Sales Associate Job Description

A sales associate is the guy who helps you when you're at Best Buy or Wal-Mart and are looking for a product.  The sales associate is the guy who deals with the customers when they come into the store to buy something.  If you think you'd be interested in becoming a sales associate, check out our sales associate job description for a better idea of what a sales associate does for a living.

Sales Associate Job Description

A sales associate's job is to deal with the customer at a retail store.  This includes every aspect of dealing with the customer, and may often include things like stocking and doing more janitorial or administrative work.  This is supposed to be the go-to jack-of-all-trades at the store, who has a general idea of how everything works.  The main job that a sales associate does is help customers who are trying to find out where something is.  They must have a complete knowledge of where every product in the store is, and need to be able to take the customer there quickly.  Additionally, they are expected to be able to help out with any questions the customer might have, so they at least need to have a working knowledge of as many of the products as possible in the store. 

The sales associate will then help the customer get all of their stuff together and take them to check-out.  The sales associate must also know how to work the register at the store, and should be able to ring out any customers who need to pay.  They should know how to properly handle money, checks, credit cards, or any other form of payment the customer gives.  In some cases (such as with the infirm, disabled, or elderly), a sales clerk may be responsible for helping the customer out to their car.

They do various other odd jobs around the store as well.  They may have to stock a certain product to make sure the shelves stay full, they may have to take an inventory on a certain section (or all sections for that matter), and they may have to mop up or sweep any messes that may have been made.  They may be responsible for occasional cleaning of the shelves or windows or doors, and may need to go out and shag shopping carts that are left out in the parking lot occasionally.

A very important quality in a sales associate is a friendly demeanor and an ability to deal pleasantly with difficult customers.  These are the main skills necessary for a sales associate.  No college degree is necessary for a sales associate, but as with everything, it never hurts.  A high school diploma is standard, but not required.  Sales associates can potentially work their way up to sales manager, and possibly store manager, with enough experience.  Pay isn't bad.  Sales associates generally will make $30,000 at start, and can work their way up, with experience, to up to $50,000 a year.