64100 Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers

What this occupation covers

Retail salespersons sell, rent or lease a range of technical and non-technical goods and services directly to consumers. Visual merchandisers plan, create and implement windows and in-store displays. They are employed by stores and other retail businesses, as well as wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the public.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 14 main duties for this code.

• Greet customers and discuss type, quality and quantity of merchandise or services sought for purchase, rental or lease
• Advise customers on use and care of merchandise, and provide advice concerning specialized products or services
• Estimate or quote prices, credit terms, trade-in allowances, warranties and delivery dates
• Prepare merchandise for purchase, rental or lease
• Prepare sales, rental or leasing contracts and accept cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit payment
• Assist in display of merchandise
• Maintain sales records for inventory control
• Operate computerized inventory record keeping and re-ordering systems
• May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce.
• Design and implement window and interior displays
• Assemble visual retail displays to promote products, promotional events and seasonal change overs;
• Ensure visual displays comply with brand guidelines and standards, including organization's culture, image and target markets
• Set up lighting systems to create a visual atmosphere.
• Retail salespersons may specialize and act as consultants in home entertainment systems, computers and other products and services.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 14 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 65100 Cashiers
• 62010 Retail sales supervisors
• 65102 Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

Excluded from this code

• Cashiers (See 65100 Cashiers)
• Sales clerk supervisor (See 62010 Retail sales supervisors)
• Stock clerk - retail (See 65102 Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

aluminum products salesperson - retail · aluminum siding salesperson - retail · appliance salesperson - retail · art sales consultant - retail · art salesperson · audio equipment consultant - retail · audio equipment salesperson · automobile accessories salesperson - retail · automobile leasing agent · automobile leasing representative · automobile sales representative - retail · automobile salesperson · automobile-rental counter representative · automotives sales consultant · bakery clerk · bakery counter clerk · bakery goods sales clerk · beer store sales clerk · bicycle salesperson - retail · boat and marine equipment salesperson - retail · book salesperson - retail · bookseller · bookstore clerk - retail · bouquet salesperson

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school may be required.
• A university degree or college diploma may be required by some employers.
• Specific subject matter courses or training may be required.
• Demonstrated sales ability and product knowledge are usually required for retail salespersons who sell complex or valuable merchandise, such as automobiles, antiques or computers.
• Previous visual merchandising experience may be required.