Choosing a career is not always easy, especially for people who aren’t sure exactly what it is they want to do. However, for anyone who enjoys interacting regularly with the public, often times showing off the latest products or fashions, retail may be just the answer.
According to USAToday there has been a decline in the number of young people willing to consider retail as a career. This leaves a virtual gold mine of opportunities for everyone else. In fact, the National Retail Federation (NRF) indicated that the average annual salary for a retail manager is approximately $42,000, though at larger department or chain stores it can skyrocket to $200,000 and more.
So for anyone looking for a job opportunity that provides customer interaction and the opportunity for growth and stimulation, here are five reasons to consider the retail industry.
Flexibility
While having a college degree is always a plus in the world of work, it isn’t a prerequisite to enter the retail field. In fact, retailing is a great profession for students who want to work part-time while attending school because it offers the flexibility that they require: flexibility with the hours, flexibility with store locations in multinational retail chains, and flexibility with regard to background and work experience.
Perks
How can anyone overlook the perks that working in retail can offer? Aside from the on-the-job training offered, working for a retail company that offers the kinds of products the job seeker regularly buys can go a long way in making the work environment an enjoyable one. Add to that the employee discounts, which most retailers offer, and it could be a match made in heaven.
Variety
When most people think of retail, they think only of the sales associates out on the floor stocking shelves or working the register. In fact, retail offers a much larger range of opportunities. For individuals with college degrees there may be programs in management training or career paths into the regional or corporate level. Someone might start in the retail outlet working as a sales clerk, but opportunities as assistant manager, manager, district manager as well as corporate positions in marketing, merchandising or buying, among others, exist.
Growth
According to the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) the retail industry is expected to add 2.1 million new jobs by the end of 2012. This along with the current decline in interest by many new graduates to enter the retail field, leaves a lot of great opportunities for future personal growth.
Abundance
Recent numbers indicate that retail is the second largest industry in the country employing approximately 20 million Americans. That means there are a lot of employers as well as jobs and careers to choose from.
Want to relocate from one state to another? Retail experience can land the job seeker a job in the new town. Tired of working for a grump? There are a lot of other retailers out there to work for.
Though many job seekers today have a misperception that jobs in retail pay low and lack growth potential, the fact is that retail offers more than just cashier and sales associate positions. Positions in the retail field may involve information technology, marketing, and communications as well as loss prevention, finance, and merchandising.
That’s why it is important to keep in mind that retail may be the right field for that next career move.
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