How to hire a key holder/sales lead

How to hire a key holder/sales lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step key holder/sales lead hiring guide:

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

Post a key holder/sales lead job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your key holder/sales lead job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a key holder/sales lead for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A key holder/sales lead's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, key holder/sales leads 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 key holder/sales leads.

   Type of Key Holder/Sales Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Key Holder/Sales Lead		$12-16
   Floor Supervisor	A floor supervisor is personnel hired by the hospitality and retail establishments who provide a quality experience to guests by inspecting the guest area's cleanliness. To maintain freshness, a floor supervisor collaborates with a manager to deploy custodial staff and train new employees... Show more	$10-16
   Shift Supervisor	Shift supervisors are responsible for the employees assigned to the shift that they are handling. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees who were expected to report to work at the specific shift came in... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Sales Floor
   • Product Knowledge
   • Bank Deposits
   • POS
   • Customer Service
   • Store Operations
   • Payroll
   • Store Procedures
   • Stock Room
   • Visual Standards
   • Customer Complaints
   • Loss Prevention
   • Visual Presentation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Complete all major operational tasks such as store emails, manage payroll, as well as performing all POS system procedures.
   • Demonstrate leadership in driving sales and profitability by achieving all establish store and individual goals.
   • Operate POS cash register and count money in cash drawers to make sure the correction of amount.
   • Conduct interviews, train new sales associates, process payroll, process scheduling, develop new sales, and support customers.
   • Monitor reports dealing with markdowns, accountability, shrinkage, and merchandising for department order items for management evaluation.
   • Start as a part time associate and are promoted to full time Keyholder within 90 days.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your key holder/sales lead job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A key holder/sales lead salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, key holder/sales leads' average salary in iowa is 46% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level key holder/sales leads earn 26% less than senior-level key holder/sales leads.
   • Certifications. A key holder/sales lead 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 a key holder/sales lead's salary.

   Average key holder/sales lead salary

   $14.70hourly

   $30,574 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level key holder/sales lead salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a key holder/sales lead job description

   A key holder/sales lead job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a key holder/sales lead job description:

   Key holder/sales lead job description example

   LOFT launched in 1998 and today has 570 full-price and outlet stores. LOFT creates modern, feminine and versatile clothing for women with one common style goal: to look and feel confident, wherever the day takes them. Our collections reflect our belief that there's no one way to dress, just like there's no right or wrong way to look or be. LOFT's mission is to combine inspiring modern casual fashion, ingenious ease of dressing solutions and impactful community actions to fuel self-confidence and be an uplifting, trusted resource so that she can live out loud.
   
   We believe what you do is just as important as how you do it. We're committed to fostering a community where all Associates lead with their strengths, feel connected to what we stand for, are accountable to growing our culture together, and are supported in their individual development. You're invited to discover the unparalleled opportunities that await you.
   
   Responsibilities will include: Providing exceptional client services, operating as the Manager on Duty in the absence of a manager, performing operational and transactional functions, handling client service issues, issuing approvals for desk transactions as well as opening and closing the store. The Sales Lead will refer all duties which require managerial experience and/or approval to the Store Manager (e.g. disciplinary action, hiring, and terminating associates).
   Primary Responsibilities/Accountabilities:
   Embraces our values & sets an example through his/her behaviors
   Responsible for compliance with all ANN INC. practices and procedures
   Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Store Manager or Co-Manager
   Sales Lead Responsibilities
   In addition to Sales Associate roles of providing excellence in delivering the Client Experience, the Sales Lead is responsible for supporting the Store Manager and CO-Manager in overseeing the operational functioning of the store including, but not limited to:
   Supporting the business strategy & adjusting to effectively reach goals
   Driving revenue by proactively managing the client experience while effectively performing Manager On Duty responsibilities - Assuming the MOD role when Store Manager/Co-Manager is not on the floor
   Utilizing tools to ensure a client-focused team environment
   Driving volume & anticipating clients' needs while communicating store metrics & individual performance to motivate associates
   Coaching Associates “in the moment” on client interactions & performance to maximize productivity & capture client opportunities
   Possessing keys to the store, performing opening and closing procedures in the absence of management (e.g., opening/closing registries, opening checkli9sts, bank deposits, filling in, recovery, cleaning, retrieves/send email, review AT Web, accepts/receives shipment
   Assuming PIN and signature privileges for register functions requiring approval
   Utilizing reports to make effective merchandising decisions & style the store in Division standards
   Leveraging tools, assessing and taking action to drive operational excellence through Stanard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
   Ensure optimal coverage and productivity in all areas of the store through scheduling appropriately
   Complete daily tasks to ensure store runs smoothly and meets all ANN INC. standards and guidelines
   Reports to work as scheduled; records time worked accurately by using ANN INC.'s Time and Attendance system; remains flexible to the needs of the business
   Embraces fashion, understands current market trends and is able to articulate them using ANN INC. interpretations in every client interaction. Represents the brand by adhering to ANN INC.'s dress code guidelines
   Treats others fairly and with respect, valuing differences
   Position Requirements:
   Client Service: Ensures that the client remains the top priority while balancing required tasks and overall store operations
   Store Operations and Organization: Ability to organize, delegate, prioritize assignments, and meet deadlines
   Merchandising: Knowledge of visual standards and techniques, and ability to implement and maintain with ANN INC.'s guidelines
   Accuracy: Ability to handle cash and provide change without error. Ability to prepare nightly deposit as necessary. Captures accurate information for all transactions including signatures, addresses, and original receipt data
   Communication: Communicates effectively with Clients, Members of Management, Buyisness Partners, and Store Associates
   Schedule: Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business, including evening and weekend shifts
   Physical: Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds occasionally. Maneuver effectively around sales floor, stock room and office
   Educational Requirements and Experience:
   Minimum Requirements: High School Diploma or GED
   Minimum six months Sales Associate experience with ANN INC. or equivalent experience with another retailer in a position of sales associate or higher
   Part-time or full-time managerial experience preferred

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right key holder/sales lead 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 key holder/sales leads they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit key holder/sales leads 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 key holder/sales lead job on Zippia to find and recruit key holder/sales lead 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

   Recruiting key holder/sales leads requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 key holder/sales lead

   Once you have selected a candidate for the key holder/sales lead position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a key holder/sales lead?