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Five Benefits of a Career in Retail

By: Jeff Durham - Updated: 28 Sep 2012 | comments*Discuss
 
Five Benefits Of A Career In Retail

Although some people think of the retail sector as a culture of long hours and of evening and weekend work and that it basically revolves around relatively low-paid shop floor work, there are many positive benefits to be gained by working for a retail company. Some of the benefits and incentives are also relatively unique to the sector and cannot be replicated to the same degree in other industries which also makes it appealing to many.

Scope And Variety

Working in retail has a vast array of meanings. You could be running a global empire as the chief executive, working on a market stall or managing the gift shop of a cruise liner – it’s all retail. Furthermore, you don’t necessarily need to be working on the shop floor or behind a till. As many of the articles contained on this website will illustrate, there are a broad range of career opportunities which you can pursue within the retail sector – buying, visual merchandising, marketing, finance and human resources are just some of the different types of career you can pursue. It’s also a sector where in some areas you can actually start off at the bottom and work your way up without necessarily needing to gain higher education qualifications although they will still be important if you want to progress further in certain job roles.

Flexible Working Practices

There are not many industries which can offer you the same degree of flexibility as the retail sector. For many people, especially those with family commitments, the retail sector is an ideal environment in which to work because of the benefits of the flexibility of the hours and shift patterns which you can work.

This means you can still be gainfully employed whilst also being able to attend to other commitments you might have. Working in retail also gives you the opportunity to take on a second job if you need to earn extra cash. It’s also very attractive to young people where it can often be their first opportunity of a job to provide them with cash and some useful experience for their CV.

Older people such as pensioners can also supplement their incomes and fill their days more productively by working in retail and the cultural diversity of the workplace is another appealing benefit for many people.

Job Perks

Working in retail also means that you’re likely to be given employee discounts which can be very appealing, especially if you’re working in a store which is connected to your hobbies or interests, for example a book shop or record store. Alternatively, working in fashion retail can save you quite a substantial amount of money if you’re a fashion enthusiast with the staff discounts on offer.

Growth

The number of retailers keeps on growing, even with the likes of the Internet accounting for a continual number of retailers who are trading online. Therefore, if you’re just starting out in your career, you can be sure that the career opportunities and benefits which will be available to you will be set to grow even further over the next decade as the sector continues to expand.

Retail Is Everywhere

Another positive benefit of working in retail is that, unlike some industries which are strategically located in particular locations around the UK, retail is everywhere. Therefore, if you’re ever looking to relocate or if you become unhappy with working for a particular company, it’s a lot easier to jump ship and find work elsewhere than it would be in other careers.

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