Store Manager resume examples & templates

As the retail industry has seen an 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. 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 are the ones who keep sales flowing.

Entry-level

Mid-career

Senior-level

Use this template

Use this template

Use this template

As a store manager, you know that first impressions make the difference between making a sale and not. You know how to sell your product, but do you know how to sell your experience? An engaging store manager resume is what you need to make the right impression on hiring managers and land your dream management job.

Resume guide for a store manager resume

At resume.io, you can find everything you need to manage your job search, including 500+ resume examples, writing guides, and an easy-to-use resume builder. 

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

• How to write a store manager resume
• The best format for a store manager resume
• How and where to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Showcasing your store manager experience
• Listing your education and relevant experience
• Professional resume layout and design hints
• What the store manager job market and salary landscape looks like

How to write a store manager resume

The first step in writing your store manager resume is understanding the correct 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 section has a targeted purpose, just like your sales pitches or employee training sessions. Notice that we said “pitches,” plural. You know that customers are different and you adjust your tone and style accordingly—your resume should be the same. 

Each store you apply to has a different focus, 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. Of course, you should always aim for a professional impression that shows off your unique selling proposition. Remember, too, to highlight your accomplishments and not simply your job duties. 

Choosing the right resume format for a store manager resume

The best resume format for most resumes is reverse chronological, wherein your experience is written in reverse chronological order to tell your career story. This shows the reader where you are in your career and what led you to this point. It also gives you a great way to highlight your current achievements and show your career progress. Your employment history section should follow this format unless you have a compelling reason to veer from it.

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 emphasize skills over experience. If you have switched careers or are just entering the job market, try a hybrid format that blends the two.

Our resume builder includes several resume templates to choose from, including multiple versions of each format type available as resume examples.

When it comes to your resume’s design, a store manager resume should reflect your professionalism and ability to keep an organized location while making sales. A clean, clear, modern layout does the trick.

Include your contact information

As a store manager, you know that making a connection involves introducing yourself and building a relationship. Your resume’s header does just this. 

Make sure your contact information is easily found on your resume (typically at the top of the page) and that it includes all the imperative information. 

• Full name & title. List your first and last name and the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a simple format like [email protected]. Avoid using a quirky, unprofessional email address.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting and a voicemail box that isn’t full.
• Location. Only list your city and state, not your street address (unsafe) or zip code (not necessary). If you're willing to relocate, note that here.
• LinkedIn. Although LinkedIn is less important in retail work, if your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your sales network, include it here.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth. This isn’t necessary and could lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details. Keep off your marital status, parenthood status, social security number, passport number, etc.
• Photo or headshot. There’s no need to take up space with a headshot; it’s not customary for most jobs in the US.

Make use of a summary

A store manager relies heavily on relationships with others, both customers and employees, and your store manager resume summary should reflect that. The profile, or professional summary, is the place to inject some personality into your resume with 3-5 sentences. This is your chance to sell your prospective employer on your personality and your talent for growing sales and retaining employees.

Use one sentence to introduce yourself, another one or two to describe your biggest successes or achievements, and one or two more to describe your skills and what you will bring to the company. Incorporate action verbs that pack a punch: exceeded, spearheaded, enhanced, directed. 

Don’t just repeat what’s already on your resume. Instead, craft an overarching narrative of your talents and traits. Show that unique value proposition and define who you are.

You can find adaptable store manager resume example summaries below:

Outline your store manager work experience

You’ve come a long way since your first retail job, with each position teaching you new skills or giving you a chance to achieve. Now it’s time to pull it all together to put forward an excellent impression of your career. 

Using reverse chronological order, list your current or most recent job first, then work your way back (only focusing on the last 10-15 years). Make sure to include relevant experience and avoid relying on unrelated work history. List the company, your title, and the dates of work. Underneath, craft concise bullet points that use strong action words, data, and details to make your point. Consider using the CAR method: describe the Challenge, tell what Action you took, and explain your Results.

Don’t just list your day-to-day duties. Most people can assume what a store manager does, but unless you tell them directly, no one knows what your specific impact was. For example, it’s easy to imagine these types of resume bullets:

• “Hired, trained, and developed employees.”
• “Handled performance reviews”
• “Managed inventory.”
• “Followed merchandising standards.”

Replace these vague bullet points with results-based points that put the focus on the impact you brought to the company. Think about times your store exceeded sales goals, key improvements you made, or even the number of people you managed. 

Check out these reworked versions of the phrases above:

• “Hired, trained, and developed 30+ employees for various positions throughout the store.”
• “Created and administered semi-annual performance reviews to a team of 85 employees.”
• “Led and executed bi-annual inventory overhauls for years.”
• “Oversaw merchandising standards during new product launches.”

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

How to write a store manager resume with no experience

While stepping into management will require some level of prior sales or retail experience, what if you don’t yet have experience as a manager? That’s where your transferable skills come in. 

Here, you’ll focus on your background in sales or retail and how you successfully achieved or exceeded goals and KPIs. If you lack formal leadership experience but often coached teammates or helped new hires get up to speed, highlight that. 

Or, if you’ve been a manager elsewhere (such as a bar or restaurant) that honed your customer service or communication skills, even if you lack retail-specific experience, be sure to display them here. 

Also, draw attention to any relevant education or training you’ve undergone that has set you up to be a strong manager. 

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

In your skills list, combine a mix of people skills and technical/business skills—that is, incorporate both hard and soft skills. 

Hard skills are those that are demonstrable and measurable, like knowledge of specific POS systems or experience with inventory processes. 

Don’t count out soft skills like customer service, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, or teamwork. 

The resume builder provides plenty of pre-written key skills to choose from, or you can write in some of your own. 

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

This skills list isn’t the only place to add your key skills, however. Instead, you should make sure they’re reflected throughout your resume, especially in the experience and summary sections. Providing specific examples and achievements helps demonstrate your skills in action.

For example, consider highlighting your:

• Leadership skills by describing your role in a sales team, mentioning the team size and accomplishments, as well as activities you did as a manager (e.g., performance reviews)
• Customer service skills by sharing your store’s customer satisfaction levels or the number of customers you served per day
• Sales expertise by showcasing how you—or your team—exceeded sales goals, moved new products, or introduced new deals that increased sales

Assess the job description as a guide for key skills to include.

Detail your education & relevant certifications

Store managers have often come up through the ranks and learned on the job, but some establishments may require at least an associate’s degree in business. Your education section should list any degrees you’ve earned. If you hold a college degree, there’s no need to include information from high school.

While formal education can be important, don’t stop there. This section is a great opportunity to list certifications, training, or other relevant knowledge you've gained. For example:

• Training and courses. Sales training courses, workshops, or even webinars that enhance your sales or management knowledge.
• Certifications. Any relevant sales or coaching certificates you’ve completed.
• Professional development. Memberships in business or trade associations, like the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

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

As a store manager, you are well aware that presentation makes a difference. That holds true for your resume as well. You want customers to be able to find what they seek without frustration, and you want the same for recruiters. If your design is too busy or confusing, they may become distracted or move on.

Keep your resume streamlined and neat, using just one or two professional fonts. Avoid graphics or images, and don’t insert too many tables or extraneous sections. A pop of color is okay, but keep it limited.

Use a good amount of white space to balance out your text, clearly label your sections, and bring the reader’s eye to the important merchandise you’re selling: your expertise.

Our field-tested resume templates take care of the most tedious formatting and structure tasks for you.  

Store manager text-only resume example

Store manager job market and outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the growth for retail store managers will be 1.2% in the next decade, which is about average. 

As online shopping increases, there may be fewer store managers needed in retail establishments. However, some physical locations may ramp up their competition with online stores, thus needing store managers to help make an impact.

What type of salary you can expect as a store manager

The BLS states that the median annual salary for sales managers in retail is $53,930. While retail sales representatives often earn an hourly wage, those in management often earn a salary and may earn bonuses as well. 

Key takeaways for building a store manager resume

A career as a store manager can give you the chance to flex your sales muscles while leading a high-performing team and keeping store operations moving smoothly. While the industry is ever-changing, there is plenty of opportunity, and a great resume is key to landing the right job. You know how to sell, so use your resume to sell your unique value. 

Kickstart your store manager job search with our online resume builder, then supercharge it with resume.io. 

Unlock 18 powerful tools to search for jobs, track your progress, ace your interviews, and negotiate the best salary—all within our comprehensive career toolkit.