If you have an eye on fashion or are interested in everyday clothes and enjoy working with people as well as making sure they look great in the clothes they choose to wear, you might be interested in a career in the retail clothing industry. Retail clothing jobs involve several responsibilities. Jobs often center around a sales position, although they do not often work on commission; rather, salaries are generally set at an hourly rate, ranging from minimum wage to around $9 or $10 an hour. These positions can often be acquired without a high school diploma, although some places will have different needs.
Many retail clothing jobs—if not all—also involve working the sales counter, which includes processing payments on a register, ensuring totals add up at the end of the day, dealing with money, and accepting returns when people are dissatisfied with their purchase. People in these positions often must use their own judgment to determine if an item can be returned or not.
People in these positions must also stay level-headed in many different circumstances. For instance, you may be called upon to deal with shoplifters or with other problems at the store. When considering a retail clothing job, you should think about several issues: Are you going to be in a situation where you need to address someone who may be shoplifting? Do you think that you can do so in a way that will lead to the best possible resolution?
The primary component of working with retail clothing is helping customers. Depending on the store, you might just need to help them figure out where you keep various sizes; you might also be called upon to give an opinion and help the customer find a specific piece of clothing. This is where people with a great sense of fashion can really shine; if you are interested in making sense of today's fashions and how they fit with people’s bodies, you'll find that there are many things that you can do in this field. If you can be tactful and still offer great advice, this might be a position for you.
Retail clothing jobs are certainly popular. These jobs tend to have a high turnover rate, meaning openings are everywhere. Generally, the best situation is where you can get a job that will match your own tastes; in many cases, you need to look like the clothes you wear are from the store in which you work. Remember that the more flexible that you can keep your hours, the more likely it is that you will get the job. Moreover, as turnover is high, you may be able to rise to management in very short order.
Take some time to think about what you might want from a career in retail clothing, and make sure that you consider what retail clothing jobs might be perfect for you!
