Retail Assistant Manager Job Description
The retail industry has been on the path of recovery after the economic recession ended in the United States. Though consumerism has not yet reached the levels seen at the time of the boom, the spending power of people has certainly increased. In top metropolitan cities, you will notice an increasing number of outlets catering to the ever rising needs of consumers. These stores sell various items to the consumers, and are often franchises of top companies having a global presence. The retail sector has created employment on a large scale and this has really improved the standard of living of thousands of people. The best thing is that mass recruitment in this sector helps people get quality experience in the sector and get a promising start to their career in this field.
Job Profile of a Retail Assistant Manager
Taking Guidance from Store Managers
They take guidance from the store managers and work as per the instructions given by them. The strategies of running the store are chalked out by store managers and those have to be implemented by the assistant managers.
Assigning Work to Juniors and Monitoring Performance
They allot work to professionals like sales associates, customer service representatives and salesmen. They make sure that the work is done in an efficient way and solve queries of the junior level employees when necessary. Assistant managers in stores suggest methods to improve performance and thereby raise sales of the outlet.
Store Management
One of the most important duties and responsibilities of the retail assistant managers is to oversee the operations of the store they work for. They are assigned important tasks in automobile outlets, furniture and grocery stores. Assistant retail managers are responsible for meeting the ambitious sales targets set by the organization through planned efforts and implementation of smart strategies. Since managing a store is not a one person show, they have to hire quality staff, provide good training to the workers, and get the work done from them. They has to resolve conflicts, if any, and provide support and appreciation for good work. There should be a good and continuous communication between the assistant manager and the junior level staff for smooth functioning of the store. They report the daily working of the store to the main retail store manager.
Customer Interaction
The retail assistant manager job description is not just limited to business strategies and employee management, but also includes customer interaction. Assistant managers in stores have to explain product use and answer the queries of customers. For this, they need to have good knowledge about the company's products. From the assistant retail manager job description provided above, it is clear that this job requires a lot of hard work and patience. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, people management skills, presence of mind and business skills are a must for this position.
For becoming a retail store manager, you need to have completed your graduation in either of the following fields:
- Commerce
- Human resource management
- Operations management
- Retail management
- Business administration
- Marketing
Salary
Most retail jobs offer competitive salaries and the same thing holds true for this job as well. The initial salary can be around $32,000 per year. After a few years of experience in the retail sector, these managers can make about $35,000 to $45,000 per year, depending on their employer. Those working in top metropolitan locations earn much more as compared to those employed in remote areas. Assistant managers can become senior level managers and earn in excess of $60,000 per year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the salaries in this sector to rise steadily as the economy comes back into good shape. Assistant managers can further become senior managers and earn between $55,000 to $70,000 per year. Along with the salary, they get attractive perks and incentives for good performance.
The retail sector is poised for faster growth in the days to come, due to rising consumerism and this will help create employment in large numbers.
