How do I show management experience if I have only been an assistant manager?

Describe what you ran when the manager was away: the shift, the cash, the orders and the team. Assistant managers often do most of the job, so be specific.

Do I need a management qualification?

Not usually. Most store manager jobs ask for shop experience and proven leadership. A Level 3 or Level 5 qualification in management or retail can help, but it is rarely essential, so list one only if you have it.

Should I include sales figures on my CV?

Yes, if you know them and are happy to share them. Round figures or percentages work well, and you can leave out exact company numbers if they feel too private.

Store manager CV example

A strong store manager CV shows that you run the whole shop: the team, the sales, the stock and the standards. It should back this up with figures such as team size, sales targets and waste reduced, plus evidence that you can hire, coach and deal with problems.

Freya Campbell

Store manager

freya@example.com

07700 900118

Brighton

Profile

Experienced store manager who runs a busy convenience store with a team of twelve and a weekly sales target. Strong at rotas, stock control and coaching colleagues, with a calm approach to customer and staffing problems. Keeps the store safe, compliant and profitable, including age-restricted sales and daily cash checks.

Experience

Store Manager

a busy town-centre convenience store

Managed a team of twelve, writing weekly rotas within the store's payroll hours

Increased weekly sales by about 8 percent over a year by improving availability on top-selling lines and planning promotions around local events

Reduced out-of-date stock by checking dates daily and trimming orders to match what the store really sold

Recruited, trained and coached new colleagues, and held regular one-to-one conversations with each team member

Completed the monthly health and safety, food safety and age-restricted sales checks on time

Assistant Manager

a neighbourhood grocery store

Deputised for the manager, running the store on their days off and during holidays

Placed weekly orders with suppliers and checked deliveries against invoices

Resolved most customer complaints and refund requests on the spot

Cashed up, banked takings and investigated till differences with the team

Trained staff on the tills, date checks and the store's Challenge 25 policy

Key skills

Team leadership · Rotas and payroll hours · Sales and margin targets · Stock control and waste · Recruitment and training · Health and safety compliance · Cash and banking · Customer complaints · Supplier and delivery management · Coaching and one-to-ones

Example · fictional candidate · Swiss design · Use this design

Tips for a store manager CV

Lead with numbers: team size, weekly sales, stock value and any improvement you delivered
Show both sides of the job: people (rotas, hiring, coaching) and business (sales, stock, costs)
Mention compliance you were responsible for, such as health and safety, food safety or age-restricted sales; if you hold a personal licence for alcohol sales, list it
Give one example of a problem you solved, such as a staffing gap, a supplier error or a run of complaints
If you moved up from sales assistant or supervisor, say so; it shows you know the job from the shop floor
Keep the CV to two pages at most and put your most recent role first

Applying with a cover letter? See our store manager cover letter example.