Is consumer specialties a good career path?

Yes, consumer specialties is a good career path. The consumer service industry is one of the largest in the United States and generates a revenue of about $300 billion annually. This industry, therefore, employs a good number of professionals from different professions and offers many career opportunities.

How To Become A Consumer Sales Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a consumer sales associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Consumer sale associates primarily assist customers. You have to welcome customers and answer questions related to their purchases. You are also to assist them with refunds or the resolution of complaints. It is your responsibility to operate cash registers, manage financial transactions and achieve the set sale goals. Sale associates direct customers to the merchandise and also cross-sell productions for increased sales. Additionally, you are to make your customers aware of the latest promos and opportunities to promote sales.

An associate degree or its equivalent is the minimum educational requirement for this role. Proven work experience may also be required. You should appear professional, remain positive, and be concerned with customer satisfaction. Sales associates should be able to stand and walk for long periods. You must also be able to perform basic math calculations and possess good oral and verbal communication skills. The average salary of a customer sales associate is $27,325 per year.

What general advice would you give to a consumer sales associate?

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Associate Professor, San Diego Mesa College

Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.

ScoreConsumer Sales AssociateUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,429

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.56%

Asian 7.62%

Black or African American 10.99%

Hispanic or Latino 17.05%

Unknown 5.20%

White 58.58%

Gender

female 47.89%

male 52.11%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a consumer sales associate

Explore consumer sales associate education requirements

Most common consumer sales associate degrees

Bachelor's

51.5 %

High School Diploma

20.4 %

Associate

15.4 %

Start to develop specific consumer sales associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Product Knowledge	17.26%
Customer Service	13.76%
Outbound Calls	13.20%
Sales Floor	7.75%
Inbound Calls	7.49%

Complete relevant consumer sales associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New consumer sales associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a consumer sales associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real consumer sales associate resumes.

Research consumer sales associate duties and responsibilities

Manage call center productivity levels by maintaining CSR schedule adherence.
Require multitasking, responding appropriately to customer questions and concerns, and negotiating sales for additional products and services.
Recognize opportunities to up-sell and often take the opportunity to do so to create a better Marriott experience and event.

Apply for consumer sales associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a consumer sales associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do consumer sales associates rate their job?

-/5

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Consumer sales associate reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2021

Pros

I like mostly that I work with team oriented people. Some people that care and will help and that help others whether it's work related or not. That have good employee morale amongst each other not necessarily management but amongst each other.