Shouting "Leader" From the Sales Floor: How to Describe Your Store Lead Experience on a Resume


If you were the go-to person on the sales floor—the one everyone turned to when the manager wasn’t around—you probably had a lot of responsibility. You were the person who made sure everything was running smoothly, kept your team motivated, and worked hard to achieve goals. Now, it’s time to take that valuable experience and present it on your resume in a way that shows you're ready for the next big role.

Don’t worry if that sounds difficult—it’s easier than you think! Here's how to make sure your resume screams "leader" right from the top.


1. Think About Your Job Title: Sometimes Change "Store Lead"

While "Store Lead" is a good title, it might not always show just how much responsibility you had. When writing your resume, think about using other titles that reflect your leadership and impact more clearly. For example:


  • Assistant Manager: If you often took on big responsibilities that were almost like those of a manager, this title might fit better.
  • Sales Team Lead: If leading a sales-driven team was your main focus, this title emphasizes your role in boosting sales and managing team members.
  • Shift Supervisor: If you were in charge of the store during specific shifts, this title shows your ability to manage operations and people.

Changing your title to one of these can help make your experience stand out more to hiring managers.


2. Use Numbers to Show Your Impact

When you're describing your responsibilities, adding numbers can make a big difference. Numbers help show how successful you were and give clear examples of the results you achieved.

Instead of saying something general like "motivated team members," try using specific numbers, like:


  • "Increased sales by 15% in one quarter by implementing a new product training program."
  • "Reduced customer wait times by 10% by streamlining the checkout process."
  • "Mentored 5 new hires, leading to a 100% retention rate."

These examples show potential employers exactly what you did and how it benefited the business.


3. Highlight Important Leadership Skills

Throughout your resume, it’s important to show off the leadership skills you used. Action verbs (words that show you did something) can really help here. For example:


  • Trained: "Trained new hires on customer service protocols and sales techniques."
  • Supervised: "Supervised a team of 5 sales associates, ensuring adherence to company policies."
  • Motivated: "Motivated team members to exceed sales targets through incentives and recognition programs."
  • Resolved: "Successfully resolved customer complaints, leading to increased customer satisfaction."

Using strong words like these gives a clear picture of what you did and how you led your team.


4. Match Your Experience to the Job You’re Applying For

Every job is a little different, so it’s important to tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for. Before sending in your application, carefully read the job description and think about how your experience matches up. If the company is looking for someone with strong communication skills, make sure you include examples of times you communicated effectively with customers or team members.

For example, you might say something like:

"Communicated daily with customers to understand their needs and recommend suitable products, leading to increased customer satisfaction."

By aligning your experience with what the employer is looking for, you'll have a better chance of standing out.


5. Use the "STAR" Method to Describe Your Achievements

When you're talking about your specific achievements, using the STAR method can help make your stories clearer and more impactful. STAR stands for:


  • Situation: Describe the situation or challenge you faced.
  • Task: Explain what your specific responsibility was.
  • Action: Describe the steps you took to address the situation.
  • Result: Highlight the positive outcome of your actions.

Here’s an example:

"Identified a need for better product knowledge among team members. (Situation) Implemented weekly product training sessions, including role-playing scenarios. (Action) As a result, the team's product knowledge significantly improved, leading to a 10% boost in sales. (Result)"

Using the STAR method helps employers understand not just what you did, but how you did it and the positive results that came from your actions.


Key Takeaway: Don't Undervalue Your Store Lead Experience

Your experience as a store lead is incredibly valuable, so don’t underestimate how impressive it can be on your resume. By using action-packed language, showcasing real numbers, and tailoring your resume to each job, you can confidently present yourself as a strong leader and candidate for the position. Whether you led a small team or handled major responsibilities, your leadership skills will stand out, helping you to land your next big role!