Career Center Career ArticlesSometimes, we pick a major or degree program because it sounds like the ideal degree for us. But, halfway through school, or perhaps even after graduation the realization hits us that we no longer want to do what we set out to do. Well, you need a job to pay the bills, so why not turn to retail? While many people do not consider retail a career, it can be a very lucrative career when you have a business degree and you are motivated to do well.
Retail may not have been the career that you had planned on, but it can work out to be the best thing you’ve ever done, and possibly the best paid job you’ve ever had. If you like business, people, and the opportunity to go as far as possible with your career, why not try retail?
With so many large retail companies you can start at the store level and work your way up through the corporate levels in no time at all. It used to be that many of the people that worked in retail stores worked there because they had no education and no real discernable skills, but that is no longer the case. Many of the mangers and corporate members of these large retail chains have business degrees and earn more than a lot of other people with more education and more widely respected jobs. It’s a misconception that the people in these positions do not earn good money or have an education that can be respected; in fact, you’ll find that the opposite is usually through from the store management on up the corporate lines.
It’s true, a retail job doesn’t sound all that glamorous, but if you got a business degree and you’re not too sure what to do with your life, why not try retail? If you have a degree and any experience working with people you can usually start above entry level in retail, which means you’ll usually be paid decently. Many retail managers work reasonable hours, such as a regular eight to five day. Sometimes, you’ll have to work later hours in the retail world, but most people find the hours in retail management really is not that bad at all. When you consider you can usually walk right into a retail management position with a business degree, the hours are really a secondary concern!
If you are looking for an easy career, retail management is not the way to go. Your business degree will get you in the door, but you need to be dedicated to the career to make it work. Retail management takes knowing how to balance your life and your work, because the hours and concerns that retail managers have can consume your personal as well as your professional life. If you are not good at setting goals, organization, and delegation you might find that the retail world is far too complicated and stressful for you. You also need to know how to work with people, guide people, and usually you need to be willing to help others build their careers as well. The retail world is usually very political, so if you don’t know how to talk to people you might find that you are an outcast.
So, what does the retail world have to offer someone with a business degree? Retail is a very complicated business where you have to be worried about product, prices, customer service, and losses to the company. All of these things have to be in line for a retail store or retail chain to stay in business, so retail is actually a great idea for many people who have a business degree because it will allow them to incorporate everything they have learned in school into their daily life. You’ll have a real knowledge about the financials of the store and you’ll likely know some strategies to increase profits and decrease losses. You’ll find that you can really enjoy yourself at the store level as you move your way up into the executive or corporate levels of the company you are employed with.
Using your business degree in a retail setting isn’t what most people plan on, but you might really enjoy yourself. If you aren’t the desk job type of person, you might find that this was the best career choice for you. You might enjoy the varying hours you’ll likely have in retail, as well as the interactive relationship you’ll have with other employees or corporate staff. Most people with business degrees in retail do fairly well for themselves because they receive a great salary and they are also eligible for bonuses based on results. This is not something that you’ll find in most other settings, and can be a huge motivating factor to get into and stay in retail. There is no limit to how far you can go in the retail world because when you climb to the top of one corporate ladder, you can find a new one to climb.
Your degree will get you in the door with just about any retail company, but how far you go is up to you. You’ll have to work hard to get to the top of retail chains, but it’ll be a career, not a job, that you can be proud of and support just about any lifestyle with. Don’t underestimate the great career you can have in retail, there’s a lot more to it than most people think! If you’ve honestly been looking for an out of the box job idea that will incorporate and appreciate your business degree, you’ll find retail to be a good fit. Retail isn’t for everyone, but those that are looking to use the education they have and even build on it as well as for those that are willing to work hard, retail can provide a wonderful outlet for your business knowledge.
|
I have been in retail for 14 years. I started out on the very bottom making minimum wage and I am a store manager now. I will start with the cons and then go into the pros. You can then decide if this is the career for you. Cons- Late hours, 6 days a week in most retail settings during Holiday seasons or inventories. There is evening and weekend work required, as this is when most retail business takes places. However, most people who make it to store manager level will not have as much weekend or evening requirements as they are typically needed during the weekdays to handle operation store needs. Typically there is a high turnover rate. This is due to teenagers going away to school, people changing their lives(marriage, children). Much of the turnover can be controlled by the tone you set in your store, if you create a pleasant environment. Many times, for reasons out of your control, customer issues arise. A good example is your company sending out an advertisement for an item that you may not have in stock on the day of the ad break. Retail can be very stressful during peak busy times and seasons. You may be short staffed and even though you are a manager, you will have to do the work of stockers, cashiers, etc. This is a mentally and physically demanding career--- this may fall into pro or con, depending how you look at it. Pros: The pay is great at management level at most retailers. An asst. manager makes anywhere from 25K to 39K depending on the size of the business. A store manager can make up to 100K or more with bonuses. The benefits are typically good and you usually get 401K and medical and a store discount. You have a flexible schedule. Meaning, if you need a tuesday off for a doctor's appointment--no prob. You meet tons of interesting people. Once you get manager on your resume, you can go work for most any retailer. I hope this has helped out anyone interested in this line of work. It is not for everyone. I have seen managers come straight out of college and last less than a week. I have also seen some become company heads. Just depends on yourself |
