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Sales clerk skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Joseph Hancock,

Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sales clerk skills. We ranked the top skills for sales clerks based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 26.0% of sales clerk resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sales clerk needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sales clerk skills for your resume and career

1. 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 sales clerks use customer service:

Provided professional customer service, performed sales transactions, and displayed ability to communicate with a variety of people
Modeled best practice for fellow associates and increased customer service ratings via exceptional attention to detail.

2. Stock Shelves

To "stock shelves" is referred as the process of putting the supplies on the shelves in the store. It is important to stock the shelves timely as empty shelves can cost a business too much.

Here's how sales clerks use stock shelves:

Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tales with new or transferred merchandise as well as keeping inventory.
Greet customer, answer questions, direct customers to merchandise, recommend products, stock shelves, and maintain store cleanliness.

3. 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 sales clerks use sales floor:

Increased customer satisfaction by delivering helpful and insightful suggestions on sales floor.
Provided customer service and knowledgeable recommendations to customers on sales floors.

4. Retail Sales

Retail sales are the method to track consumer demand for finished goods by assessing the purchases of durable and non-durable products over a definite period. Data on retail sales is accumulated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Here's how sales clerks use retail sales:

Performed retail sales activities and made transactions involving money accurately and quickly.
Perform retail sales functions by operating a cash register accurately and efficiently.

5. 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 sales clerks use product knowledge:

Developed a loyal following of customers by providing exceptional product knowledge, combined with top-quality customer service.
Utilized in-depth product knowledge to offer additional/alternative items to customers to drive sales.

6. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how sales clerks use pos:

Followed POS procedures daily and completed appropriate paperwork.
Processed monetary transactions POS system.

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7. Sales Transactions

Sales transaction is defined as the completed agreement between two or more parties involved in selling and payment of goods or services in exchange for money. The steps or procedure done is called sales transaction, which may include negotiation or bargaining, settlement of agreement including the agreement on the price, discount, and payment method whether this will be on cash basis or installment. The buyer may inquire about the product or services during the sales transaction and making the necessary adjustment with the seller until they come up with a specific agreement.

Here's how sales clerks use sales transactions:

Authorized and performed firearm sales transactions according to federal laws and regulations.
Performed cash management duties, processed sales transactions and maintained inventory.

8. Store Policies

Here's how sales clerks use store policies:

Informed customers of store policies and utilized communication / computer systems.
Applied store policies consistently and intelligently.

9. Store Displays

Here's how sales clerks use store displays:

Maintained store by opening and closing Balanced and prepared the evening sales report Customer Consultant Organized store displays
Conserved a clean department environment by organizing any misplaced items and maintaining store displays.

10. Professional Selling

Here's how sales clerks use professional selling:

Job Summary:Sells general merchandise to customers exercising professional selling techniques.
Exercise professional selling techniques to educate customers on features and benefits of various products, options, and price points.

11. Customer Orders

Here's how sales clerks use customer orders:

Operated cash register to quickly and accurately process payment for customer orders.
Fulfilled customer orders correctly and quickly in a high-volume retail environment.

12. Exceptional Guest

Here's how sales clerks use exceptional guest:

Received "Tops in Store Ops" recognition for teamwork, exceptional guest service and demonstrated safety.
Assisted park guest by answering questions and providing exceptional guest service- Maintained the cleanliness of the gift shops- Restocked the merchandise

13. Engraving

Here's how sales clerks use engraving:

Performed engraving, prepared jewelry repair tickets and performed repairs.

14. Retail Store

Here's how sales clerks use retail store:

Managed a retail storefront and communicated effectively with customers to achieve sales goals.
Clean counters, sweep and mop retail store floor, clean restroom, and empty trash cans as needed.

15. Inventory Control

Here's how sales clerks use inventory control:

Work duties involved participation in related merchandising, inventory control, and associated clerical work.
Performed inventory control, sales oversight, scheduled deliveries and maintained excellent customer relationships.

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What skills help Sales Clerks find jobs?

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

What technical skills for a sales clerk 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 sales clerks possess?

Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Chair, Academic Policies Committee, Director of MCOM Internship Program, University of North Carolina at Asheville

Be personable and a person someone wants to talk with and work with on a continuing basis. Listening and note-taking skills will be critical. Great employees listen well and ask good follow up questions. Be versatile and adaptable. If you find some downtime between projects, ask how you may help with another project.

Do you want to know more?

List of sales clerk skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a sales clerk resume and required skills for a sales clerk to have include:

Customer Service
Stock Shelves
Sales Floor
Retail Sales
Product Knowledge
POS
Sales Transactions
Store Policies
Store Displays
Professional Selling
Customer Orders
Exceptional Guest
Engraving
Retail Store
Inventory Control
Upselling

Computer System
Customer Complaints
Quality Customer Service
Excellent Guest
Cash Drawers
Process Transactions
Loss Prevention
Bank Deposits
Customer Inquiries
Stock Merchandise
Inventory Management
Customer Assistance
Stock Room
Customer Relations
Gift Shop
Customer Transactions

Sales Reports
Stock Inventory
Charge Slips
Customer Sales
Cash Control
Cash Registers
Display Cases
Security Practices
Credit Payment
Credit Card Transactions
Groceries
Store Merchandise
Display Merchandise
Helpful Attitude
Sales Prices

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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