If you’re still figuring out what kind of career you want to pursue (and yes, we mean career, not job), we’ve put together a very strong case for the retail industry! If you enjoy fashion, helping brighten the days of others, or simply have a habit of curating tres chic mood boards on Pinterest, then retail as a career could be your perfect fit!
To help you learn more about retail jobs, we’ve teamed up with our friends at The Just Group; this means that that all of our insights are from industry insiders! So, ready to launch the career of your dreams? Simply read on to learn more about careers in retail, the skills you might need for a retail job, and discover why it’s such a rewarding career pathway!
What Is a Retail Job?
Simply put, careers in retail require you to use stellar customer service skills to sell products to clients.
However, we think we can dig a little deeper than that, so let’s really dive in. The retail industry is so vast. Just think of all the different places you frequent for shopping sprees or simply picking up your essentials; every single one is a retail business, and every person who works in them (or in the company’s head office) has a career in retail!
This expansive nature of the retail industry means that choosing retail as a career means choosing an industry with expansive career pathway opportunities. Regardless of what you’re interested in, there’s likely a retail establishment selling goods related to it; all you need to do is spend some time looking for your perfect fit!
Perhaps you can’t stay away from sweet-smelling Peter Alexander stores. Alternatively, it could be the graphic tees at Jay Jays that keep drawing you in. Or maybe you love being spoiled for choice when denim shopping at Just Jeans. Identifying your favourite store can be a great way to figure out where you should apply (and FYI, you can find job listings for each store that we just mentioned on our job board)!
Can Retail be a Career?
Contrary to popular belief, retail isn’t just for those who are new to the workforce; you can build a rewarding and dynamic career in retail if you just put in the work!
Choosing retail as a career can offer tonnes of exciting benefits and opportunities, depending on your interests, skills and long-term goals. That’s right, if you communicate your career aspirations to your manager, they’ll be happy to help you chase your dream retail job!
But how do you know if a career in retail is for you? Well, according to our friends at The Just Group, choosing retail as a career is a great option for those who enjoy dynamic work environments, have strong interpersonal skills and ambitiously seek out opportunities for growth and career advancement!
Why Choose Retail as a Career
Other than being around your favourite retail goods all day, there are plenty of reasons to choose retail as a career. To help highlight the top perks, we’ve enlisted the help of The Just Group, who have the following to share: 
Retail Jobs Give You the Chance to Grow Your Retail Skills
As you might expect, working in an industry you hope to stay in will help you develop the skills you need to progress towards your career goals. That’s why the boundless opportunities offered by careers in retail are so helpful; you’re bound to become a retail skills expert! Check out the different ways to develop in a retail career personally and professionally below:
- Opportunities for Advancement
- Career Growth: Many people start in entry-level retail positions and work their way up into roles like store manager, regional manager, or even corporate positions in marketing, operations, or HR. Essentially, there are tonnes of opportunities to get into prestigious retail jobs, you just need to put in a little hard work!
- Skills Development: Pursuing retail as a career can help you develop valuable transferable skills, such as customer service, sales, communication, teamwork, inventory management, and leadership. The hard and soft skills sections of your resume will be top-notch!
- Learning and Growth
- Product Knowledge: Retail jobs often involve learning about a wide range of products, which can be particularly appealing if you’re passionate about a certain industry (e.g., fashion, technology, health, etc.). Trust us, if you’re working for a company you love, helping match customers with their perfect purchase is super fun!
- Professional Development: Many retail companies offer training programs, workshops, and other resources to help employees build skills and move up within the company. When you come across opportunities like this, take them! It’ll help you become the best version of yourself and supercharge your resume.
- Understanding Business Operations
- Exposure to Business Processes: Working in a retail job provides insight into how businesses operate on the ground level, from inventory management to supply chain logistics to customer service. This can serve as valuable experience if you ever want to start your own business or move into a corporate role!
- Creative Opportunities
- Visual Merchandising: For those with a creative streak, retail offers opportunities to get involved in visual merchandising and store layout design. This role allows you to creatively showcase products and influence customers’ shopping experiences.
- Marketing and Promotions: Some retail jobs include involvement in marketing, promotions, or social media, providing a creative outlet for those interested in these areas.
Retail Careers Have Great Employee Perks
Anyone who has a friend working in the retail industry likely knows how incredible the perks can be. From the nature of the work to flexibility around your studies, and opportunities to pursue your passions, the retail industry is pretty enticing. If you’ve ever asked ‘Why should I choose retail as a career,’ this will definitely help clarify things:
- Variety
Every Day is Different: Retail jobs can offer a lot of variety. Whether you’re assisting customers, managing stock, or helping with displays, no two days are the same! What’s more, there’s always heaps to do in-store, so you’ll likely get to take on added responsibilities if that’s something you’re interested in!
Fast-Paced Environment: Retail careers often involve multitasking and problem-solving on the fly, which can be exciting for people who thrive in dynamic settings. Trust us, when you join the workforce, fast-paced days beat slow days every time!
- Job Flexibility
Variety of Shifts: Careers in retail can offer flexible work hours, including part-time, full-time, evening, or weekend shifts. This flexibility is super ideal for students, parents, or even people seeking a second job!
Multiple Industries: The Just Group has a broad sector with opportunities across fashion, accessories, sleepwear & stationary. Whatever you’re into, they have the perfect retail job for you!
- Stability and Job Availability
Consistent Demand: The retail industry is a pretty safe bet for those looking for stability and job availability because people always need goods and services. This creates a steady demand for retail workers, making it a relatively secure field with plenty of retail job opportunities!
Entry-Level Opportunities: For individuals just starting their careers in retail or entering the workforce, retail jobs can offer an accessible entry point with minimal qualifications needed to begin.
Retail Jobs are Incredibly Rewarding!
Even if we totally disregard all the opportunities for career progression and professional development, choosing retail as a career is going to be a very rewarding decision. To discover just how rewarding retail careers really are, keep on reading for The Just Group’s insider insights!
- People-Centric Work Environment
Customer Interaction: If you enjoy working with people, retail as a career can provide constant interaction with customers. We’ve found that this is usually super fulfilling for those who are sociable and enjoy helping others.
Building Relationships: Retail allows you to form connections with regular customers, which can make the work feel more personal and rewarding.
- Sense of Achievement
Sales and Performance Metrics: If you enjoy setting and achieving goals, retail positions often involve sales targets and performance metrics. Reaching or surpassing targets can be very satisfying and sometimes come with rewards like bonuses or commissions.
Teamwork: In most retail job environments, employees work very closely with their colleagues, which often creates a lovely sense of camaraderie and collective achievement! After all, teamwork really does make the dream work!
- Job Satisfaction
Making a Difference: For some people, choosing retail as a career can be fulfilling because it allows them to make a real difference in someone’s day by helping them find what they need, solving a problem, or offering great customer service. There are plenty of opportunities to put a smile on someone else’s dial every shift, so make the most of it!
Sense of Purpose: Especially in areas of the retail industry like healthcare or local community-focused businesses, working in a retail job can help you feel a larger sense of purpose or community involvement.
How to Get Into Retail
After all this chat about why you should choose retail as a career, we’re sure you’re ready to get started (and the good news is that we’re going to be by your side every step of the way).
Kickstart your career journey by discovering how to land your first retail job now, or head straight to The Just Group’s employer profile to start the job hunt!
