Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
• Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
• Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
• Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
• Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
• Assign employees to specific duties.
• Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
• Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organising shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
• Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.
• Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Training in further education can develop your skills and knowledge. You can progress and there are both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business and management which can support you in your career from previous expereince and education.

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service, Retail, Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Business Management, Sales, Retail, Marketing, Commerce at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Sales, Retail Supervision Apprenticeships NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Management, Retail, Commerce NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Continuous Professional development 

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Retail Management, Marketing NFQ level 9

Retail Ireland Skillnet 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €120k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. Salary range and scale depend on store size, stand alone or multiple. 

Data Source(s):
Brightwater/ Excel / Indeed/ Clark/ Morgan McKinley/ Osborne

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly for this occupation, particularly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,800 persons employed. This growth is in line with the recent employment growth in the wholesale/retail sector.

The share of non-Irish citizens, at 29%, was higher than the national average of 19%. The number of jobs advertised online (OVATE) grew strongly (10%) for this occupation in the year to 2022, although the fall in adverts in the most recent quarterly data suggests a slowdown in demand.

• Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME)

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