Holder Resume Examples

Before you write your key holder resume, consider referencing two valuable documents that can provide inspiration and point you in the right direction.

First, review the job description to determine what qualifications the employer is looking for so you can begin incorporating them into your resume appropriately.

Then review a few key holder resume samples to get an idea of the kind of information to include and how best to format your resume.

A third valuable reference is this article, which will provide information on the necessary sections of a resume, the writing style you should use, and mistakes to avoid. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll end up with a well-written resume that can help land you that interview.

Applicants for holder positions will often already have retail management experience, education, or certifications in a specific area of expertise. As a result, no two resumes will be the same, so it’s important that you understand that this is not a fill-in-the-blank exercise.

While there will be differences in content and format options, there are basic sections that are common to all resumes. As you’ll see from perusing key holder resume samples, these sections are:

• • Contact info (name/phone number/email)
  • Resume summary
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Education

Furthermore, there are three accepted resume formats to choose from – chronological, functional, and a combination style.

The chronological style focuses on work experience and a job seeker’s uninterrupted work history. This approach is best for those who don’t have any major employment gaps and who have been traveling on a traditional key holder career path from the get-go.

The functional style often works best for those with a difficult-to-explain employment gap or who are considering a career change. In this case, a new section called Accomplishments will be inserted between the resume summary and work experience sections. Here you’ll focus on your achievements and transferable skills without having to link either to a specific employer.

If you see value in both formats, you can create your own combination style.

Refer to the key holder resume samples to see how the content is presented and how the information looks on the page.

The resume summary statement, even though it’s only 2-3 sentences long, holds a critical position as the first element of your resume that a potential employer reads. If you don’t use this section to draw them in by describing yourself as their ideal job candidate, they might lose interest.

As you write, put yourself in the employer’s shoes, and focus on fulfilling their requirements. Try to write brief statements about how you identified a problem, devised a solution, and created a positive result for the employer.

If you find yourself telling a story by using first-person pronouns like “I,” “me,” or “we,” go back and delete them. You’ll end up with incomplete sentences, which are actually preferred. To get into the flow of writing in this style, refer to the summaries in the holder resume samples already identified. Also, provided below are two examples of well-written key holder summaries:

• Experienced assistant manager/key holder at a major metropolitan department store. In the absence of the store manager, was responsible for opening and/or closing the store, supervision of employees, oversight of sales, guest service, and all operational functions. Ensured merchandise replenishment and store cleanliness, which improved the reputation of the store, sales and customer volume. Also held lead cashier responsibilities during shift, and at closing, ensured doors were locked and alarms set.
• First and only key holder at a small, family owned grocery store whose owner no longer wanted to work 14-hour days. Provided owner the flexibility for vacation and was willing to step up in case of illness. Assigned tasks to employees and assisted customers. Performed all management duties, balanced cash registers at close of business, prepared bank deposit and secured the store before leaving.

If you’ve decided to write a chronological style resume, the work experience section comes next. Each job, beginning with your most recent, will be its own sub-heading followed by 2-3 accomplishments in bullet point form. A typical job entry might look like this:

Shift supervisor/key holder
Henderson’s Department Store – City, State
August 2011 – February 2016

• • Streamlined merchandise replenishment procedure to include restocking as needed throughout the business day, resulting is less overtime after store closing
  • Provided mentoring and coaching to new employees to bring them up to staff standards quickly
  • Suggested a security procedure of keeping keys, codes, and security alarm settings in different locations, lowering the risk of break-ins

The functional style lists 8-10 of your best career highlights in a new section called Accomplishments, which will be located between the resume summary and work experience sections. The advantage to this format is being able to match your achievements to the employer’s requirements without concern for dates or previous employers. This is an opportunity for those job seekers who are considering a career change to emphasize their transferable skills. In turn, the work experience section then becomes a more straightforward list of previous positions and corresponding companies – there’s no need to list dates or responsibilities.

If you’re undecided as to which format to use, consult your key holder resume samples to determine which framework will present you in the best light.

The whole idea of your resume is to present your experience in a way that the hiring manager can picture you doing the job and call you for an interview. Using action verbs creates that image. Following is a sampling of action verbs to consider:

• • Oversee
  • Open/Close
  • Monitor
  • Ensure
  • Represent
  • Educate
  • Coach
  • Direct
  • Collaborate
  • Support
  • Maintain
  • Lead
  • Protect
  • Price
  • Stock
  • Operate
  • Balance
  • Adhere
  • Supervise

A quick review of key holder resume samples will provide additional action verbs to consider using.

Let the employer’s job description be your guide as you decide which skills should be listed first. Give some thought as to how you would categorize your skills to make it easier for the employer to feel their needs are being addressed. Most key holders have skills that are interpersonal, technical, and physical. An example of a key holder’s skills section follows:

Interpersonal skills:

• • Clear, friendly communication with both employees and customers
  • Ability to enforce procedures in a positive manner
  • Willingly provides coaching to employees who need/request the extra attention
  • Ability to diffuse customer complaint situations

Technical skills:

• • MS Office proficiency, especially spreadsheets
  • Cash register operation, credit card readers, and inventory management software
  • Understanding of alarm system operation and opening and closing procedures
  • Able to operate non-motorized merchandise movers like dollies

Physical abilities:

• • Able to work prolonged shifts that require long periods of time standing, walking, or lifting
  • Able to lift up to 40 lbs.

The above categories are just suggestions. You know best what you do best. By referring to the job description you’ll know that the employer is looking for, and by reviewing the key holder resume samples, you’ll see how this section might look on the page.

In the past, key holder employers valued industry experience over education, but more and more, they’re expressing a desire for some post-secondary education.

This section is your opportunity to highlight those academic achievements that can make you stand out.

Whether you have a technical degree, an associate’s, or a bachelor’s, be sure to list your highest level of education first. Identify the school attended, school location, and degree obtained. If you’re currently working toward a degree, list it in the same format, but with the qualifier that the degree is “in progress.”

Aspiring managers will need at least an associate’s and probably a bachelor’s in business or retail marketing, so if your career path is taking you to a management position, there’s no better time to begin your education and let prospective employers know you’re pursuing a degree by listing it on your resume.

Another category of education could be in-house training. Many large chain department stores and restaurants provide in-house supervisor training for key holders. Be sure to list any such classes in your education section.

Quickly review education sections in key holder resume samples for formatting ideas for this section.

If you review the key holder resume samples you’ve already identified, you wont’ see references included on any of them. There are two very good reasons not to include them.

First, they take up valuable resume space that can be put to better use matching your skills and qualifications to the potential employer’s requirements.

Secondly, with the simple statement that your references are available upon request, you put yourself in the advantageous position of knowing for sure they’re interested in you when they make the request. You can also contact your references to give them a heads up that they’ll be receiving a call, and you can request they let you know when contact’s been made and how it went.

When putting together your references, you should strive for 3-4 previous managers or supervisors for whom you’ve worked and had a good relationship. If you have limited work experience, a co-worker can be used, but you should also consider vendors you’ve dealt with, especially if the potential employer has or may desire a relationship with them.

• While the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide employment projections for key holder positions, it does provide employment statistics and information for

first line supervisors of retail sales workers, also known as key holders

• , who, along with other duties, are responsible for opening and closing the establishment.

• Information provided includes:

Industries with the highest levels of employment

• in this occupation: general merchandise stores, grocery stores, clothing stores, building material and supplies dealers, and gasoline stations.

Industries with the highest concentration of employment

• in this occupation: shoe stores; clothing stores; office supplies, stationary, and gift stores; jewelry, luggage and leather goods stores; beer, wine and liquor stores.

Top paying industries

• for this occupation: metal and mineral (except petroleum) merchant wholesalers, automobile dealers, furniture and home furnishing merchant wholesalers, software publishers, and other financial investment activities.