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RETAIL SALES CLERK OR SALES ASSOCIATE - NOC 6421	Home

What a RETAIL SALES CLERK does:

Retail clerks, salespersons or sales associates sell, rent or lease company products and services to the public. Sales clerks are employed in stores of every kind. Whether they sell men’s clothing, bicycles, electronics, or barbeque, or rent trucks, costumes or power tools, all sales clerks perform many of the same kinds of tasks. They sort and stock incoming products; update displays and keep shelves well-supplied; do inventory checks; talk with customers answering questions about product sizes, colours, use and care; and sell products which includes making up invoices or bills and processing payments by cash, credit card or cheque. Retail clerks are often good judges of character as they deal with clients. They are watchful for shoplifters and know how to handle difficult situations in a professional manner. Experienced clerks know when customers want help and when they want to be left alone. Since their working hours and rate of pay may depend on commissions and reaching a selling quota, retail clerks must work hard to please the customers and enjoy the competition. Making a good impression speaks well for the company so retail clerks are careful to have good personal hygiene, a clean, attractive appearance, and a friendly, helpful manner. Sales clerks who are good at their job enjoy working with people, can provide quick, efficient service, and know their merchandise well.

Retail Sales Clerks or Sales Associates use Essential Skills for many of the tasks they carry out on a regular basis.

• Oral Communication

• Finding Information

• Working with Others

• Continuous Learning

Click the Essential Skills button below to see how these skills are used. Click a second time to close the list.

		Reading Text:
		Document Use:
		Writing
		Numeracy

		Oral Communication
		Thinking Skills
		Working With Others
		Continuous Learning
		Computer Use
		Self-Management and Self-Direction

What do you need to be a Retail Sales Clerk or Sales Associate?

The two charts below illustrate the level of skill you need to be successful in this job. The two charts show two different measurement scales - the Essential Skills scale and the Literacy and Basic Skills Learning Outcomes Matrix. You will see the numbers are different. Here's why.

The Essential Skills scale uses levels one to five to describe skills ranging from beginner, at level one,  to higher than a post-graduate level at university, level 5. The LBS Learning Outcomes Levels also uses levels one to five to describe skills but the LBS range goes from beginner, at level 1,  to approximately Grade 9, (LBS level 5). This means that skills at  level 4 in LBS fall within the level 2 range on the Essential Skills Scale. If this is confusing, don't worry. The main thing is, although the numbers are different, they are actually talking about the same level of skill.

Essential Skills and Proficiency Level:

LBS Learning Outcomes and Levels:

 

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