If you are of high school or college age and are looking for a job, at first you may think that working in retail has to be a nightmare due to horror stories you have heard from others. While working in retail has many ups and downs just as any job does, there are actually several reasons why a retail job can be a perfect fit for a young person like you.

The Hours

 As a student you are likely in class most of the day and will need a job that you can do in the evening. The hiring manager may be happy to have found someone to work the 5pm-close shift which is harder to fill than the day shift. If you are in college and have a schedule that varies from day to day, retail managers are typically very flexible, especially if you explain that you are a full-time student. Work around your classes instead of having to schedule classes around your job.

Going to a job interview makes many people nervous. If you are going on your first job interview or maybe just your first job interview in the retail industry, you may feel your stomach churning a little. Before heading out the door blindly, here are a few tips on how to ace your retail interview so you can land that job.

Dress Nicely, but Don’t Go Overboard

If you are applying for an upper level management position, wearing a typical business suit is the best option. If you are applying for an entry level position as a cashier or box stocker on the other hand, you don’t want to over dress for the part.

It is likely that the person interviewing you for the job may be the manager or assistant manager of the store who may be wearing the store uniform. You showing up to the mall in a designer suit will just look awkward and may make the interviewer feel like you are trying too hard. Wear something nice such as khaki pants, a polo shirt and dress shoes. This way you look clean and neat without going overboard. Be sure not to dress like a slob. Wearing ripped jeans and a tee is never appropriate even if you are trying to work in a hip and trendy store.

I worked many retail jobs in high school and in college during winter or summer breaks. My resume of retail jobs includes accessory stores, a toy store and even a fishing supply store (don’t ask). One summer break during college I decided to apply to Victoria’s Secret. I LOVED to shop at Victoria’s Secret, so working there seemed like a dream. I had visions of purchasing discounted bras and ringing up fabulous purchases while chatting with awesome customers. It was not my dream to work in retail my whole life, but I really never had a problem with any of my past retail jobs. I earned spending money and was treated nicely by bosses and co-workers. I thought Victoria’s Secret would be the best of all: I thought wrong.

At first I was proud to work at Victoria’s Secret. It was fun to walk into work at 20 wearing black suit instead of the polo shirts a lot of retail stores make you wear. My dreams were shortly shattered. I wasn’t allowed to work the cash register because I was new. Is it really normal to be a sales associate and not be allowed to work the cash register? I had been working registers since I was about 14 and suddenly I was “not qualified” to touch one as a 20 year old adult who was half way through college.

So I was told to work the sales floor and ask customers if they needed help. That was cool. I was a people person and I loved bras and knew a lot about the products because I also purchased them. I was really helpful in finding women the right bras and customers would tell me how nice I was as they exited. My manager however did not care about niceness. She had one thing in mind: PUSHING CREDIT CARDS.