The quality of a retail store’s customer service can make or break a sale, and determine whether or not a customer decides to go with that particular brand.  And particularly during the holidays, retail stores look to hire the strongest talent to keep up with customer demands and keep store business on the uptick.  While some big companies may be hiring tens of thousands of people this holiday season, that doesn’t mean they are looking to hire just anyone.  If you are currently seeking a job in retail, whether it’s seasonal or permanent, here are some of the qualities that will make you the most hirable to managers in retail:

1)  Communication Skills

Retail stores want customer service workers that can clearly communicate product details to customers, to avoid the confusion and subsequent anger that comes with bad information that leads to a purchase.  Strong communication skills are among the most hirable qualities in retail, so when you interview, be sure to be friendly and articulate.

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2)  Confidence

If you don’t believe in yourself, neither will customers.  It is essential to retail managers that they hire customer service associates that exude confidence in themselves, their job and the products they are pushing.  Confidence goes a long way in making customers feel comfortable with a particular brand.  When you interview for retail customer service jobs, be sure to make eye contact, have a firm handshake and sound sure of yourself in the questions you answer.

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3)  Adaptability

Adaptability is among the most hirable qualities in retail because especially during the busy holiday season, retail managers want customer service associates they can throw into different tasks when needed. They also want to make sure those they hire can quickly learn about new products and services the store offers.  When interviewing for a customer service job in retail, be sure to give examples of times in your past where you successfully adapted to a new situation or environment.

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4)  Patience

No matter how top notch a retail brand’s customer service is, angry customers are bound to come along.  One of the most hirable qualities you can have in a retail job is the ability to be patient and calm while resolving a customer’s issue.  When you interview for a retail job, demonstrate how being patient has allowed you to better serve customers in past jobs.

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5)  Trustworthiness

Most jobs in retail require you to handle money and expensive store merchandise, and if you become a key holder or manager at any point, you will have even more access to the store.  So it is very important you show to retail managers that you can be trusted with this responsibility and are only looking to contribute to store profits, not take away from them.

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6)  Being a self-starter

The ability to motivate yourself is one of the most important hirable qualities in retail.  Managers don’t want customer service associates that are simply going to do the bare minimum.  For any retail store to excel and rise above its competition, they must push additional products to customers, and find ways to proactively make sales, instead of waiting for customers to show up ready to buy.  When you interview for a customer service job in retail, be sure to give examples of situations in past jobs where you went out of your way to make a sale or found a way to make an improvement in the way the company does business.

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