Occupation Details
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$35,600.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$49,470.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$67,660.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
72,180
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
80,270
+809 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
8,784
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Barcode scanners
- Cash registers
- Credit card processing machines
- Desktop computers
- Hammer pliers
- Ladders
- Laser facsimile machines
- Laser printers
- Magnetic card readers
- Money order terminals
- PC magnetic card readers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Point of sale POS computer terminals
- Screwdrivers
- Security monitors
- Sensormatic systems
- Telecheck processing terminals
Technology
- ASI Point of Sale
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- American Precision Instruments Regit
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Attitude POS itive AccuPOS Retail
- Autodesk Revit
- CyberMatrix POS
- Data entry software
- Datasym SYMFINITE
- Delphi Technology
- EZ Software Solutions
- Exact business software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- estimate product demand
- develop budgets
- purchase office equipment or furniture
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
- write advertising copy
- arrange merchandise display
- develop advertising strategy
- develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
- recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
- recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
- investigate customer complaints
- maintain production or work records
- inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
- explain rules, policies or regulations
- hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
- evaluate information from employment interviews
- publicize job openings
- recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
- use knowledge of written communication in sales work
- prepare reports
- prepare rental or lease agreement
- prepare or maintain employee records
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- analyze sales activities or trends
- conduct sales presentations
- sell merchandise
- schedule employee work hours
- plan or organize work
- make presentations
- assign work to staff or employees
- establish employee performance standards
- evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
- monitor worker performance
- access media advertising services
- oversee sales programs
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- conduct or attend staff meetings
- dictate correspondence
- consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
- resolve customer or public complaints
- resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
- select software for clerical activities
- provide customer service
- answer customer or public inquiries
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
- conduct training for personnel
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- Formulate pricing policies for merchandise, according to profitability requirements.
- Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
- Assign employees to specific duties.
- Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.
- Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
- Plan and coordinate advertising campaigns and sales promotions and prepare merchandise displays and advertising copy.
- Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
- Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.
- Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.
- Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.
- Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures for the department.
- Establish credit policies and operating procedures.
- Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.
- Enforce safety, health, and security rules.
- Plan budgets and authorize payments and merchandise returns.
- Estimate consumer demand and determine the types and amounts of goods to be sold.
- Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Sales worker supervisors
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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