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Retail Recruitment

As one of the largest employers in the nation, garments, accessory, and general merchandise, retail establishments are responsible for the sale of goods or merchandise for personal, business, or household consumption.  While the retail industry offers candidates flexible scheduling, there is a high turnover rate within these careers and retail recruitment is ongoing, which leaves many employers looking to hire retail sales professionals, especially during peak times.  Whether seeking full or part time, temporary, indefinite, or permanent employees, employers are increasingly able to choose different types of retail employment agencies to assist with their professional hiring needs.

When employers are seeking to reduce costs, fill temporary positions, or are in need of immediate entry level candidates, they often rely on the services of temporary retail employment services.  These services seek out available candidates in need of short-term employment, screen, process, and fill employer openings.  Temporary services work from specific guidelines set forth by each individual employer.  Fees are generally contract based, and require hourly wage agreements.  These services are excellent for college students on break or professionals seeking a supplemental income.  They generally offer part time flexible schedules which allow candidates to work around jobs or other obligations if needed. 

Offering more specialized services, staffing agencies or recruitment firms are the best option for employers who are seeking permanent employees.  Both of these services screen, interview, and test candidates to ensure only candidates right for the job are sent to a company.  A retail staffing agency commonly works with management, assistant management, and even department management positions.  These occupations require more highly skilled candidates than temporary positions; therefore these services are much more stringent in their processing.  These companies work off of a one to two month wage contract.  If during this time the employer or employee is dissatisfied, either may back out with no penalty.  After this period is complete, employers then have the option to directly hire the candidate onto their payroll, bypassing any additional staffing fees. 

Retail recruitment firms are generally utilized for management positions.  They deal with technical and executive employees; therefore standards and pay associated with these services are much higher.  Retail recruiters, also known as retail headhunters, are responsible for acquiring experienced candidates as well as employers interested in utilizing their services.  A retail recruiter generally receives commission for each successful placement made, which ensures dedication to each candidate and employer throughout the process.  Candidates take skill and personality tests, and may be required to submit drug screens or criminal background checks.  Employers benefit from the speed and accuracy these firms deliver, and candidates are able to begin working directly for the employer, rather than the agency. 

While these services have been the most widely used in recent years, both employers and candidates are beginning to utilize more hands on approaches that allow direct contact throughout the hiring process.  These services consist of online job boards, classifieds, and newspaper classifieds.  Each service offers space that employers or candidates may purchase to advertise their position or skills to others nationwide or locally.  With the continual advances in technology, employers increasingly approve of these services that keep them involved every step of the way. 

For more information on recruiting for retail positions, please visit the following sites:

• University of Kent
• The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers
• The How-To Network
• University of Washington School of Law
• Gowri Kumar

Let iHireRetail be your alternative to recruiting services.  Our niche job board focuses only in retail opportunities.