A retail cashier job can be a great stepping stone into the workforce, a part-time job or the perfect source of extra cash when you're in a pinch. In other cases, it can also be your entry point into a career in retail, fashion, distribution or marketing. If you're looking to land a retail cashier position, you're going to need a great resume to stand out from other candidates with similar skillsets.
Resume.io is here to help. With 300+ resume examples and writing guides for every field and career level, we'll show you how to create an application that catches the hiring manager's attention and lands you that interview. Here's what we'll cover in this guide, along with our adaptable retail cashier resume example:
Retail cashiers are people who work in retail stores, helping customers to complete transactions and purchase or return items. Retail cashiers are required to be knowledgeable about store products and offerings, and work to offer the highest level of customer service possible. Retail cashiers should have good basic math skills and be able to complete financial transactions with precision and ease. They should be wiling and able to work collaboratively with team members and complete projects when assigned. Due to the financial nature of this role, honesty and integrity are crucial to the success of a retail cashier. Retail cashiers are often required to assist with other store duties, which can vary depending upon the nature of the store they work in.
With a nationwide labor shortage due to the pandemic, the odds are in your favor when it comes to finding a retail cashier job. About 4 million workers* have left the labor force for a variety of reasons workers, meaning companies are looking to entice more employees with better pay and benefits. If it's time to get a retail job, make sure to look around for the store willing to give you the best hourly wage.
*Source: Yahoo! Finance
Ever wondered how other retail resumes look? Check out these related retail resume examples below:
A resume for a retail cashier should follow the same basic structure as many other CVs. Here are the essential components to include:
A retail cashier resume should effectively convey a candidate's ability to assist customers in retail stores during shopping and check-out. A winning retail cashier resume should have an impressive profile section that effectively summarizes your qualifications and skills that support a retail cashier role. Your employment history should include any impressive positions with a special emphasis on positions in retail. If you do not have any places of employment to list, be sure to include experiences, membership in clubs or organizations and interesting hobbies. Your resume should also include a skills section with a strong mix of soft and hard skills necessary for success as a retail cashier. It is always advised to review the job description for the position you are applying for and include key skills listed if appropriate. The main goal of a retail cashier resume is to present yourself as a trustworthy, organized, and hardworking individual capable of working productively in a retail environment.
When it comes to the best resume format for retail cashiers, you have a few options depending on your level of experience. If this is not your first job (even if your other jobs were in different sectors) then you should stick with the reverse chronological resume format. This structure centers on an employment history section where you can list your previous roles and describe how your skills apply to the retail cashier role. This format is preferred by hiring managers and the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in use at most medium and large companies.
If you have zero previous experience to show, you may consider using a functional resume format which omits the employment history section in favor of a more robust skills section. The hybrid structure may also be an option if your experience is limited. You can read more about this in our guide to alternative resume formats.
Don't overlook the ATS.
Hiring managers are busy people. To help cut down on their workloads, many medium and large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter applications. These algorithms scan resumes for keywords and rank them against the other candidates. Only the top-scoring are passed along to the hiring manager for review. While there's no guarantee you won't be filtered out, there are some steps you can take to minimize the risk:
In such a customer-facing role, your personality and demeanor count for a lot. The few sentences of your summary are a great place to sum up your experiences, achievements and work style. This is the one place on your resume where you'll be able to speak directly the the hiring manager so make sure to communicate your interest and qualities. Retail doesn't have to be your life-long passion, but make sure it's clear why you want to work in this particular environment and that you'll be a helpful and friendly face for as long as you're employed.
Check out the summary from our adaptable retail cashier resume example below.
Enthusiastic and reliable cashier, dedicated to providing excellent customer service with a smile. Organized, detail oriented, and experienced in properly handling daily accounts and managing inventory. Several years of experience in various retail settings with a proven track record of job success.
The employment history section is the place to list all positions of importance and those that have transferable duties and/or required skills necessary for a retail cashier job. List your positions in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent. After giving the job title, employer name, dates worked and location, add a few bullet points detailing your duties and achievements. Remember to use powerful action verbs and offer numbers or statistics whenever possible. Check out the employment history section from our retail cashier resume sample below.
Retail cashiers aren't required to have formal training but the education section of your resume is a great place to let the employer know a bit about your background and career path. List degrees in reverse chronological order. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor degree, you may leave out your high school. A degree in progress is fine to include here, too. Just be sure to add your expected graduation date. You can list certifications here, or create a separate section highlighting them. Here is our adaptable resume sample:
Your skills are at the heart of your job as a retail cashier so make sure to highlight them in this CV section. The bullet point format means it is best to add abilities that can be summarized in a word or two. Make sure to include any specific skills mentioned in the job description to increase your chances of beating the ATS. As a retail cashier, it's important to have a good mix of hard and soft skills on your CV.
Check out the skills section from our resume sample below.
For entry-level positions like retail cashier, creating an attractive and professional resume layout can give you a major boost compared to other candidates who didn't put thought into their design. Focus on creating a clean and organized header section that highlights your name and contact information with a touch of color (depending on what's appropriate based on the store's branding). If you're applying to work at many stores at once, you may want to consider using different resume templates to give a customized look to each application. Leave a balance of white space to text so that the resume won't be tiring on the reader's eyes.