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Department specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Claire Strom Ph.D.,

Donna Kukarola

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical department specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for department specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.1% of department specialist resumes contained product knowledge as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a department specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 department specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how department specialists use product knowledge:

Specialized in product knowledge to effectively and honestly sell merchandise to consumer.
Assist manager with filing paper work, using spreadsheet, emailing, mailing, faxing, and photocopying product knowledge documents.

2. Drive Sales

Here's how department specialists use drive sales:

Deliver standard operating procedure execution to help drive sales.
Drive sales and deliver operating procedures correctly.

3. Cleanliness

Here's how department specialists use cleanliness:

Recovered, replenished, and maintained cleanliness of the Men's Department.
Maintained strict organization, operation, and cleanliness of the shop.

4. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how department specialists use customer satisfaction:

Managed non-routine calls & interactions with customers that required problem solving skills to ensure customer satisfaction.
Verified thoroughness, and accuracy of document, and completeness resulting in customer satisfaction.

5. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how department specialists use customer service:

Ensured accurate and timely resolution to questions by providing excellent customer service to vendors and retailers in regard to invoice processing.
Provide input and recommendations for design and development of policies, processes and procedures for improved department operations and customer service.

6. Office Equipment

Here's how department specialists use office equipment:

Involved with researching new office equipment and requisitioning.
Answer office phone, greets visitors to the department, order department supplies, and monitors maintenance on office equipment's.

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7. Sales Floor

The sales floor is the area in a company or a business that is specified for retail activities or is designated as the selling area of the shop. A car showroom can be considered a sales floor, as it has cars in its display which are to be sold. A sales floor is generally crowded with sales assistants who are there to help you out while you can search and check out the products. Generally a sales floor has free access to the public and they can observe, view and get information about the product that is being sold.

Here's how department specialists use sales floor:

Followed company policy for sales floor area and assigned tasks to sales associates based on merit and strong performance.
Assisted in the training of new team members allowing a smooth transition for new hires onto the sales floor.

8. Excellent Time Management

Here's how department specialists use excellent time management:

Demonstrated excellent time management skills and organization skills throughout the department to increase productivity and sales performance.

9. Patients

Here's how department specialists use patients:

Performed insurance verification for new and self-pay patients to facilitate reimbursement for the services rendered.
Evaluate and treat patients in the emergency room, field or at private residence according to protocol or physician.

10. Stock Room

A stock room is a room where a company's goods are stored. It is a room where products or materials are kept until they are needed: Less stock is kept on the shop floor and more in the stockroom.

Here's how department specialists use stock room:

Control of stock in the children s department and stock room.
Maintained organized stock room and selling floor Ensure promotions are accurate and merchandised to the company s standards.

11. Standard Operating Procedure

Here's how department specialists use standard operating procedure:

Drive profitable sales growth by planning and executing company merchandising direction through standard operating procedure execution in my department.
Prepare and maintain documents such as standard operating procedures and batch records.

12. Inventory Control

Here's how department specialists use inventory control:

Directed and monitored office related equipment and supplies including inventory control and shrinkage; reordered materials as needed.
Coordinated logistics with off-site warehouse for receiving and inventory control.

13. Gross Profit

Here's how department specialists use gross profit:

Modified retails to coincide with price changes, ensuring gross profit stability and growth.
Reviewed and approved inventory and gross profit numbers for weekly close process.

14. Customer Complaints

Here's how department specialists use customer complaints:

Resolve customer complaints, greet customers entering establishment, and bag merchandise.
Researched Customer Complaints & Issues.

15. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how department specialists use data entry:

Enhanced operational performance thoroughly executing data entry, coding, scanning and filing.
Make changes noted above when needed due to team being shorthanded via data entry.

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What skills help Department Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What department specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Claire Strom Ph.D.

Rapetti-Trunzo Chair of History, Rollins College

Gaining more facility with computers will always be beneficial-as we have all found out during the pandemic. Generally, however, I encourage students to use a gap year to have adventures and do things out-of-the-ordinary. Students are focused on their trajectory for all their lives and a gap year provides an unusual opportunity to do something different. In my experience, such adventures always prove fruitful and helpful, although it is never clear how until they are over. Thus, I would suggest AmeriCorps, VISTA, teaching abroad, and other related activities.

What type of skills will young department specialists need?

Donna Kukarola

Procurement Director, Forsyth County, Georgia

Without a doubt, the need for computer literacy will continue to expand, the ability to work with people, communication skills, being a team member/collaborative. So, in other words, many of the "soft" skills will need the skills they trained for their industry/vocation.

What technical skills for a department specialist stand out to employers?

Joseph Hancock

Research Professor, Program Director, Former Retail Operations Manager, Drexel University, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Technologically savvy is necessary, so what will set you apart are your soft skills, patience, the ability to think beyond yourself. Again, don't be ethnocentric, be multi-centric. I believe technology only exposes us to a virtual world of acceptance, and really if you are going to be sales, you need to be cultured beyond the computer and social media. Understand others and their needs, be a person who tells the potential employer how you are going to go the extra mile to care for customers and make sure their needs are met through your excellent customers service skills (and give solid examples). Most importantly, know what you are selling and realize that the person you are talking to, might know more than you! There have been so many times I walk into a retail store only to have the store associate or manager talk to me as if I know nothing about the product they are selling. Ask your customers questions do not just talk at them, talk with them.

What soft skills should all department specialists possess?

Alexander Nagel Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Assistant Chair, Art History and Museum Professions, Fashion Institute of Technology

Soft skills needed are flexibilities to adapt quickly to new opportunities, to be open to non-traditional career paths. Being organized and responsive to email correspondence, being friendly and kind, having empathy are values that will never be out of fashion. FIT is known for being home to "unconventional minds," and our students are super creative, engaged, and ready to take on challenges.

Do you want to know more?

List of department specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a department specialist resume and required skills for a department specialist to have include:

Product Knowledge
Drive Sales
Cleanliness
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Service
Office Equipment
Sales Floor
Excellent Time Management
Patients
Stock Room
Standard Operating Procedure
Inventory Control
Gross Profit
Customer Complaints

Data Entry
Strong Analytical
PowerPoint
Loss Prevention
Profitable Sales Growth
Travel Arrangements
Financial Data
SharePoint
Expense Reports
Medicaid
Credit Card
Computer System
Inventory Management
POS

Sales Associates
Scheduling Appointments
HR
Telephone Calls
ACH
Collating
Customer Inquiries
Journal Entries
Customer Care
Albertsons
Customer Relations
Customer Issues
Supervalu
Product Placement

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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