How to hire an assistant manager/merchandise

How to hire an assistant manager/merchandise, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant manager/merchandise hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant manager/merchandise job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant manager/merchandise
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The assistant manager/merchandise hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an assistant manager/merchandise to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an assistant manager/merchandise that fits the bill.

   This list presents assistant manager/merchandise salaries for various positions.

   Type of Assistant Manager/Merchandise	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Manager/Merchandise		$16-45
   Co-Manager	A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules... Show more	$16-57
   Merchandising Manager	A merchandising manager is responsible for supervising stock inventories, retail pricing, and managing product displays by analyzing customer preferences through researching the current market trends that would improve the store's sales condition and achieve profitability goals. Merchandising managers negotiate with reliable third-party vendors, minimizing costs without compromising the quality of the products... Show more	$30-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Store Associates
   • Store Sales
   • Store Operations
   • Customer Service
   • POS
   • Loss Prevention
   • Drive Sales
   • Direct Reports
   • Front End
   • Product Knowledge
   • Cleanliness
   • Retail Store
   • Cash Handling

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
   • Hire, train and supervise a team of up to 12 associates to execute POS product set-up and maintenance.
   • Experience working with active wear, shoes, and apparel for women, men, kids, and baby.
   • Open and close store, utilize POS system to reconcile daily cash count, charges, returns, and exchanges.
   • Conduct district training classes on new company visual strategies as well as train new hire apparel associates within district stores.
   • Meet/exceed consumer expectations for ease of shopping by monitoring the variety, freshness, cleanliness, and appearance of the store.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant manager/merchandise job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An assistant manager/merchandise can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, assistant managers/merchandise' average salary in utah is 43% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant managers/merchandise 64% less than senior-level assistant managers/merchandise.
   • Certifications. An assistant manager/merchandise with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an assistant manager/merchandise's salary.

   Average assistant manager/merchandise salary

   $57,278yearly

   $27.54 hourly rate

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   Entry-level assistant manager/merchandise salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing an assistant manager/merchandise job description

   A job description for an assistant manager/merchandise role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an assistant manager/merchandise job description:

   Assistant manager/merchandise job description example

   The ideal Assistant Visual Merchandising Manager is a strong communicator, highly organized, and fashion-oriented. The assistant is responsible for partnering with the Visual Merchandising Manager in coaching and developing the in store visual teams, while achieving strategic company objectives and visual merchandising consistency.
   A day in the life...
   
   + K nowledgeable in all visual merchandising strategies , and current trends to help sell product in the store and support compan y sales goals
   
   + Ensure proper understanding of visual merchandising directives, pertaining to all departments in terms of the customer, fashion-relevant styling and be knowledgeable in current trends, to help sell product that is in store today
   
   + Assist in providing support to merchandising, signing, and implementing visual merchandising direction at the highest level, with the ability to customize as appropriate to your store
   
   + Ensure the successful execution of the in-store lighting program through proper installation, removal and adjustment of lighting, including promotional, general store and visual enhancement lighting
   
   + Ensure all visual safety programs and protocols are followed, including shop and visual space organization
   
   + Be clear and concise in communication while coaching Visual Merchandising employees for better performance, and share feedback wi th Visual Merchandising Manager
   
   You own this if you have...
   
   + Previous experience at Nordstrom i n visual merchandising
   
   + Proven success in current role with a s trong record of driving results
   
   + Strong organizational, deleg ation and follow-through skills
   
   + Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with store manager, reg ional manager and other leaders
   
   + Future Visual Leader (preferred)
   
   We've got you covered...
   
   Our employees are our most important asset and that's reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
   
   + Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
   
   + Life Insurance and Disability
   
   + Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
   
   A few more important points...
   
   The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
   
   Nordstrom will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.
   
   Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com .
   
   © 2022 Nordstrom, Inc
   
   Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right assistant manager/merchandise for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant manager/merchandise job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant manager/merchandise candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with assistant manager/merchandise candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant manager/merchandise

   Once you've decided on a perfect assistant manager/merchandise candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant manager/merchandise. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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