Merchandiser resume example & writing guide

When applying for a merchandiser role, you want to show an employer your retail knowledge and ability to produce sales-driven results. Your resume should emphasize your top accomplishments in the retail industry, along with your skills, experience, and education. This guide provides some general merchandiser resume examples you can use to create a quality resume and impress a prospective employer.

In this guide, we’ll go over:

• What should a merchandiser resume include

• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)

• Adding relevant key skills to your resume

• Choosing the right resume template for a merchandiser

What should your merchandiser resume include?

Your merchandiser resume should convey your ability to drive sales and boost revenue in a retail environment. For this position, it’s essential to include details about your merchandising experience and how you’ve contributed to sales growth in other roles.

Your resume allows you to pitch your retail skills and marketing expertise to a hiring manager. You can include these elements on your merchandiser resume:

• The resume header with your contact information

• The resume summary 

• The employment history section

• The resume skills section

• The education section

How can you create a professional summary?

At the top of your resume, your professional summary introduces yourself to a hiring manager. In two or three sentences, it should briefly describe your core competencies and the value you have as a merchandiser, backed up by your past accomplishments. 

Consider what unique skills or attributes can distinguish you from others. For example, highlight your in-depth knowledge of inventory management software or your ability to perform comprehensive market research for new products. If you want to make your summary stand out, add a bulleted list of your core competencies, as we’ve shown in the example.

See our adaptable merchandiser resume summary below.

How should you describe your work experience as a merchandiser?

In your work history section, show an employer how your past experience has prepared you for a new role with their company. Provide details about the other merchandising jobs you’ve held. You can also mention other jobs you’ve had in the retail industry.

List your past jobs in reverse-chronological order, providing your job title, employment dates, and responsibilities in each position. Write bullet points to highlight your key accomplishments or your most impressive results in each role. Include quantifiable metrics wherever possible, such as sales growth or inventory cost savings.

Here’s an example of a bullet point for a merchandiser resume that uses quantifiable data:

• Planned and executed a new store layout design for a 10,000-square-foot retail store, contributing to a 30% increase in profits.

Take a look at the adaptable merchandiser resume employment history section below.

Include a fitting merchandiser resume education and certifications section

Some employers prefer to hire merchandisers with a degree in marketing, business, or a related area. Others accept candidates without a degree if they have relevant experience or internships. Review the job description to ensure you meet the educational requirements of the role you’re applying to get.

When creating your education section, follow these guidelines:

• Include relevant details. Provide the name of your degree or diploma and the school where you earned it.

• Put your highest degree first. If you have multiple degrees, such as a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, list the highest one first. Keep your education section in reverse-chronological order, even if you’ve earned an advanced degree in a different discipline.

• Emphasize your certifications or additional credentials. Below your formal education,  include professional certifications you’ve earned or other credentials you have. For example, our example resume lists the job seeker’s professional affiliations.

Which key skills are relevant for a merchandiser resume?

Along with your work experience, your skills section can prove that you have the expertise to handle the demands of a merchandising position. In this section, list your top skills relevant to the role.

If you’re not sure which skills to include, review the job description again. Most employers list required or preferred skills. By including those same ones on your resume, you can show a hiring manager that you’re a good fit.

Additionally, using similar keywords from the job description can help your resume pass an applicant tracking system (ATS), which many companies use to scan resumes automatically. (For more information on mastering the ATS, check out our article on resume ATS optimization.)

Some common merchandising skills can include:

• Merchandising strategies

• Inventory management

• Design visualization

• Vendor relationships and procurement

• Trend analysis

• Market research

How to select the most impactful merchandiser resume template

Use a clean, modern format to demonstrate your professionalism. For a merchandiser position, you may choose to add some color or shapes to show off your flair for design. Just make sure the final product appears polished and professional so an employer can focus on your qualifications.

If you have less than 10 years of experience, keep your resume to one page. You can add a second page if you have extensive retail or merchandising experience. 

With our resume builder, you can easily find and select a resume layout to apply for your next merchandiser role. You can also get some additional creative inspiration with over 100 resume examples we have to offer.

Copyable merchandiser resume example

Key takeaways for writing a merchandiser resume

1. A merchandiser resume usually includes a summary, work experience and education sections, and a list of your skills.

2. Review the job description and target specific keywords, such as inventory management and market research, to conquer an applicant tracking system.

3. Use a clean, professional resume format, but feel free to add a touch of style to show off your design skills.