Some Education But No Experience: Entry Level Jobs

Laura O. Tolentino

Most of us work retail at some point in our lives. It’s a job you might not want to work at forever, but there are ways to leverage some great perks working on the retail floor. It is also possible to advance into the corporate realm in some retail situations, making this a real career path. Whether you are treating it as the former or the latter, there are ways to make the most of your retail job. Here are a few strategies.

1) Work Somewhere like TJ Maxx. TJ Maxx and their associated companies are becoming the kings of retail. With innovative pricing and product placement techniques, they appeal to all different budgets, while maintaining huge margins for the retail world. What’s more, they tend to hire from within, so if you do great as an entry-level employee, you very possibly may work your way up to management and corporate positions, if this is what you want. As a quality brand that is constantly expanding, this is an example of a company that is always looking for bright people. And while retail jobs might not scream “great career path” to a bright person, this is a notable exception.

2) Work at a Place that Offers Discounts on Stuff You Like. Everybody knows someone who works at a hip clothing retailer, just for the discount. If you are someone who likes to dress on trend, the easiest way to stock your closet affordably is by working for your brand of choice. Many of these retailers offer steep discounts of 40% or more to all employees. You’ll see this sort of discounting model in some other retail situations, but it is most well known among clothiers. Other works leverage this situation working for lifestyle brands, like REI, getting gear and other accoutrements for a fraction of their normal price.

3) Work at a Place that Offers Commission. For those with a competitive nature and a knack for the sale, commissioned retail operations like Sears may be a great choice. If you think that you could sell 8 riding lawnmowers in a weekend, you can actually make a really solid living, especially if you’re a student. Stores like this are becoming fewer, as big box retailers give way to online sales. But sellers of the biggest appliances and household goods are still very much in business, and they need good people to sell people on the specs of their latest wares. If you can sell ice to an Eskimo, this may be the retail career path for you.

Of course, there are plenty of other fish in the retail sea, each with their own tips and tricks. But these are three of the best for people who want to get the most out of their job, something more than a paycheck. By finding meaning and purpose in retail, you elevate it from something to pay the bills to a real vocation. This is all the difference between merely tolerating and loving where you work.

Author Bio : Laura Tolentino is an experienced assistant in a big recruiting company. Now her focus is on retail jobs.