To become a retail trainee, you typically need to find a company that focuses on sales in a retail setting and then gain a position within it. Different businesses can have a wide range of requirements for new employees, though it is commonly expected that applicants complete a high school education. Previous work experience may be necessary, though this depends a great deal upon the type of work a new employee may need to perform. Once you are working at a company, you may have opportunities to become a retail trainee through promotion and advancement to a new position.
Educational qualifications for you to become a retail trainee can be quite low, especially for many companies that may not require much from an employee. Some companies prefer that applicants have a high school diploma, though this may not be necessary for low-level positions. If you are interested in becoming a retail trainee for a management position, then it is quite likely that you need to complete your high school education. Some companies also expect applicants for managerial positions to have a college education, such as an associate's degree in a field like business administration or management.
Previous work experience can sometimes be more important than education when you are looking to become a retail trainee. Companies may hire new people who have no experience working in retail, though positions that such people qualify for are likely to be the easiest or lowest within the store. This is not intended as an insult to new employees, but is simply based on a lack of sales and customer service knowledge.
The nature of these positions, however, can be quite different depending on the policies of a particular store. To become a retail trainee for a cashier position at one store, for example, you may need to have at least a year of previous work experience. Other companies may prefer to place new employees without experience on cash registers, since product knowledge may be a more important asset on the sales floor. With experience in your background, you can typically become a retail trainee at a wide range of locations and positions.
If you want to become a retail trainee for management, then experience is extremely important. Many companies expect managers to have several years of retail experience, and may require that you work for them for a time before you can be promoted. You may be able to use experience in management at a smaller company to help you gain a trainee position for management at a larger business.