sales associate.

Some of the tasks of a sales associate include:

• welcoming customers: you welcome customers to a retail store, greeting them at the door and making them feel welcome. You also discover what they are looking for and direct them to the aisles.

• recommending products to customers: you advise customers on purchase decisions and provide recommendations if they need clarification about the best brand or product for their needs. You also motivate clients to buy a product by explaining its uses and features.

• cross-selling and upselling: you help boost sales and increase profits for the retail store by persuading customers to buy more expensive products through upselling or encouraging them to purchase additional products (cross-selling). You can promote upselling by explaining expensive products' benefits and extra features. Cross-selling helps boost sales if some items have discounts or multi-buy deals.

• explaining business policies to customers: sales associates know store procedures and policies. It is crucial to explain the policies on discounts and promotions at the retail outlet. You also provide information on deliveries, returns and warranties.

• assist customers with purchase completion: you assist customers with processing payments and completing their purchases. If they want to organise delivery, you help them record the necessary details to simplify the process.

• assisting with store displays and inventory management: when engaging customers, it is crucial to display the merchandise attractively. You keep the shelves neat and appealing. You also check the inventory and ensure the racks and shelves are fully stocked.

Sales associates work in various environments depending on the employer and type of store. You can work in any industry that operates a physical or online store, including manufacturing and mining. Often, you are on your feet most of the day if you work in a brick-and-mortar retail outlet. However, many companies want employees to be comfortable working for them, so they invest much money in creating a safe and clean workplace. As long as you enjoy interacting with customers face to face, growth opportunities will give you additional responsibilities with more pay and benefits.

Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include store managers, sales assistants and sales executives. You might also be working close to retail store associates, sales consultants, and other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, sales representatives, accountants and inventory managers.

You can opt for a full-time or part-time schedule, depending on your employer. Part-time sales associates usually have fewer responsibilities than full-time associates. A sign at the entrance of your company's building or retail outlet indicates that it is open for business during set hours of operation. However, many companies close on specific days for holidays and offer paid leave based on how long an employee has worked.

Companies have variable schedules, and you may work nights or weekends depending on current business demands. At an online outlet where customer service is done over the phone or through email, your schedule is more flexible because communication is remote.

Since many customers shop online, opportunities in traditional sales associate roles may decrease. However, retail sales associates can also assist customers with shopping online by explaining product features and organising purchases. Apart from specialising in online sales, some sales associates progress upward to become sales managers or store managers.

Finding your sales associate job through Randstad provides essential advantages such as the following:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities

• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed

• a range of opportunities in your area

• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job

• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a sales associate is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent career. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

A sales associate offers products and services to customers. You help customers find the products they need. For instance, you explain the benefits of products to customers and help them choose the items they need from the shelves. You also keep a stock record and ensure the shelves are stocked on time.

As a sales associate, you earn an average salary of $60,000 annually, but the amount can increase to over $65,000 annually. The remuneration package depends on your experience level and qualifications. When you have additional qualifications, it is easier to negotiate a higher salary due to the skills you bring to the table. The size of the business you work for also determines your remuneration. Working for a large retail store is likely to pay more than smaller stores.

As a sales associate, you welcome customers and direct them to the products they are looking for at the store. You also maintain the floor displays by recommending the layouts and product arrangements based on seasons. Other duties include operating cash registers and restocking.

As an SEO specialist, you earn an average salary of $85,000 annually. Entry-level SEO specialists earn $75,000 annually, while experienced workers take home over $95,000 annually. The remuneration depends on the complexity of the role, experience and location of the business.

Working as a sales associate can be stressful. It is common for customers to visit the retail shop and blame sales associates for mistakes. You require patience and the ability to work under stress to deal with customer complaints and resolve situations calmly.

As a sales associate, you require communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with others and provide the best services to customers. You also need creative problem-solving skills to deal with customer issues.

Applying for a sales associate job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.