CV Secrets That Get You Noticed in Retail

Your CV is your first impression. It needs to grab the recruiter’s attention and showcase why you’re the perfect candidate.

Here are some secrets to help your CV get noticed (from retail recruiters in the know!)

1. Tailor Your CV to the Role

Generic CVs rarely stand out. Customise your CV for each job application.

• Carefully read the job description and highlight relevant skills and experience.
• Emphasise achievements that align with the employer’s needs. Look at the ‘keywords’ that they are shouting about in the job description and weave those into your personal statement.

This demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and shows that you understand what the employer is looking for.

2. Start with a Strong Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a brief summary of who you are and what you can offer.

• Keep it concise and engaging.
• Highlight your key skills and career goals.
• Tailor it to the specific retail role you’re applying for (again, look at the job description and tailor for each role)

A strong personal statement can immediately capture the recruiter’s attention and encourage them to read on. Looking for more tips on writing a great one? Read this blog.

3. Showcase Your Transferrable Skills

Retail employers look for specific skills. Whether you are applying for retail operations or head office, make sure to highlight these in your CV.

• Customer Service: Provide examples of how you’ve delivered excellent customer service in previous roles.
• Sales: Quantify your sales achievements whenever possible (e.g., “Increased sales on the website by 15% in six months”).
• Communication: Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues.
• Teamwork: Emphasise your experience working as part of a team, think about the last large project that you helped to deliver, such as a new product launch or Black Friday campaign.
• Visual Merchandising: If relevant, showcase any experience in creating attractive displays in store or merchandising on the website. Always show your commercial mindset to maximise sales for whichever retailer you worked for previously.

4. Quantify Your Achievements

Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Numbers and data make your CV more impactful.

Instead of saying “Managed stock”, say “Managed stock levels across 40 stores, reducing waste by 10%”.

Instead of saying “Managed a team”, say “Managed a team of 10 to deliver department KPIs consistently”.

Quantifying your achievements provides concrete evidence of your abilities and makes it easier for recruiters to assess your impact just by looking at your CV alone.

5. Use Action Verbs

Start your bullet points with strong action verbs to make your CV more dynamic.

Examples: “Achieved”, “Developed”, “Implemented”, “Managed”, “Increased”.

Action verbs make your CV more engaging and convey a sense of accomplishment.

6. Format for Readability

A well-formatted CV is easy to read and visually appealing.

• Use a clean and professional font.
• Use headings and bullet points to organise information.
• Keep it concise (ideally no more than two pages).

A cluttered or poorly formatted CV can be off-putting to recruiters.

7. Proofread Carefully

Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression off the bat.

• Proofread your CV carefully before submitting it.
• Ask a friend or family member to proofread it as well.

A mistake-free CV demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism.

By following these tips, you can create a standout retail CV that gets you noticed by recruiters and increases your chances of landing your dream job.

For help with your retail career and finding the right opportunities, talk to us.