Most people confuse merchandising with marketing and often use both terms interchangeably. Although they are highly related, you should know a few differences. Merchandising is actually a marketing sub-field that focuses on product display to generate sales.
Marketing, on the other hand, is a broader term that covers all persuasive techniques to attract customers and generate leads. This includes search engine optimization, social media management, content marketing, etc.
Merchandising focuses on how you present your products. You are responsible for creating a customer journey in the store, guiding potential clients to products they might be interested in. Some popular merchandising techniques include:
Merchandising adapts to numerous factors, including cultural trends, location, seasons, and holidays. Therefore, it is a process that requires extensive research to identify patterns in customers’ behaviors. Merchandising specialists must conduct crowd segmentation, data analysis, and make data-driven decisions.
There are several roles you can have in the merchandising field, but they are highly related to the industry you work in. Merchandising specialists can work on fashion, automobile, retail, food, etc. Now, competition is high in the merchandising field. That’s why you need to have a killer resume, and we’re here to help. Below, you’ll see three merchandising resume templates based on different roles and handy tips you can implement to make a good impression.
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Fashion merchandising specialists are responsible for analyzing trends in the market, estimating sizes, and determining costs. They route their target audience’s path to identify trends and come up with creative ideas they may like. Their goal is to propose affordable and desirable products for potential clients.
You can work in either retail or the manufacturing industry. To become a fashion merchandiser, you need to have experience in one of those fields. You should also have at least an associate degree in Fashion, Marketing, or Business.
If you want to get past the first screening stage, you should try to customize your resume to the fashion merchandising industry. Include industry-related keywords and experience. This will help you look more specialized.
Fashion merchandisers must conduct in-depth research to determine market trends. That’s why it is crucial to have data analytics skills. You must be able to collect information and interpret data to provide meaningful insights. You should highlight your data analytics skills in your resume.
A visual merchandising manager arranges a store’s items based on the brand’s identity and sales statistics. They organize products to attract clients and ease their shopping experience. They provide more visibility to products that are more likely to generate sales. They also set the appropriate lighting to enhance the products’ appearance.
The role of visual merchandising is crucial because it’s the first thing that clients see when entering the store. Some customers are usually driven by the way products are organized. You should be familiar with color theory, lighting techniques, and sales statistics.
Visual merchandising is highly related to creativity but it also has a technical side. In your resume, you should mention those methods you use to attract clients. You can talk about aesthetics, color theory, and visual communication trends.
Your role as a visual merchandising manager directly affects daily operations in the store. Your work can either attract or drive clients away from the store. You should descriptively mention how your work has improved sales or attracted more clients in your resume.
A merchandising assistant keeps track of products and updates inventory records. They are responsible for developing and placing layouts, banners, or any visual items to attract clients. They can also answer customers’ questions and guide them through the store and help them find any product.
Merchandising assistants are in charge of processing returned merchandise and restocking shelves when new products arrive. Since they’re directly connecting with clients, they can also conduct surveys and collect customers’ feedback.
This role requires a high level of responsibility as you will be monitoring the store’s merchandise, inventory, and appearance. Having experience in the retail industry is crucial to demonstrate you understand how to manage a store. In your resume, you should demonstrate your time management skills, your ability to follow directions, and your reliability.
You will be frequently using inventory management systems and monitoring products will be your daily task. That’s why it is crucial to mention your inventory management skills. Recruiters want to know you have strong attention to detail and reduce risks from errors in the inventory.
As a hiring manager who has reviewed thousands of resumes for merchandising roles at top retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon, I know what it takes to create a standout resume in this field. The following tips will help you craft a compelling resume that showcases your relevant skills and experience, and sets you apart from the competition.
Emphasize your knowledge of key merchandising concepts and strategies, such as:
For example, instead of simply listing 'inventory management' as a skill, provide specific details:
A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or summary statement, is an optional section that appears at the top of your resume, just below your contact information. While it's not a mandatory component, a well-crafted summary can be a valuable addition to your resume, especially if you're a career changer, have a diverse background, or are an experienced professional in the merchandising field.
In contrast to outdated resume objectives, which focus on your career goals, a summary highlights your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences that align with the job you're applying for. It's an opportunity to provide context and showcase your unique value proposition to potential employers.
The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you prove to employers that you have the skills and experience to excel in the role. In this section, we'll break down what you need to include in your work experience section, and how to make it stand out to hiring managers.
The education section of your resume is an important part of your application, especially if you are a recent graduate or changing careers. It shows hiring managers your relevant training and knowledge. Here are some key tips for writing a strong education section on your merchandising resume.
It is crucial to be descriptive and precise when writing your work experience in your merchandising resume. You want to make sure you explain your responsibilities clearly and concisely. That’s why you should use the appropriate action verbs instead of being too general. Action verbs such as “researched”, “planned”, and “executed” will efficiently illustrate your duties.
For more related action verbs, visit Sales Action Verbs.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
Merchandising is a highly creative career that requires resilience, problem-solving skills, and analytical thinking. You must be proficient with inventory management, marketing techniques, and business strategies. You can leverage the skills section to highlight your potential by showcasing your competencies.
When writing the skills section for your resume, you should emphasize your creative skills and tailor them to the merchandising field. This will help you get past the initial screening stage of the recruitment process.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Merchandising job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
