How To Become A Store Manager Trainee: What It Is and Career Path

What is a store manager trainee and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

As a store manager trainee, you will train in all areas of running a store. You'll supervise daily store activities and ensure overall store performance. You'll be involved in identifying staffing needs, managing schedules, and developing operational action plans.

Also, you'll be responsible for mentoring and developing the team. Additionally, you'll help in reviewing resumes and employment applications to aid the hiring of store personnel, likewise interviewing them. Lastly, you'll perform annual performance evaluations and recommend store personnel for promotion and termination accordingly.

Employers seek candidates with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent and a minimum of three years of relevant experience in a retail role. Candidates must possess multitasking, attention to detail, organization, and communication skills. You must be able to lift about fifty pounds. Store manager trainees are paid $45,645 on average per year. This varies between $32,000 and $64,000.

ScoreStore Manager TraineeUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $67,389

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 7.33%

Black or African American 9.14%

Hispanic or Latino 16.23%

Unknown 4.69%

White 61.95%

Gender

female 38.91%

male 61.09%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a store manager trainee

Explore store manager trainee education requirements

Most common store manager trainee degrees

Bachelor's

58.7 %

Associate

17.7 %

High School Diploma

13.0 %

Start to develop specific store manager trainee skills

Skills	Percentages
Store Management	14.14%
Training Programs	11.39%
Human Resources	8.80%
Inventory Management	8.29%
Customer Service	7.66%

Complete relevant store manager trainee training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New store managers trainee learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a store manager trainee based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real store manager trainee resumes.

Research store manager trainee duties and responsibilities

Manage restaurant for cost, profitability, quality, service, cleanliness, and consistency.
Manage the office including A/R, A/P, balance checking accounts and are responsible for weekly payroll.
Monitor and manage inventory with excel and QuickBooks.
Perform daily deposits, sales reports, A/R and A/P.

Prepare your store manager trainee resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your store manager trainee resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a store manager trainee resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable store manager trainee resume templates

Build a professional store manager trainee 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 store manager trainee resume.