‘Customer-centric attitude, problem solving skills crucial to succeed in Retail sector’

Interview of the Day: ‘Customer-centric attitude, problem solving skills crucial to succeed in Retail sector’

Barkat Charania, CEO, Beyond Talent Management Pvt. Ltd., a specialty retail recruitment resource firm, in a conversation with TimesJobs.com shares the skills required to be successful in Retail industry and various career options for young graduates.

Barkat Charania, CEO, Beyond Talent Management Pvt. Ltd.

How has been the performance of retail sector this year? Has it been a good year for candidates looking to have a career in this sector?

The retail sector in India is performing extraordinarily over the past few years, thus becoming an eye-catching market throughout the globe. It is still growing at a great pace. The year 2013 has really added to its growth from various angles like increasing disposable income, changing lifestyles and favorable government policies supporting the growth of retail sector in India. The Indian population, especially the young population is driving purchases in fashion, lifestyle, mobiles and accessories, food and beverages and quick service restaurants. With the increase in shopping malls and the entry of many foreign brands, the shopping culture is changing day-by-day, and is more focused on organised retail.

With the increasing expansion of many brands and entry of new brands, the sector has produced immense job opportunities. These retail brands are growing not only in metros, but also in Tier II and Tier III cities, offering equal employment opportunities at every level. Out of these, nearly 70 per cent opening is for front level executives and remaining for mid and senior level positions. The only problem is the mindset of young Indian workforce to capitalise on these opportunities. Retail is still not being looked upon as a preferred career choice by these young graduates.  If we randomly ask undergraduate students about their preference of work, once they complete their studies, the answers would be IT, Manufacturing, Banking and FMCG. But not even 5 per cent would say that they want to make their career in the Retail. Other than that, there is truly a shortage of skilled manpower, since the industry is in its developing phase and still growing exponentially.

What are the various lucrative career avenues in Retail sector?

Retail sector in itself is very vast. This is an industry which has happily given jobs to even the 12^th grade pass-outs or even SSC-completed students. Since there are only a few colleges offering retail specific training, the market is open for candidates from any stream and they can really grow to the top management if they work hard and perform to their fullest. People can start with store jobs and by polishing their skills get into merchandising, procurement, buying, sales, operations and business development. Also, with the expansion of malls, there are various openings coming up in retail leasing, mall operations, mall management and facilities management.

Do you see a skills gap in this sector?

There is a huge skills gap in the Retail sector. Formal education related to retail is very scarce.  Organisations are trying to build in their own teams and mould them into their culture.

What are the top skills that can get you a job in Retail sector?

Hard work is the only key to success in Retail. Pleasant personality, customer-centric attitude and problem solving abilities are the few attributes which can easily grant entry to anyone into the Retail industry. Other than these, having a sense of fashion, merchandising skills, industry awareness and hardcore sales attitude are required to enter retail. Also, there are ways to get into corporate positions like HR, admin, buying and merchandising, procurement, logistics, finance, it, etc. through formal education.

Which are the top HR trends that made a mark in Retail sector in 2013?

• Major focus is given to training and skill development at every level
• The policies are now becoming people-centric rather than employee-centric policies, which was the case earlier.
• Retention is given utmost priority over recruitment
• Retail jobs can be very tiring wherein employee has to work for long hours and even during weekends. However, now-a-days, there are various policies being floated at organisational levels which would motivate employees to put in that extra effort and grow with the organisation. Also, there has been constant focus on career progression.

Interview of the Day: ‘Customer-centric attitude, problem solving skills crucial to succeed in Retail sector’

No Comment Posted by admin on Dec 9, 2013

Barkat Charania, CEO, Beyond Talent Management Pvt. Ltd., a specialty retail recruitment resource firm, in a conversation with TimesJobs.com shares the skills required to be successful in Retail industry and various career options for young graduates.

Rahul Raj, TimesJobs.com Bureau
Barkat Charania, CEO, Beyond Talent Management Pvt. Ltd.
How has been the performance of retail sector this year? Has it been a good year for candidates looking to have a career in this sector?
The retail sector in India is performing extraordinarily over the past few years, thus becoming an eye-catching market throughout the globe. It is still growing at a great pace. The year 2013 has really added to its growth from various angles like increasing disposable income, changing lifestyles and favorable government policies supporting the growth of retail sector in India. The Indian population, especially the young population is driving purchases in fashion, lifestyle, mobiles and accessories, food and beverages and quick service restaurants. With the increase in shopping malls and the entry of many foreign brands, the shopping culture is changing day-by-day, and is more focused on organised retail.
With the increasing expansion of many brands and entry of new brands, the sector has produced immense job opportunities. These retail brands are growing not only in metros, but also in Tier II and Tier III cities, offering equal employment opportunities at every level. Out of these, nearly 70 per cent opening is for front level executives and remaining for mid and senior level positions. The only problem is the mindset of young Indian workforce to capitalise on these opportunities. Retail is still not being looked upon as a preferred career choice by these young graduates.  If we randomly ask undergraduate students about their preference of work, once they complete their studies, the answers would be IT, Manufacturing, Banking and FMCG. But not even 5 per cent would say that they want to make their career in the Retail. Other than that, there is truly a shortage of skilled manpower, since the industry is in its developing phase and still growing exponentially.
What are the various lucrative career avenues in Retail sector?
Retail sector in itself is very vast. This is an industry which has happily given jobs to even the 12^th grade pass-outs or even SSC-completed students. Since there are only a few colleges offering retail specific training, the market is open for candidates from any stream and they can really grow to the top management if they work hard and perform to their fullest. People can start with store jobs and by polishing their skills get into merchandising, procurement, buying, sales, operations and business development. Also, with the expansion of malls, there are various openings coming up in retail leasing, mall operations, mall management and facilities management.
Do you see a skills gap in this sector?
There is a huge skills gap in the Retail sector. Formal education related to retail is very scarce.  Organisations are trying to build in their own teams and mould them into their culture.
What are the top skills that can get you a job in Retail sector?
Hard work is the only key to success in Retail. Pleasant personality, customer-centric attitude and problem solving abilities are the few attributes which can easily grant entry to anyone into the Retail industry. Other than these, having a sense of fashion, merchandising skills, industry awareness and hardcore sales attitude are required to enter retail. Also, there are ways to get into corporate positions like HR, admin, buying and merchandising, procurement, logistics, finance, it, etc. through formal education.
Which are the top HR trends that made a mark in Retail sector in 2013?

• Major focus is given to training and skill development at every level
• The policies are now becoming people-centric rather than employee-centric policies, which was the case earlier.
• Retention is given utmost priority over recruitment
• Retail jobs can be very tiring wherein employee has to work for long hours and even during weekends. However, now-a-days, there are various policies being floated at organisational levels which would motivate employees to put in that extra effort and grow with the organisation. Also, there has been constant focus on career progression.

- See more at: http://content.timesjobs.com/interview-of-the-day-customer-centric-attitude-problem-solving-skills-crucial-to-succeed-in-retail-sector/?fromsite=toi&utm_source=toi&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toi-tj-whitelabel#sthash.wMz2kPNT.dpuf

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