Since the recession began, we have had a lot of people applying for positions in our stores who have never worked in retail. How can we tell if they would work well in our industry?
There are 2.4 million unemployed people in the UK and with many industries contracting it is no surprise jobseekers are looking for work in other sectors.
While some may not be suitable for retail, many will have transferable skills that could make them ideal candidates, despite their lack of experience in the industry.
McCarthy Recruitment divisional manager Lindsey Page says: “I think the key thing is flexibility about what position the candidate wants in the company. If they are talented they will be promoted very quickly.
“However, for some people who have never worked in retail it is necessary to start them at the bottom. If they want to, they can raise their profile within six months. A lot of skills and attitudes are transferable from retail to other industries. If a person is engaging and has a passion for customer service they will be good at the job and enjoy it.”
Page says to be cautious about people who have worked on their own a lot in their previous jobs. “People who are used to working on projects by themselves and those who don’t like change would probably not enjoy working in retail or be suited to it. It’s such a fast-paced environment and might move too quickly for some people,” she says.
She adds: “People coming from a variety of industries would be suitable for retail. They will have had to engage with people and build relationships with customers, and that’s what retail is all about.”
No comments yet