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Sales Assistant

Sales Assistant CV example and template (South Africa)

Clothing chains such as Mr Price, Pep, Ackermans and Edgars, furniture stores such as Lewis, and cellphone shops such as Vodacom stores all employ sales assistants, and many take on extra casual staff from September for the festive season. The job is more than standing on the floor: you greet customers, find out what they need, help them choose a size or a product, close the sale, and in most stores you are measured every month against a sales target that affects your commission.

The example below is for a sales assistant who moved from fashion into furniture sales on credit. Store managers look for three things on a sales CV: proof that you can sell (target figures, not just "good with people"), proof that you can be trusted with paperwork such as credit applications, lay-bys and cellphone contracts, and signs that you help keep the stock count right and the store looking good. If this is your first retail job, show that you are comfortable talking to strangers and list every language you speak, because it lets you serve more customers.

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Sales Assistant CV example

Lerato Mahlaba

Sales Assistant with 5 years in fashion and furniture retail

072 555 0164 · lerato.mahlaba@example.co.za · Polokwane, Limpopo

Profile

Sales assistant with five years in fashion and furniture retail in Polokwane. At Lewis I have reached or beaten my monthly sales target in 10 of the last 12 months, and I complete credit applications, including affordability checks, for furniture and appliance sales. Comfortable with lay-bys, stock takes and setting up displays, and able to sell in Sepedi, Xitsonga and English. Looking for a senior sales or sales supervisor post in Limpopo.

Work experience

Sales Assistant

Lewis Polokwane, Polokwane | Jun 2023 – Present

Sell lounge suites, beds and appliances on cash and credit, averaging 108% of the monthly sales target over the last 12 months
Complete about 30 credit applications a month, collecting payslips, bank statements and proof of address for the affordability check
Explain monthly instalments, interest and delivery dates to customers before they sign
Count stock at monthly stock takes and check incoming deliveries against delivery notes
Follow up with customers by phone on deliveries and when items they asked about arrive

Sales Assistant (Flexi-time)

Ackermans Mall of the North, Polokwane | Nov 2021 – May 2023

Helped customers with sizes and outfits in the kidswear and ladieswear departments
Opened lay-bys and took lay-by payments at the till
Ran the fitting rooms on Saturdays, counting garments in and out
Set up new-season floor displays from head office visual merchandising guides
Worked every festive season and back-to-school peak during my time at the store

Education

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Capricorn High School, 2020, NQF level 4

Subjects: Sepedi Home Language, English First Additional Language, Mathematical Literacy, Business Studies (68%), Consumer Studies, Life Orientation

National Certificate: Wholesale and Retail Operations

W&RSETA learnership through Ackermans, 2022, NQF level 2

Skills

Selling to monthly targets
Credit applications and affordability checks
Lay-bys
Stock takes and receiving
Visual merchandising
Fitting room control
Customer service in Sepedi, Xitsonga and English

Certificates

Sales and Credit Training (in-house), Lewis Stores, 2023

Achievements

Top salesperson at Lewis Polokwane, December 2024
Completed a W&RSETA retail learnership while working flexi-time

Personal details

Driver’s licence:: Code B (Code 8)
Nationality:: South African
Languages:: Sepedi (Home language), English (Fluent), Xitsonga (Good)
Notice period:: One month
Availability:: Full-time, including Saturdays, month-end and public holidays

References

Johannes Maponya

Branch Manager, Lewis Polokwane

015 555 0128

Mpho Ramaano

Store Manager, Ackermans Mall of the North

015 555 0176

Sales Assistant CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

Sales assistant with five years in fashion and furniture retail in Polokwane. At Lewis I have reached or beaten my monthly sales target in 10 of the last 12 months, and I complete credit applications, including affordability checks, for furniture and appliance sales. Comfortable with lay-bys, stock takes and setting up displays, and able to sell in Sepedi, Xitsonga and English. Looking for a senior sales or sales supervisor post in Limpopo.

Skills to list on your Sales Assistant CV

Greeting customers and asking questions to find out what they need
Closing sales and suggesting add-ons such as accessories, extended warranties or delivery
Working to weekly and monthly sales targets on a commission structure
Completing credit applications and collecting payslips, bank statements and proof of address
Explaining instalments, interest and the total cost of credit in plain language
RICA registration when selling SIM cards, prepaid phones and contracts
Opening, taking payments on and cancelling lay-bys by store policy
Stock takes, receiving deliveries and checking them against delivery notes
Visual merchandising, such as dressing mannequins and setting up displays from head office guides
Size and fit advice for clothing and footwear
Product knowledge for furniture, appliances or cellphone handsets and data plans
Fitting room control, counting garments in and out
Processing sales, refunds and exchanges on the till
Phoning regular customers when new stock or specials arrive

Duties written as strong bullet points

Achieved an average of 108% of the monthly sales target over 12 months, selling lounge suites, beds and appliances on cash and credit
Completed more than 30 credit applications a month, collecting payslips and three months' bank statements for the National Credit Act affordability check
Explained monthly instalments, interest, credit insurance and delivery dates to customers before they signed credit agreements
Opened and managed lay-bys, reminded customers of payments due and cancelled expired lay-bys by store policy
Sold prepaid and contract handsets and completed RICA registration for every SIM card sold
Counted stock at monthly and year-end stock takes, helping the store finish the year below its stock loss target
Received deliveries, checked them against delivery notes and tagged and priced new stock for the floor
Dressed mannequins and changed window and table displays every week from head office visual merchandising guides
Ran the fitting rooms during peak trading, counting garments in and out to cut down on theft
Served customers in Sepedi, Xitsonga and English, and phoned regular customers when items they had asked for came in

Tips for a stronger Sales Assistant CV

Turn your selling into a percentage

Managers think in targets. Write "reached 108% of my monthly target on average over 12 months" or "top seller in the store, December 2024" instead of "good at sales". If your store printed a weekly sales ranking, use your position on it. Only use figures your old manager would confirm, because the area manager may phone to check.

Show you can handle credit and contract paperwork

In furniture and cellphone stores much of the selling happens on credit or contract. Say that you completed credit applications, collected documents for National Credit Act affordability checks or did RICA registrations. It tells a manager you can be trusted with customers' personal details and with paperwork that head office audits.

Match your experience to the kind of store

A Vodacom store wants handset and data contract knowledge, Lewis wants furniture and appliance sales on credit, and Edgars or Mr Price want fashion, size and fit advice. Put your closest experience first and change your headline for each kind of store, for example "Sales Assistant, fashion retail" or "Sales Assistant, furniture and credit sales".

Add stock and display work, not only selling

Sales assistants also help with stock takes, receiving deliveries, ticketing and floor displays. One duty about stock counts and one about visual merchandising show a manager you will be useful on quiet weekday mornings, not only when the store is full.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a sales assistant and a cashier?

A cashier mainly works the till. A sales assistant works on the shop floor, helps customers choose, and is usually measured on sales. In smaller stores such as Pep or Ackermans you may do both. If you have done both, list your selling duties first when you apply for a sales post.

Do I need a qualification to be a sales assistant in South Africa?

Matric is usually enough. Many chains run Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&RSETA) learnerships, such as the National Certificate in Wholesale and Retail Operations at NQF level 2, which you can list under education. Furniture and cellphone stores give their own training on products, credit and contracts once you start.

Should I write how much commission I earned?

No. Show the result behind the commission instead, such as the percentage of target you reached or a sales award. Keep pay for the interview, where you can ask how the basic salary and commission are split and how targets are set.

What documents does a customer need for a credit application in store?

The National Credit Act says a store must check that a customer can afford the repayments before it gives credit. Most stores ask for an ID, a recent payslip or three months' bank statements, and proof of address, and they check the customer's credit record. If you know this process, say so on your CV, because furniture and cellphone stores would otherwise have to train you on it.

How can I get a sales assistant job with no experience?

Apply for festive season casual posts, which many clothing chains advertise from about September. Stores often keep their best casuals on after December. On your CV, show that you are comfortable talking to people, for example from school market days, church events or helping sell in a family business.