Overview of Retail
Retail is the combination of activities involved in renting or selling consumer goods and services directly to consumers.
Get details on the salary and job security of these Retail careers:
Get Career Ready for Retail
Find out what it takes to land a career in Retail.
Earn a Degree
To work in the field of Retail, it is recommended to have a strong background in sales, customer service, as well as quantitative, interpersonal and analytical skills. Majors, minors, and degree information can be found in the George Mason Catalog.
Along with your degree, professional certifications like these may increase your employment options:
- Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential
- Obtain an entrepreneurship credential by attending an EdX entrepreneurship course
- Retail Management Certificate
Gain Experiences
Employers are expecting candidates to have at least six to twelve months of related experience to be competitive for full-time positions.
Here are the types of experiences most valued by Retail employers, and where to find them:
Internships/Jobs
- Jobs In Logistics
- National Retail Federation Leadership Development Programs through top employers such as Enterprise and Target
- All Retail Jobs
Competitions
Market Your Skills
It is important for you to be able to clearly communicate the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained in and outside of the classroom.
Below are top ways to showcase your qualifications to Retail employers:
Resume
Interview
Interviewing well is key to standing out with employers in the arts, entertainment, and creative industries—and the best way to build confidence is through practice. Use InterviewPrep, George Mason’s free virtual mock interview tool, to explore industry-specific interview questions and sharpen your responses at your own pace.
- Register for an account at InterviewPrep using your George Mason email.
- Once you're logged in, use the following code to access a curated interview set for this career area: [FRUPUNSBZ4bh]
Career Ready
Career ready George Mason grads have gone on to work for Retail employers, such as:
|
Amazon |
Best Buy |
CVS Health |
|
Target |
Walmart Corporate |
Wegmans |
Join the Retail community
Get involved with academic and professional societies to grow your network while you're still a student.