Retail Retrain: Laid Off Workers Do Have Options

People aren't buying as many things as they used to. In November alone, there were more than 91,000 retail jobs lost, just when the industry is supposed to be gearing up for the holidays.

For retail workers that have been laid off or are worried about being laid off, now is the time to evaluate the situation and see what options exist.

Realizing Skills

Being laid off can be brutal on the psyche. People experience feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. This can be combated by making a list of your skills.

Common skills of retail workers include:

• Customer service
• Sales experience
• Cash register / credit card knowledge
• Communication ability
• Neat appearance
• Teamwork attitude
• Management experience

Workers should choose three skills in which they particularly excel and think of real life examples of when they have used those skills to best effect. By mentally focusing on three characteristics and backing them up with proof, workers can not only realize that they do have marketable skills, but ace the next job interview.

Time for a New Career?

The retail industry will never disappear. In fact, retail jobs are projected to grow by 12 percent over the course of the decade from 2006-2016. This dip may well be temporary.

There's nothing wrong, however, with considering another career. Potential new careers that may enable workers to use and build upon their retail skills include:

• Sales
• Customer service
• Human resources
• Teaching
• Management

The first profession, sales, is perhaps the most immediately applicable. The ability to sell almost guarantees the ability to make a living. The key is for workers to research what is selling, even in this tough economy, and then sell those companies on their ability to sell the company's product.

When workers research different industries and choose well, they can make great money. The median salary for salespeople of technical and scientific products, for example, was $68,270 per year in 2007.

Further Education: Online Study Options

Some careers that are worth considering may require a college degree or some other type of education and/or certification. Many workers don't yet have a degree.

That should not limit their thinking, or their ambition.

With online school, it's possible to study while you work. Online study options, which have multiplied over the last few years and increased in quality, are a great way to go. There are now thousands of online programs, from basic certification courses to master's degrees.

President-elect Obama's stated goal to increase the tax credits available for higher education could help cover part of the cost of going back to school. The future is looking up.

Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation Summary