How to hire an associate store manager

How to hire an associate store manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate store manager hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the associate store manager you need to hire. Certain associate store manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An associate store manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, associate store managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of associate store managers.

   Type of Associate Store Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Store Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$11-16
   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
   Lead Manager	A lead manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the progress of a particular office or department. Although the responsibilities will vary depending on their industry, it will typically revolve around producing progress reports, reviewing documentation and transactions, managing the budget, procuring supplies, and devising strategies to generate leads and reach goals faster... Show more	$35-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Product Knowledge
   • Customer Service
   • Store Operations
   • Drive Sales
   • Human Resources
   • Retail Sales
   • Loss Prevention
   • Cleanliness
   • Store Associates
   • Inventory Management
   • Store Standards
   • POS
   • Cash Handling

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and implement operational strategies utilizing less payroll expenses and allot hour usage to accomplish logistical and operational excellence.
   • Demonstrate proficiency in POS and inventory systems to maintain online store, website and business operations.
   • Supervise the management of the POS system and approve all cash wrap management, cash auditing, and tip reporting.
   • Prepare sales and customer relations reports by analyzing and categorizing sales information; identifying and investigating customer complaints and service suggestions.
   • Increase volume by 200k in 2012 beating plan and LY by double digits.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate store manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate store manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate store managers' average salary in kentucky is 49% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate store managers earn 31% less than senior-level associate store managers.
   • Certifications. An associate store manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate store manager's salary.

   Average associate store manager salary

   $14.33hourly

   $29,803 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level associate store manager salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing an associate store manager job description

   A good associate store manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an associate store manager job description:

   Associate store manager job description example

   Flexible Schedules | Holiday Pay | Training | Sales Incentives | Career Paths | 401k1 | Benefits2 | PTO3

   What does a normal day look like?

   At ACE, you’ll MAKE IT EASY for our customers by providing the best customer service!

   • Educate customers on products
   • Listen to customer needs
   • Maintain store security
   • Provide card services
   • Process MoneyGram transactions
   • Complete Bill Pay transactions
   • Cash checks

   Physical Demands

   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time. The employee is also required to sit and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop or bend; and talk and hear. The employee must have appropriate vision to see up close and at a distance with ability to adjust vision and focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

   The ability to work 10-12 hours in a confined work area is required.

   EEO Statement

   Populus Financial Group/ACE Cash Express is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. In compliance with applicable law, Populus Financial Group does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, pregnancy status, or any other protected classification. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotions, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.

   1 All employees are eligible to participate in 401k

   2 Full-time employees are eligible for benefits after 90 days of continuous employment, including medical, dental, vision, and short/long-term disability

   3 Populus Financial Group/ACE Cash Express offers generous paid time off plans

   Company DescriptionACE Cash Express, Inc. is a leading retailer of financial services, including short-term consumer loans; check cashing, digital bank accounts, prepaid debit cards, and bill payment services, and the largest owner and operator of check cashing stores in the United States and the second largest owner and operator of short-term consumer loan stores in the United States. ACE focuses on serving consumers, many of whom seek alternatives to traditional banking relationships in order to gain convenient and immediate access to financial services.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right associate store manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with associate store managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit associate store managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate store manager job on Zippia to find and recruit associate store manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with associate store manager 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 associate store manager

   Once you've selected the best associate store manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   To prepare for the new associate store manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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