Job Description and Duties A major national chain of retail stores, Foot Locker regularly hires sales associates to provide customer service. Minimum age requirements for Foot Locker sales associate jobs include workers 18 and over. Primary responsibilities for Foot Locker sales associate positions involve operating cash registers, assisting customers with sales, stocking and organizing shelves, and answering questions about company policies, merchandise, and services. Foot Locker sales associates generally work on foot for long periods of time. A working knowledge of footwear and athletic apparel may prove beneficial during the Foot Locker hiring process. Training may involve a brief probationary period, verbal instruction, and visual demonstration. Basic computer skills also benefit Foot Locker sales associate job hopefuls. Sales associates working for Foot Locker generally start out earning around minimum wage. Pay increases with experience gained up to $14.00 per hour. Some locations may pay as much as $20.00 an hour for sales associates.
The shoe and athletic wear retailer offers the position in both part-time and full-time shifts. Part-time Foot Locker sales associates work roughly 20 to 30 hours per week, while full-time sales associates with the shoe store chain work at least 40 a week. Busy holiday seasons may require sales associates to work additional hours. In addition to competitive salary rates, Foot Locker offers many work benefits to qualified employees. Eligible workers gain access to healthcare coverage, 401(k) retirement plans, sick leave, personal days, and paid vacation, flexible spending accounts, and life insurance options. Job benefits availability and eligibility may vary by Foot Locker location. Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties. Foot Locker Sales Associate: At Foot Locker, I was a sales associate. Basically, what I did was any customer that came in, I would sell shoes. Basically, we clean off the shoes, make sure everything is done in a clean and organized fashion.
Make sure we knew our products, and knew when the new releases came out, or when the shoe was supposed to come out. If a shoe wasn’t in their size, we would try to see if we had something else. Interviewer: What was the work environment like? Foot Locker Sales Associate: It was actually very fast-paced, very fun. Jordan’s was my biggest thing, especially at that time. You want to know when your new releases are. Morale there, because everyone was happy to see when the new shoe was coming out. You always try to compete with the associates that had the new shoes on, it was fun. Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there? Foot Locker Sales Associate: The shoes. Being able to catch a new release before everybody else. Also, I got a 30% discount. Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee. Foot Locker Sales Associate: Come in, clock in, and make sure the store is in a neat, orderly fashion. Make sure it’s presentable for the customers to want to shop in there.
If a shoe is not looking right, it’s not straight, customers are not going to want to buy it. So, customers come in, float in, you want to talk to them in a professional manner. Always look to want to help a customer. Even if they’re just looking, always want to help them. After that, when the customers flow out, you clean, make sure the store is straightened for the next day, and you clock out and go home. Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process? Foot Locker Sales Associate: The interview process and the application process… for them, I had put in an application a while back. Got a call maybe six months later, and came in. The application was fairly easy, fairly quick. As far as the interview process, they interviewed me on the first time I was hired. They asked me very simple questions, just like, “What would you do with a customer that wasn’t happy with their product?”, and that’s one of the main things companies look for – can you handle that type of pressure?
If they see fit that you can, they’ll hire you. Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview? Foot Locker Sales Associate: “Do you know your product?”, “Do you know new release dates?”, and “Are you in the shoe game?” And, that’s a big part. Are you familiar with shoes? You can not know shoes and still come in and do well, but they want somebody that’s willing to know so that when they come in, they really don’t have to do too much training with you. Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates? Foot Locker Sales Associate: I knew my shoe game. I knew new releases just like they did. They said, “Do you know when this is?” If they said, “Do you know when this shoe is?”, I knew that, because I kept on the website. I knew my research well beforehand. Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment? Foot Locker Sales Associate: If you love shoes, go ahead and do it.
The pay is not what you would think it is, but the discount makes it worthwhile. Plus, you get to see the new release shoes before a lot of people do. They see it online, but you can see it in your hands coming in, and you’re the first person that gets to see the new release before anyone else in the world gets it. So, that’s a good thing. Apply Online: Foot Locker Application OnlineShoe salespersons must be helpful and friendly, without being pushy. Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Shoe salesmen and women work in retail establishments, helping clients select shoes that will make them happy in terms of overall fit, style and their budget. As of May 2011, there were approximately 171,230 of these workers employed in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Shoe salesmen work when the hours stores are open, including weekends, evenings and holidays. Most work full time, although 37 percent worked part time in 2010. They earn an hourly rate as well as sales commissions in some cases.
During peak sales periods, they often have the opportunity to work overtime. Education and Training While there are no minimum qualifications for a shoe salesperson, most employers require a high school education or equivalent. Experience in sales, particularly in shoe sales, helps differentiate job seekers. Once hired, on-the-job training lasts between a couple of days and a couple of months, depending on the employer and the array of shoes sold. Often, experienced shoe salespeople will teach a new salesperson how to assist a customer in trying on shoes and how to differentiate between product lines. Employees are educated about store policies and procedures, security safeguards and how to operate the cash register. Some stores provide periodic training on topics such as how to motivate and persuade customers. Duties A shoe salesperson greets customers and asks if they need assistance. Merchandise recommendations are made based on what the customer is looking for. A shoe salesperson highlights the features of each pair of shoes displayed that interest the customer.
He then answers questions, demonstrates the differences between brands, and gives customers his opinions on fit, style and appearance. In most retail establishments, a shoe salesperson handles customer checkout, collecting payment and entering purchases into the store’s register. He informs customers of current sales and store promotions and policies, such as returns and exchanges. Skills Shoe salespeople need to be customer oriented, helpful and friendly. They must be responsive to customer needs and knowledgeable about their product lines. An outgoing personality is vital, as the job involves constant contact with customers. Good communication skills allow a shoe salesperson to explain information such as brand differences and trends. A good shoe salesperson is persuasive and persistent, without being pushy. Optimistic self-motivators do well in this profession, as a shoe salesperson must approach each sale with enthusiasm and vigor. Salary and Outlook The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual income for shoe salespeople was $23,810 as of May 2011.