To become a general sales associate, you usually need a bachelor's degree and zero years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming a general sales associate are sales associate, cashier, and customer service representative. It takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become a general sales associate.

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -2% and produce -105,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

How to become a General Sales Associate in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore general sales associate education
  • Step 2: Develop general sales associate skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Research general sales associate duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume

Key Steps To Become a General Sales Associate

  1. Explore General Sales Associate Education

    If you're interested in becoming a general sales associate, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 35.8% of general sales associates have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 3.2% of general sales associates have master's degrees. Even though some general sales associates have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    General Sales Associate Degrees

    Bachelors

    35.8 %

    High School Diploma

    31.0 %

    Associate

    19.5 %

  2. Develop General Sales Associate Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop general sales associate skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in general sales associate job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    POS15.17%
    Work Ethic14.14%
    Food Preparation11.18%
    PowerPoint9.74%
    Customer Service9.52%

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    General sales associates spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new general sales associates learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a general sales associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general sales associate resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

  4. Research General Sales Associate Duties

    When you decide to become a general sales associate, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most general sales associate jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
    • Exhibit rudimentary math skills and advance communication skills when efficiently cashiering in a fast pace environment.
    • Perform minor repairs on Kohl's jewelry like changing watch batteries and removing watch links.

  5. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable General Sales Associate Resume templates

    Build a professional General Sales Associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your General Sales Associate resume.

    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume
    General Sales Associate Resume

  6. Apply For a General Sales Associate Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

    General Sales Associate Jobs

  7. How To Become a General Sales Associate
    How To Become a General Sales Associate Career Overview

Average Salary for a General Sales Associate

General Sales Associates in America make an average salary of $29,328 per year or $14 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $39,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $21,000 per year.
Average General Sales Associate Salary
$29,328 Yearly
$14.10 hourly

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator