Not all of us got into retail intentionally, and some of us may even feel stuck in our jobs, but pursuing a new position or a promotion can make your day-to-day a bit more rewarding and—most importantly—get you a nice raise! However, trying to break in to the leadership circle of a store can be discouraging at first. Year after year, you may feel like you’re just training the fresh out of college recruits to take on the position you want. Hopefully these tips will help you break this cycle and land that new gig!

Ask (the right) Questions

It may not seem like it from the outside, but retail stores are truly complex organisms, and there is always something to learn if you ask the right questions! If you’re delegated a task, make sure you know why. Once you understand the impact your work has and the common goal your team is working towards, you can work proactively. Having a better understanding of your business allows you to make judgement calls and prove to the store leaders that you’re capable of making the right decisions. Furthermore, independent workers are a supervisors dream! There is nothing your boss will like more than walking by and seeing you already working on something he or she planned to get done that day.

In order to maintain these good impressions, you also need to ask for feedback. Some bosses may just give it, but not many will go past a great job or a scolding. Your immediate supervisor is an excellent third party source to give you the information you need to improve yourself and move up the food chain. 

Take a Mentor

Feedback is so important to your development, that you should even go a step further. Find the person who has the job you want and reach out to them and let them know that you’d like to move up with the company. Letting someone know you wish to be promoted may seem obvious, but it’s not always clear, and putting your name in the conversation is an excellent way to jumpstart your development!

  Conversations with a mentor can also give you the chance to understand the expectations of the role you desire and how you can get there. It also allows you to reflect on why you want that position. Learning more about a role may change your mind and save you some trouble in the long run, or it may motivate you further to take the strides necessary to get there! 

Take Ownership of your Work

Retail stores are often segmented into different work centers, likely the front end, sales floor, and backroom, each with their own sub categories. Find your niche within your category and own it. If you love working in a specific department, ask your manager if you can specialize right there. Rather than blending in to a greater work center, show off your skills by owning that specific area. This can be an excellent opportunity to showcase your talent, and with so many employees per store, it pays to stand out! 

Practice Professionalism

It’s easy to fall into the routines of your coworkers, and the truth is, professionalism can be rare to find in a retail environment. That being said, acting professionally can really help you stand out in the crowd if you’re serious about being promoted. This doesn’t mean you have to carry a briefcase to work, but—simply put—you just have to take your job seriously.

The first question a leader asks when hearing someone is seeking a promotion is “how is his or her attendance? Poor attendance is the biggest red flag you can have on your resume. I know it’s easy to call in those days you just cant stand to answer another customer’s questions, but it can seriously go against your chances for a promotion. That being said, everyone gets sick or hits some traffic, so don’t think you’re going to miss out on that raise for a late shift or missing a couple of days per year. 

Professionalism in retail also means supporting the store’s mission and culture. I know 90% of the information you get in orientation and online training is bullshit, but pay attention because supporting these “best practices” is what gets you noticed by the leaders both in store and above. 

Supporting a positive culture also means not treating your store like a high school. I know it’s the default environment for most retail chains, but getting caught up in the gossip can prevent store leadership from taking you seriously and nominating you for that promotion. 

Summary 

Getting promoted requires patience. Practicing these behaviors will help you stand out, but you may still need to wait for a position to open up or even be willing to relocate to a different store. Most importantly, don’t get discouraged while you’re waiting, if you’re serious enough to be reading this article, I’m sure you’re already an excellent candidate!