Sales assistants must work in direct contact with the retail manager. The main role for a person in this field is to provide excellent customer service. In addition to serving customers, a candidate is also required to restock shelves, handle monetary transactions, report to managers, and assist with product selection and delivery.
Sales assistants should have a positive attitude towards retail and customer service, work closely with members of a team, have fantastic personal management skills, outstanding listening and communication skills and an in-depth understanding of a specific retail market, such as sporting goods, women’s clothes or electronic equipment.
There are several retail sales qualifications that are available online or throughout major cities in Canada. However, having a degree or diploma is not a requirement to work in this industry. Most candidates are in their teens and part-time work is easy to find. Salaries range from C
$15,000 to C
$20,000 for entry level personnel, while advanced experience bringing about salaries of more than C
$50,000.