How to Write a Sales Assistant CV: Steps to Close the Deal
The sales field and related industries offer exciting opportunities and can be one of the best jobs for students to develop valuable communication, sales, and teamwork skills.
Creating a standout sales assistant CV is crucial for landing your first role in retail, especially if you're a recent school leaver. If you’re applying for your first job after your studies, a polished and modern CV can set you apart and grab the attention of hiring managers.
Learning how to write a good CV can showcase your ability to assist customers, promote products and help with store operations. This guide shows you how to write a sales assistant CV that reflects your potential, even without work experience.
For more guidance on how to stand out in the job market, explore how to make your CV applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly for potential employers.
What you’ll learn:
Key sections of a sales assistant CV to include
How to highlight your strengths, achievements and career goals
Tips on structuring your CV for a sales assistant if you have no experience
Essential sales assistant skills to include.
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Sales assistant CV example
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In this retail sales assistant CV sample, Matthew Peters presents his experience in a customer-focused role at John Lewis. He highlights his success in upselling, stock management, and visual merchandising while consistently showcasing his ability to exceed sales targets. This sales assistant CV template, Cornell, follows a modern, clean, professional style that’s easy to read.
What to include in a sales assistant CV?
When crafting your CV for a sales assistant position, focus on key sections highlighting your skills, experiences, and qualifications:
Personal details: Your personal details include your full name, contact information, and location. Read more about additional information such as your home address on a CV or marital status in a CV.
Personal profile: Write a brief, customer-focused introduction highlighting your enthusiasm, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Tailor your profile to the job description and keep it relevant.
Work experience: List previous roles in reverse chronological order. Use bullet points to showcase key sales assistant duties and achievements.
Education: Include qualifications such as GCSEs or A-Levels. Mention any relevant courses, like business management or customer service training.
Key skills: Highlight retail-related hard skills like product knowledge, upselling, cash handling, and visual merchandising. List transferable soft skills like communication, teamwork, and attention to detail. Learn more about soft skills on a CV to boost your job application.
Learn more about starting the CV writing process and how to tailor your CV to the job description. To take your CV to the next level, explore these top 10 tips to improve your CV.
8 tips for a sales assistant CV with little to no experience
You’ve probably got more relevant skills than you think! Whether it’s your natural people skills, persuading your friends to try a new restaurant, or keeping things organised, sales is all about communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, so it's important you know how to showcase these on your CV. We share out tips to help you show you’re ready for the role – even if it’s your first official job.
If you're a recent student, highlight your communication skills from school presentations or social events.
Showcase teamwork abilities gained through group projects, sports, or community work.
Seasonal work or temporary jobs (e.g., bartending at festivals or retail) show adaptability and customer service skills.
Side-hustle jobs are a great way to earn extra cash. They also show creativity and innovation to employers.
Highlight your social media or digital marketing skills, especially if you’ve promoted products online.
Include any customer-facing experience, even from different industries like hospitality or administration, as these roles develop communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills essential for retail jobs.
If you’re applying for your first job, highlight transferable skills from education, volunteering, or part-time work.
If you are preparing your CV for the first time without experience, consider using either a student, skills-based or a simple CV template.
Looking for more guidance? Refer to these expert tips on how to write a CV with no experience.
Explore similar CV examples for more inspiration:
Applied for jobs and waiting to hear back from employers? Learn more about preparing for an upcoming interview and make a note of good questions to ask employers.
5 steps to help you write a sales assistant CV
1. How to add sales assistant skills on a CV
When crafting your sales assistant CV, focus on the abilities that make you a great fit for the role. Hiring managers look for hard skills (practical abilities) and soft skills (personal qualities) that match the job description. To add skills to your CV:
Create a dedicated skills section to list relevant abilities.
Use bullet points to make them easy to read.
5 essential skills for a sales assistant:
Customer service: Helping and engaging customers to provide a positive shopping experience.
Product knowledge: Understanding product details to assist customers and answer questions.
Communication skills: Speaking clearly and professionally with team members and customers.
Point-of-sale (POS) operation: Handling cash transactions and operating card payment systems.
Teamwork: Collaborating with colleagues to ensure smooth store operations.
Learn more about key skills to add to your CV.
Examples of hard and soft skills
| Hard skills | Soft skills |
|---|---|
| Stock management | Adaptability |
| Visual merchandising | Problem solving |
| Cash handling & POS systems | Consumer-centric attitude |
| Sales techniques (upselling & cross-selling) | Time management |
| Knowledge of sales software | Organised |
Emphasise skills that align with sales assistant duties from the job description. If you have no experience, highlight transferable skills from school projects, volunteering, or part-time roles.
Explore more about how to add communication skills in a CV or listing computer skills on a CV.
What if you a student or applying for your first job? Utilise transferable skills gained from:
Volunteer work: Demonstrates commitment, responsibility, and teamwork, like in charity shops or community projects
School projects or extracurricular activities: Shows teamwork, communication, and organisation skills. Use your study network to find job opportunities.
Helping out at home or in the community: Demonstrates responsibility, problem-solving, and time management.
Unpaid work experience: Internships, shadowing, or informal work (e.g., helping in a family business) can highlight adaptability and reliability.
Some companies may prefer candidates with experience, but remember, rejection is part of the process. Read our guide on how to handle job rejection. Get prepared to show how you can handle a sales role with common interview questions.
2. How to write a personal profile for a sales assistant CV
The personal profile section of your CV (a CV summary or personal statement) is the first thing hiring managers read. It should be a short but impactful introduction, highlighting your customer service skills, key strengths and career goals relevant to the job.
How to format your personal profile
Keep it concise and write 3-4 sentences.
Include top CV soft skills such as communication, interpersonal, active listening, teamwork, and problem-solving
Mention relevant experience or transferable skills from education, volunteering, or part-time jobs in hospitality or similar industries.
Tailor your profile to the job description – use relevant keywords and mention tasks such as serving customers, handling goods, visual merchandising, and answering questions.
Personal profile examples
Retail sales assistant CV personal profile example
Customer-focused Retail Sales Assistant with 2+ years of experience in a fast-paced retail environment. Skilled in assisting customers, handling transactions, and visual merchandising to maximise sales. Strong communication skills and a friendly approach, ensuring an excellent shopping experience. Passionate about teamwork and building product knowledge to provide expert recommendations.
Learn more about to how to write a personal profile that gets you noticed.
Explore similar CV examples to get more inspiration:
3. How to include practical work experience
Your work experience section on your CV for a sales assistant should be in reverse chronological order; starting with your most recent role. If you have little experience, highlight transferable skills from volunteering or academic projects.
Consider pursuing related jobs in hospitality. Many roles are open to beginners, making it a great entry point for those with little to no experience, such as a kitchen porter or waitressing.
How to structure work experience on your CV for a sales assistant
Use this CV format so it’s easy for hiring managers to read key information:
A short paragraph describing your role and responsibilities, using strong CV action verbs (e.g., "assisted," "delivered," "processed" or “handled”).
Two bullet points that highlight achievements or quantifiable results (e.g., “increased sales by 15%” or “served over 100 customers per shift”).
Work experience CV examples
Retail Sales Assistant, Zara | London | 2023 – 2023
Gained hands-on experience in a busy retail environment, assisting customers with product selection and ensuring smooth store operations. Handled returned goods and served customers on the tills. Developed customer service skills, teamwork, and adaptability while handling various retail tasks.
Provided styling advice to over 50 customers per shift, enhancing their shopping experience
Assisted in visual merchandising and arranging displays that increased sales of featured items.
Sales Assistant | H&M, Manchester | 2022 – present
Worked in a fast-paced retail environment, providing customer-focused service, managing transactions, and assisting with product organisation. Took part in promotional events in-store. Developed strong communication skills and product knowledge to support sales targets.
Delivered excellent customer service, leading to a 10% increase in repeat customers
Processed transactions efficiently, handling an average of 150 purchases per day.
Luxury Sales Assistant | Selfridges, London | 2021 – present
Specialised in high-end fashion sales, offering personalised shopping experiences and building lasting customer relationships. Maintained extensive knowledge of luxury brands, trends, and exclusive product ranges.
Managed VIP client accounts, contributing to a 20% increase in premium product sales.
Assisted in-store events, helping drive engagement and brand awareness.
If you're not sure where to start, explore our best tips for using AI to help write your CV.
4. How to include education on a sales assistant CV
Your CV education section should be clear and concise, following the reverse chronological order format. While a formal qualification isn't always required for a sales assistant job, listing your GCSEs, A-levels, or degree can demonstrate essential customer service, computer skills, numeracy, and interpersonal abilities working as a team on academic projects in this section.
How to format the education section
When listing your education on a sales assistant or hospitality CV, keep it clear and structured. If you’ve completed relevant courses and certificates such as customer service training, sales, food safety or business studies, include them here to strengthen your CV.
Examples of how to format education
A-Levels, BTEC, and NVQ:
[School/College Name], [Location], [Years Attended]
[Qualification] – [Subject Name 1], [Subject Name 2], [Subject Name 3]
Example:
St. Andrews College, Manchester, UK, 2016-2018
BTEC Diploma in Business Studies
UK GCSEs:
[School Name], [Location], [Years Attended]
[n] GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)
Example:
Solihull High School, Birmingham, UK, 2014-2016
10 GCSEs (including Mathematics and English)
Scottish Highers:
[School Name], [Location], [Years Attended]
Highers: [Qualifications]
N5s: [Qualifications]
Example:
Crest Peak School, Edinburgh, 2015–2020
Highers: Business Management (A), Maths (B), English (B), Hospitality (A)
N5s: English (B), Maths (A), Geography (B), Business (A), Hospitality (A).
5. How to add additional relevant information
Beyond work experience and education, include extra details or abilities relevant to your target role. For example, language skills demonstrate that you can assist and interact with diverse customers more effectively, strengthening your sales assistant CV and adding credibility.
a. Hobbies and Interests
Adding hobbies and interests on a CV can demonstrate soft skills and personal qualities relevant to retail jobs, mainly if you have limited work experience. Focus on extracurricular activities that highlight qualities like teamwork or attention to detail and showcase your personality outside of work, such as sports or personal projects like writing, creating art or music.
Examples:
Running a fashion-themed social media account showcasing knowledge of trends and visual merchandising.
Playing team sports, demonstrating collaboration and communication skills.
Volunteering in community projects, reflecting customer-focused and service-orientated qualities.
b. References section
Including references in a CV is optional, but you can state, “References available upon request.” If you lack professional experience, consider referencing a teacher, volunteer supervisor, or mentor.
Key takeaways
How to write a CV for a sales assistant involves highlighting transferable skills, enthusiasm, and a passion for customer service. Emphasise essential soft skills and tailor your CV with a clear, professional format to the job description. If you have little experience, include additional information such as references, interests and courses to strengthen your CV. For the final touches, learn how to professionally send your CV via email and write a cover letter explaining your strengths and career goals to impress hiring managers.
Dos
Keep it concise – aim for one page to keep it clear and easy to read
Use a professional font – stick to clear, readable fonts like Arial or Calibri
Choose the right colours – use subtle, professional colours like navy or dark grey to enhance readability.
Don'ts
Avoid AI-generated CVs without edits – AI tools can help, but always personalise your CV. Read why human input matters in our blog
Don’t include a photo – including a photo on your CV can lead to bias and is unnecessary
Skip including all personal details – avoid adding your address or nationality, as they aren’t needed.
Next steps?
Crafting a sales assistant CV that grabs the recruiter’s attention can be challenging, but with our professional CV Writing Service and range of cover letter templates, it’s easier! If you’re new to job applications, finding a mentor can help your career search. Explore how to organise your job search, track job applications and follow up with employers to check your application.. Lastly, If you’re shortlisted, explore how to overcome your nerves and practice preparing for your job interview.
FAQs
What is the best CV format for a sales assistant job?
The best CV format for a sales assistant is a simple CV or a skills-based CV format, especially if you have little to no experience. This format emphasises skills and qualifications over work experience, helping you stand out to hiring managers even if you’re applying for your first job and writing your first CV.
How much do sales assistants earn in the UK?
According to the National Careers Service, sales assistants earn from £19,000 to £27,000 annually. Salaries depend on experience and the industry. Some roles offer bonuses or commissions based on sales performance.
What is the job of a sales assistant?
Sales assistants assist customers, provide product recommendations, handle transactions, manage stock, maintain store presentations, and contribute to company goals.
Is a sales assistant a good job?
A sales assistant role is an excellent opportunity to develop customer service, teamwork, and communication skills. Retail is one of the biggest industries in the UK, meaning plenty of flexibility, part-time and seasonal work options and career progression.
Can anyone be a sales assistant?
Many sales assistant roles are entry-level, requiring no formal experience. Employers offer on-the-job training, helping you develop customer service skills and product knowledge. Apprenticeships and training programs also provide candidates from all levels with professional routes to qualify for sales. Refer to our career change CV example for guidance if you’re new to the industry.
