The salary may be dependent on experience, location, and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a sales associate isn’t quite what you are looking for, other related job descriptions include:

• Sales coordinator
• Cashier
• Retail store manager

Sales associate job description FAQs

What is the difference between a sales associate and a cashier?

Sales associates and cashiers have distinct roles in retail. Cashiers primarily handle checkouts, process payments and returns, and balance the register at the start and end of their shifts. In contrast, sales associates engage with customers, demonstrate products, and highlight benefits, often processing payments when no cashier is available. Sales associates may earn commissions on sales, while cashiers usually receive hourly pay.

How can employers attract top sales associates?

Employers can attract top sales associates by building a strong employer brand, creating engaging job descriptions emphasizing unique selling points, and utilizing online platforms for targeted recruitment. Leveraging social media, employee testimonials, and highlighting growth opportunities can position the company as an attractive destination for a high-performing sales team.

What should an employer look for in a sales associate resume?

A strong sales associate resume should include keywords from the job advertisement. Look for experience as a salesclerk or sales assistant and knowledge of point-of-sale systems, ERP software, bookkeeping, and inventory management. Past achievements and numerical evidence of exceeding sales targets are also beneficial.