How to hire a sales floor associate

How to hire a sales floor associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sales floor associate hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your sales floor associate 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 sales floor associate 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 sales floor associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sales floor associates 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 sales floor associates.

   Type of Sales Floor Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Sales Floor Associate	Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.	$9-14
   Sales Clerk	A sales clerk is responsible for assisting customers in purchasing products, responding to customer inquiries, and providing product recommendations. Sales clerks require excellent customer service and communication skills to offer the best services to the customers and maintain good customer feedback for the business... Show more	$7-18

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Math
   • Home Health
   • Sales Transactions
   • Customer Service
   • Stock Shelves
   • Back Room
   • Front End
   • POS
   • Product Knowledge
   • Loss Prevention
   • Customer Inquiries
   • Pallet Jack
   • Customer Issues
   • Stock Room

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
   • Obtain training in the operation of the POS system , 10 key, credit card transactions, accounts, etc.
   • Work with other team members to complete sales goals as well as use the POS system to complete guest sales.
   • Prepare quality food products, process accurate register transactions, maintain general appearance and cleanliness of store premises.
   • Advise customers on quality, cuts, and value of jewelry and gems and in selecting mountings and setting for gems.
   • Improve customer solicitation pitch to increase Kohl's credit card application solicitations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sales floor associate job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A sales floor associate can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, sales floor associates' average salary in alabama is 39% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sales floor associates 39% less than senior-level sales floor associates.
   • Certifications. A sales floor associate with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a sales floor associate's salary.

   Average sales floor associate salary

   $11.91hourly

   $24,773 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level sales floor associate salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

4. Writing a sales floor associate job description

   A good sales floor associate job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a sales floor associate job description:

   Sales floor associate job description example

   At Office Depot and Office Max, the Retail Sales Floor Associate is a part-time role, providing exceptional customer service by performing duties as cashier, provides logistics support, stocking, restocking, down stocking, inventory control, cleaning the store and protecting company assets. S/he will quickly build and maintain customer relationships and become a trusted advisor by utilizing basic training of Technology products/services and print offerings.
   
   The associate in this role will demonstrates a passion for the brand, technology products, furniture, services, print and other services/products offered to our customers. S/he will utilize Office Depot and Office Max’s proven sales principles to proactively engage customers, in order to drive the sales of our total offerings and properly assess customer needs to ensure satisfaction in every interaction.
   
   Required successful completion of current basic Tech and Print Certification and continued education in these areas. The essential functions of this position may require you to consent to periodic comprehensive background checks conducted by a third-party.
   Primary Responsibility: 1. Provides exceptional customer service by performing duties as cashier, provides logistics support, stocking, restocking, down stocking, inventory control, cleaning the store and protecting company assets. 2. Performs merchandise-related activities to ensure merchandise presentation guidelines are met through implementing plan-o-gram changes and updates, merchandise set and price changes. Sets weekly ads, including price changes, and any associated updates to store signage.
   
   3. Follows the established sorting and stocking guidelines and completes freight processes. Ensures freight sorting area is organized and setup in accordance with guidelines. Scans, investigates and fills inventory lows and outs daily.
   
   4. Proactively acknowledges and engages every customer to ensure a positive customer experience. Utilizes and understands the selling program to promote the sale of the best solution as well as additional product and/or services solutions. Maintains awareness of planned advertisements and promotions. 5. Able to evaluate the customer’s needs to determine what additional offerings or services that a customer may need in addition to determining if a customer should be referred to the Contract Sales organization. 6. Works to develop personal selling skills and specialized product knowledge through sales and service tools provided. Drives Technology, Tech Services, Furniture and Print sales by supporting all related current programs, new product launches and special initiatives. 7. Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures and practices; and supports company loss prevention efforts.
   Education & Experience
   High School diploma or equivalent education preferred
   Retail sales experience preferred How to Apply Click the Apply Now button and follow the instructions on each page. When you have completed the application, click the submit button. Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule Office Depot and OfficeMax offers competitive salaries, a benefits package, which includes a 401(k) and more, along with plenty of opportunity to move and grow within our organization! For immediate consideration for this exciting position, please click the Apply Now button. Equal Employment Opportunity Office Depot and OfficeMax is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and expression), ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Other Information Must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, which are necessary to establish a selling relationship with customers Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills Must possess the ability to use technology applicable to role, and to access information necessary to complete daily responsibilities Must possess ability to process information/merchandise through POS register system Must possess an interest in continually developing personal selling skills and product knowledge; Positive and Engaging Action Oriented Integrity & Trust Demonstrate passion for the brand, products, services and solutions offered to our customers Must possess a desire to continually develop personal selling skills and product knowledge Ability to work a flexible work schedule as business dictates Customer Focus Self Learning Approachability Fair Chance Ordinance We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records City & County of San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right sales floor associate for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sales floor associate job on Zippia to find and recruit sales floor associate 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

   During your first interview to recruit sales floor associates, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 sales floor associate

   Once you've decided on a perfect sales floor associate candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new sales floor associate first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

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