Retail CV Mistakes to Avoid

As a retail recruitment agency, we’ve spent a lot of time sifting through CVs (like, a lot). So it’s only fair to say that we’re pretty clued up on the fact that a strong CV can be the difference between candidates securing an interview and being overlooked. Whether you’re applying for a sales assistant role or you’re looking at store manager jobs, your CV is your chance to showcase your experience, skills and enthusiasm for the industry.

Whilst that all may seem like a given, so many candidates make easy-to-avoid mistakes that ultimately cost them opportunities. And, because we spend our days reviewing CVs, we have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. If you’re currently tearing your hair out trying to craft the perfect CV for retail, here’s what you need to know – and, most importantly, the mistakes you need to avoid.

What to Put on a Retail CV

A well-structured retail CV should be clear, concise, and tailored to the role you’re applying for. Employers and retail recruitment agencies don’t have time to read through pages of unnecessary information, so focus on what really matters. You’ll want to start with your details – your name, contact information and LinkedIn profile (if you have one). Then, add a personal statement that summarises and highlights what it’s like to have you as an employee. A good personal statement for a retail CV will highlight your key skills, experience and career aspirations.

The work experience section should be easy for employers to digest, detailing relevant roles, responsibilities and achievements. You should also list your core skills that are relevant to retail, whether that’s product knowledge, team leadership, sales techniques or communication skills. After your work experience, include your education history and any additional relevant courses or training you’ve completed that could benefit your application.

Starting from scratch? We’ve got you. Check out our Ultimate CV Writing Guide for more tips.

What Is a Good Personal Statement for Retail?

Want your retail CV noticed? It starts with a powerful personal statement, as this is one of the first things a hiring manager or recruiter will read. Skip the generic stuff, instead highlight your key skills and experience with concrete examples. A strong personal statement for your CV should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for and should tell the reader what you can bring to the role.

Looking for an example? Think big impact. Instead of vaguely writing that you’re “hardworking” and “looking for a new challenge”, try to say something a bit more enticing that shares what makes you a good fit for the role: “A results-driven retail professional with five years of experience in fashion retail, specialising in customer service, sales, and team leadership. Passionate about delivering an exceptional shopping experience and driving business success.”

Trust us, whilst tweaking your CV on an application-by-application basis might seem excessive, it can be the difference that shows employers and recruiters that you’re really serious about the role you’ve applied for.

Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Even the most experienced professionals can make CV mistakes that ultimately cost them the job – after all, we’re only human. But, with employers and retail recruitment agencies receiving hundreds of applications a day for head office jobs and in-store positions, you’ll want to avoid these common pitfalls.

Typos and Grammatical Mistakes

Nothing screams unprofessionalism more than a CV littered with typos and poor grammar. A CV for a retail job (and any job, really!) needs to be polished and professional, reflecting the care and attention to detail required in the roles themselves. Spelling mistakes can make it seem like you don’t care, even if you do, which is the last thing employers want. Before submitting your CV to an applicant system, potential employer or retail recruitment agency, proofread it multiple times. And, if you want an extra pair of eyes on it, rope in a friend or family member to give it a quick read-through for errors.

Irrelevant Work Experience

Though it may be tempting to list every job you’ve ever had, a good CV for retail will primarily focus on relevant experience. If you’ve worked in hospitality, sales or other customer service roles, try to highlight the transferable skills that relate to the job you’re applying for.

Adding excessive information about unrelated roles with no clear connection to the job you’re applying for can dilute your application and sometimes make your career intentions a bit unclear. Instead, opt to tailor your CV to showcase the experience that matters the most.

Unexplained Career Breaks

Career gaps are not necessarily a dealbreaker, but failing to address them can raise questions or, worse, put you on the “no” pile before you’ve even got to the interview stage. Whether you took time off for travelling, study or health reasons, you should provide a brief explanation in the interest of full transparency.

And if you can use your break to boost your application, even better. For example, if you took a year out to do a course in customer service or business administration, mention how this has furthered your skill set. Being transparent about career breaks shows honesty and means that you’re in charge of the narrative.

Negative Talk About Previous Roles

Top retail brands are on the hunt for positive, proactive people who will contribute to a great working environment. Negative talk about past jobs, managers, or colleagues in your CV is a massive no-no, as it can give the impression that you may be difficult to work with. Make sure to leave petty comments behind you, and keep your CV for retail positive, professional and forward-looking.

Missing Keywords

If you’re unfamiliar with retail recruitment strategies, this one may be easy to miss. Many brands and retail recruitment agencies will use applicant tracking systems to screen CVs before they even reach a hiring manager. If your CV is missing important keywords from the job description, it may not even be seen by a human.

To hit those all-important keywords, try to incorporate relevant terms such as “customer service”, “merchandising”, “point of sale”, “leadership” and “stock management” throughout your CV in a natural way. Whether the brand or retail recruitment agency you’re applying through uses ATS or not, these keywords are a great way to draw attention to your skills. Looking for more tips to make your retail CV stand out? Check out this blog.

Lack of Quantifiable Achievements

This is a big one – and it’s one we’ll never stop encouraging candidates to add to their CVs – quantifiable achievements. Simply stating your skills isn’t enough; employers and recruiters want to see your measurable achievements.

Instead of writing, “Worked as a sales assistant and helped customers,” say “I increased monthly sales by [X] amount through upselling techniques, earning sales person of the month 3x in 2024” as an example. Using figures and specific outcomes makes your CV a more compelling read and demonstrates your ability to achieve real results for brands.

Poor Formatting and Structure

As with one littered with typos, a cluttered and difficult-to-read (or access) CV will not impress recruiters or hiring managers – in fact, some may even write you off before giving it a second glance. Clear formatting is essential to ensure your key achievements and retail skills stand out. Use consistent fonts, spacing, and section headings to create a structured layout. Avoid long, unbroken paragraphs; instead, break text into manageable sections that make it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly.

Generic CV

Think recruiters and employers can’t tell when they’ve received the same CV as everyone else? Think again. Sending the same generic CV for every job application you submit is a common mistake, but it can be critical.

Viewing multiple CVs every single day means that retail recruitment agencies like ourselves can tell when a CV has been copied and pasted with no effort to tailor it to a specific role. A strong CV for retail job applications should be adjusted for each opportunity, aligning with the job description and company values.

This doesn’t mean you need to do a full re-write every time you submit an application, but researching the employer and highlighting your relevant experience will go a long way in helping you stand out.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Serious about landing your next job in retail? Getting your CV in top condition is the first step. Then, when you’re ready to chat about opportunities, submit your CV here, and we’ll have a chat about finding the right role for you.