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-457200-62801500RESUME ADVICE: RETAILINTRODUCTION The following document is designed to help you edit your retail-focused resume. The advice comes from an analysis of Retail job descriptions, the experience of the MBACM office, Wharton alumni in Retail, and recruiters in Retail. You will find suggestions for the following topics:All Retail Roles Merchandising RolesFinance/Strategy Roles Marketing Roles FormattingAll Retail Roles – consider demonstrating some of these skills / qualities A genuine passion for retail (specifically the category, product and industry), and not just for shopping. Demonstrate an understanding of retail trends and the importance of creating an experience that exceeds customer expectations Retail major at WhartonParticipation in retail field application projects at WhartonLeader / member of the retail club (and participation in treks)Ability to spot trends (new products, brands) in the marketplace and understand customer needsPrior industry experience (including store-level experience) or experience with consumer products. Experience with digital (ecommerce / social media), omnichannel or customer analytics is a plus Strong strategic and analytical skills Cross functional team leadership skillsExceptional presentation and interpersonal communication skills Merchandising Roles – consider demonstrating some of these skills (ability to do this type of work) Financial Analysis & Strategic Thinking: Ability to integrate multiple sources and types of data to understand demand patterns. Analyze financial data to understand product history (e.g. trends in product lifecycle, launches, SKU investment/divesting, average price movements). Provide forecasts to support retail sales. Develop and execute optimal strategy, product assortment, pricing, promotions, and merchandising plans for category expansion. Teamwork & Communication: Collaborate with cross functional teams to ensure stores achieve ROI targets as well as collaborate cross-functionally to achieve assortment optimization. Work with vendor partners to negotiate terms improvement and ensure a reliable and operationally effective flow of goods to our fulfillment centersCreativity: Ability to conceive/create new thinking and ideas pertaining to the product and process Industry Knowledge: High-level understanding of retail buying, product creation, sourcing process. Previous hands-on, experience with a productFinance/Strategy Roles – consider demonstrating some of these skills (ability to do this type of work)Analysis: Conduct new market analysis / evaluating new markets [for retail store locations]. Streamline the financial reporting process. Determine effectiveness of marketing spend and making recommendations. Conduct profitability analysis of a business unit or initiative. Generate forecasts that incorporate strategic business plan objectives and assumptions Strategic Thinking: Analyze marketplace trends and issues. Size market for new categories and create recommendations for new business opportunities. Develop overview of a category to understand market size across segments, subcategories, and distribution channelsCommunication: Demonstrate comfort in communicating across all levels of the organization. Serve as an advisor / thought partner to business leaders Functional Knowledge: Previous experience in consulting, corporate strategy or banking is desirable. Experience in financial analysis, financial or strategic planning, accounting and/or budgeting is a plus. Show familiarity with retail analytics and metrics (markup, margin, sell thru, demand curves). Marketing Roles – consider demonstrating some of these skills (ability to do this type of work)Analytical: Analyze and plan for the brand’s business performance. The ability to look at data and figures (on consumers, product category or financials), draw conclusions, and make sound recommendations Communication & Teamwork: Ability to work with different departments (from finance to R&D to sales). Articulate goals, needs and ideas to a wide range of people to keep project moving forward. Show evidence of managing teams or persuading others, particularly senior leadershipCreativity: Prove that you are capable of “out-of-the-box” thinking (even if you haven’t worked in a “creative” field prior to Wharton). Show innovation experiences – e.g. working at an innovative company or on innovative projects or creating innovative solutionsScatter marketing terminology throughout your resume; buzzwords include: customer experience, consumer insights, cross-functional project, customer service, relationship management, market analysis and segmentation, product strategy and positioning, competitive analysis, value proposition or product offeringFormattingIf you have exhibited relevant skills (e.g., analysis, leadership, teamwork) across multiple clients or projects, consider structuring your resume by highlighting 2-3 competencies within each previous company/role and then provide examples of how you applied these skills. This approach works well for former consultants and bankers, as well as those who have held multiple job titles with similar job responsibilities.Strategic Thinking and Analytical SkillsExample 1Example 2Research and Customer InsightsExample 1Example 2Leadership and TeamworkExample 1Example 2 ................
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