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 consumers, and are often franchises of top companies that have 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 and get a promising start to their career in this field.

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 assistant managers.

They allot work to professionals like sales associates, customer service representatives, and salespersons. They make sure that the work is done efficiently and solve queries of junior-level employees when necessary. Assistant managers in stores suggest methods to improve performance and thereby raise sales of the outlet.

One of the most important duties and responsibilities of retail assistant managers is to oversee the operations of the store they work for. They 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 staff, and get the work done by them. They have 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.

The job description of a retail assistant manager 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 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.

To become a retail store manager, you need to have completed your graduation in one of the following fields.

• Commerce
• Human resource management
• Operations management
• Retail management
• Business administration
• Marketing

Postgraduate degrees in the above fields can help you grab the best jobs in the industry.

Most retail jobs offer competitive salaries and the same thing holds true for this job as well. The initial salary can be around USD 32,000 per year. After a few years of experience in the retail sector, these managers can make about USD 35,000 to USD 45,000 per year, depending on their employer.

Those working in top metropolitan locations earn much more than those employed in remote areas. Assistant managers can become senior-level managers and earn in excess of USD 60,000 per year.

The U.S. 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 USD 55,000 to USD 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.