If you want to work in a trade role (e.g. butcher, hairdresser) you will need to do an apprenticeship. Before you start trade training you need a job offer from an employer. You can find apprenticeship vacancies on Apprenticeship Network Provider jobs boards. You can also find retail trainee roles on these jobs boards (e.g. motor vehicle and vehicle parts salesperson, pharmacy assistant, pet groomer, beauty therapist). Traineeships can help you build the technical skills for specialised jobs.
There are many general entry roles that don’t need a qualification, apprenticeship or traineeship. You can build a career path in this industry through on the job learning.
Some literacy and numeracy skills are essential. There could be specific skills needed for trade qualifications. Check your literacy and numeracy skills on the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website for work in the retail industry:
Possible career paths
You can progress your career from entry level roles in a few different ways. For instance:
- Retail assistants can move into store or shift manager roles.
- Some corporate retailers offer corporate management roles to store employees who demonstrate the right skills and attitude.
- Creative people working in retail can move into merchandising and stylist roles.
- Pharmacy assistants can take an education pathway and move into nursing, pathology or another kind of allied health job.
Retail workers develop transferrable skills such as communication and customer service skills. These skills make them competitive for roles in other fields such as finance and insurance, and medical and business administration.
The type of person who suits this work
This work suits people with the following values and attributes:
- Good communication skills
- Comfortable with customers from a diverse range of backgrounds
- Able to work well in a team
- Ability to listen to the needs of customers
- Coordinating with others
- Reliable and punctual
- Neat and tidy presentation
- Friendly and confident
- Willing to learn
- An eye for detail
- Strong work ethic
- Use equipment safely
- Able to count and handle money and use online sales systems
Applying for jobs
Get free coaching on writing job applications, doing interviews and preparing for work:
Find out about common interview questions and get interview tips from business:
