Retail CV
How to write a CV for retail jobs
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated July 2026
Quick answer
A strong retail or cashier CV leads with a short summary of your customer service and reliability, then your experience serving customers, handling cash and keeping stock, followed by the skills that keep a shop running well. Keep it to one page early on, show honesty and good service, and tailor it to the shop or store you are applying to.
- Built for shop, cashier and retail roles
- Highlight service and cash handling
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What shops and stores look for in a retail CV
Retail employers hire people who are friendly with customers, reliable, and trustworthy with money and stock. Because you handle cash and represent the shop, honesty and dependability matter as much as experience. Your CV should show a warm, capable person who turns up on time and gives good service.
A CV that names what you did, from running a till to arranging displays and helping customers, stands out more than one that just says worked in a shop.
What to include on a retail or cashier CV
- A short summary of your customer service and reliability
- Experience serving customers, running a till and handling cash
- Stock work such as receiving, shelving, pricing and stocktakes
- Skills such as good service, accuracy and teamwork
- Your availability, including weekends, shifts and busy seasons
- The languages you speak, and two referees with their permission
Retail skills worth highlighting
- Friendly, helpful customer service
- Accurate cash handling and running a point of sale till
- Stock control, shelving and keeping displays tidy
- Upselling and suggesting products
- Honesty and being trusted with money
- Teamwork and staying positive during busy periods
- Standing for long hours and staying alert
Turn retail duties into achievements
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Worked on the till | Ran the till accurately through busy periods with no cash shortfalls |
| Served customers | Gave friendly, helpful service that kept customers coming back |
| Arranged stock | Kept shelves stocked and displays tidy, helping the shop look its best |
Honesty and availability matter
Because retail roles involve cash and trust, a clean, honest CV and clear availability make an employer comfortable. State the shifts and days you can work, and only claim experience and skills you genuinely have.
Frequently asked questions
What should a retail CV include?
A short summary of your customer service, your experience serving customers and handling cash and stock, key skills, your availability, languages and referees. Lead with service and reliability.
How do I write a cashier CV with no experience?
Lead with your honesty, accuracy and friendly manner, then add any role where you dealt with people or money, such as a family business or volunteering. Show that you are trustworthy, reliable and ready to learn the till.
Is a cashier CV the same as a retail CV?
They are very close. A cashier CV puts more weight on cash handling and running the till, while a retail CV also covers customer service, stock and displays. The same structure works for both.
What skills should I put on a retail CV?
Customer service, cash handling, using a till, stock work, upselling, honesty, teamwork and reliability. List the ones you can back up with a real example.
How long should a retail CV be?
One page is usually enough, especially early in your career. Keep it focused on your service, cash handling, stock work and availability.
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