Store Manager resume examples & templates

As the retail industry upheaval from only brick-and-mortar to online shopping and then to a hybrid model, the job of a store manager has evolved with it. 

Yes, it’s the job of a store manager to ensure customer satisfaction first and foremost but also to keep employee morale up. After all, the salespeople on the floor, phones, and online chat, keep sales flowing.

As a store manager and professional salesperson, you know that first impressions make the difference between a sale or no sale. You know how to sell your product, but do you know how to sell yourself?  If you're scratching your head, that's where we can help.

Resume guide for a store manager resume

At Resume.io, we have everything you need to manage your job search, including 500+ resume examples and writing guides. 

The following guide, along with our store manager resume example, will cover these core topics: 

• How to write a store manager resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a store manager resume
• How to add your contact information
• How to effectively use summaries
• Adding your store manager experience
• Listing your education and training
• Professional resume layout and design hints
• What the store manager job market looks like and what salary you can expect

How to write a store manager resume

The very first step in writing your store manager resume is understanding the correct resume format. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Each of these sections has a targeted purpose, just like your sales pitches or employee training sessions. Notice that we said “pitches.” You know that customers are all different and you must adjust your tone and style accordingly. Your resume should be the same. To effectively close the deal and land an interview, stick to the following formula:

• Focus on achievements rather than duties. Rather than listing your day-to-day tasks, specify how you went above and beyond to make an impact.
• Tailor your resume to each store you apply to, matching their style and function. If you want to manage a trendy teen clothing store, you need a resume that sounds fresh and young, but if you’re targeting a high-end jeweler, you need a more subdued tone.
• Along the same lines, use a resume template that’s polished and professional while still showing your personality.
• When submitting your resume online, make sure it’s full of relevant keywords. That way, whether a human or an algorithm is reviewing it in the ATS, it’ll show why you’re the best fit.

Choosing the right resume format for a store manager resume

Most resumes are written in reverse chronological order (this is the case in most of our resume examples). That’s because recruiters are interested in your most recent experience—where you are now and where you were before that. This format also gives you a great way to highlight your career progress and current achievements. Your employment history section should follow this format unless you have a compelling reason to veer from it.

You may consider one of our other resume formats, such as the functional format, if you have switched careers or are just entering the job market. However, functional resume formats are best left to those wanting to highlight niche or complex skills, such as technical professionals, scientists, or other specialists, because they contain expanded skills sections.

In our resume builder, you can find numerous resume templates and select one that best suits your needs. There are plenty of resume examples that make use of the reverse chronological format, the functional format, and a hybrid format that blends them both.

When it comes to design, your store manager resume should reflect your professionalism as well as your personability; we recommend a clean, friendly modern layout.

Include your contact information

You can’t build relationships with customers if they don’t know where to find your store, and your resume is no different. Hiring managers can’t call you to schedule an interview if they can’t find your contact information! 

That’s why your resume’s header, while simple, is very important. The top priority is to make sure it’s easily accessible, but you should also include the right details. 

• Your full name & title. List your first and last name as well as the title you’re targeting.
• A professional email address. Use a clean format like firstname.lastname@gmail.com; avoid anything silly or unprofessional.
• Your phone number. Include a number where you can easily be reached, and where you’ve got an open inbox with a professional voicemail message.
• Your general location. You only need to list your city and state. Avoid including your physical street address, as that can be unsafe and is outdated. If you’re willing to relocate, note that here.
• LinkedIn. LinkedIn may not be as widely used in retail as in some other fields, but if your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your sales network, include it here.

Don’t include:

• Your date of birth: This isn’t conventional in the US and could unfortunately lead to age discrimination.
• Other personal details: Leave off your marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.

Make use of a summary

A store manager relies heavily on relationships with others, both customers and employees, and the store manager summary should reflect that. The profile, or professional summary, is the place to inject some personality into your resume in 3-5 sentences. 

This is your one chance to sell your prospective employer on your sparkling, yet no-nonsense, personality and your talent for growing sales and retaining employees.

A good rule for structuring your summary is to use action verbs and quantifiable achievements whenever possible. Use one sentence to introduce yourself, another couple to describe your biggest successes and achievements, and another one or two to describe the skills you’ll bring to the company. Don’t just reiterate your resume; instead, use this space to pull everything together into a narrative about your fit for the role. 

You can find adaptable store manager resume example summaries below:

Outline your store manager work experience 

To build an employment experience section that shows all the skills and achievements throughout your career, list your current or most recent job at the top and work your way backwards in reverse chronological order. Stick to the last 10-15 years, as any further back may be less relevant and can invite ageism. 

Underneath the header for each employer, use concise bullet point statements to describe your achievements and accomplishments. Each bullet point builds on the case for hiring you, so use strong action words and data and details to make your point. Consider using the CAR method: describe the challenge, tell what action you took, and explain your results. 

It’s easy to write a resume that simply reflects your day-to-day duties, like this:

• "Oversaw retail teams.”
• "Increased sales to customers.”
• "Ran retail store successfully.”

Those vague statements could describe any retail manager, but there’s nothing that calls out why you are the best fit for the job based on your past experience. When you replace these statements with results-based bullets, it transforms your resume from a simple list of work responsibilities to a document that truly sells you.

• “Oversaw high-performing teams of up to 50 retail sales associates.”
• “Increased sales by 20% year over year through anticipating customer trends and optimizing inventory.”
• “Managed operations of the second-busiest store location in the region, increasing YoY sales five years in a row.”

Take a look at the store manager employment history resume sample below:

How to write a store manager resume with no experience 

Most retail management jobs require previous experience in retail establishments and probably prioritize those with previous leadership experience. However, there are smaller businesses that may be more open to those without much direct experience—as long as you use your transferable skills to prove your abilities. 

Transferable skills for retail management might include previous sales experience outside of retail, customer service experience (especially things like working as a server or a bartender), or even work in a call center. 

Leadership is also important, so don’t forget to mention any managerial roles you’ve held, whether professionally or on a volunteer basis. 

Moreover, related educational experience can help. A degree in business, HR, or marketing can be beneficial. So can anything that reflects your ability to work as part of a team, like team sports or membership in a fraternity or sorority. 

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great store manager

Store managers need both hard and soft skills to be successful. Hard skills are those that are measurable and demonstrable, like expertise with specific software or POS systems or knowledge of inventory management practices. On the other hand, soft skills like customer service, communication, and teamwork matter, too. 

This at-a-glance section focuses recruiters’ eyes on your highest-level abilities, but they will also use it to glean what you think are the most important skills for the job. This is a perfect place to get in those all-important keywords and phrases from the job listing and increase your chances of ranking high with the ATS or the recruiter. 

Our resume builder offers numerous key skills to choose from, along with proficiency ranges you can set. You can also write in your own skills.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our store manager resume template. 

However, this isn't the only part of your resume that should reflect your skill set. In fact, your skills should be shared throughout your resume, ideally by displaying specific examples and achievements. 

For example, in your summary and work experience sections, you might highlight your:

• Leadership skills by describing your role leading the sales associates, developing employees into leaders, or turning around an underperforming store
• Sales skills by showcasing the sales volume at your store, how you increased sales over time, or any sales awards you earned
• Customer service skills by quantifying customer satisfaction scores or detailing the customer volume your store handled on a daily or weekly basis

Look at the job description if you’re wondering about the best skills to include.

Detail your education & relevant store manager training or certifications

Your education section is a simple listing of your degrees, certificates, and relevant training that has furthered your knowledge. Simply list your educational credentials in reverse chronological order. 

Store managers have often come up through the retail ranks and learned on the job, but some establishments may require at least an associate’s degree, often in business, and most establishments will require a high school diploma or equivalent. If you hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, there’s no need to list your high school information. 

Beyond your formal education, however, there are other things you may want to include here. For example:

• Courses and certifications. Any training courses or relevant certifications in sales or management.
• Professional development. Memberships in professional associations or business groups like Retail Industry Leaders Association.
• Internships or apprenticeships. Relevant sales, business, or retail-focused internships or training programs.

Pick the right resume layout and design for a store manager resume

You know how the right design makes a difference to the flow and ambiance of a store, and your resume is no different. Presentation matters. You want customers to be able to find what they seek without frustration; you want the same for recruiters. If your design is too busy or confusing, they will move on.

Your resume should be eye-catching and attractive, but still streamlined—avoid graphics, multiple colors and fonts, or photos. A store manager's resume should make use of clean lines, a pop of color or simply black and white text, and straightforward organization that clearly separates the sections. 

While there’s no shortcut to a perfect resume, Resume.io makes the process easier with our resume templates, which put the most tedious formatting work in our hands. 

Store manager text-only resume example

Store manager job market and outlook

The total growth for all sales managers is expected to be 4%, in line with the average for all fields, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts. However, as the retail industry as a whole continues to adjust to consumer demands for online shopping and curbside pickup, the makeup of stores will also change, potentially putting retail store management jobs at risk. In fact, retail sales worker jobs are declining by 2%, per the BLS.

What type of salary you can expect in store management

The average salary for a store manager is $56,648, while Salary.com states the average salary is $77,725 with a full range of $64,187 to $99,338. 

Key takeaways for building a store manager resume

The retail industry is changing, but there are still opportunities out there. It’s important, however, to put your best foot forward and really sell yourself to win the job over the competition. Since you’re an expert at sales, it’s time to sell yourself. 

Leverage your excellent communication skills to craft a resume that calls out your achievements and expertise, especially in sales and leadership, and provide enough detail to make your case. 

Use Resume.io’s online resume builder to get a jumpstart on your job hunt.