What Does a Part-Time Sales Assistant Do?

A part-time sales assistant might be responsible for a number of duties such as product placement, customer service, and interacting with suppliers. Depending upon the business, he or she could also be in charge of paperwork, answering phones, or light cleaning. Since the position is part-time, this individual might share duties with other employees. In this instance, the ability to communicate well with fellow employees would generally be very helpful.

Product placement is one area in which a part-time sales assistant might work heavily. Depending upon the type of product being sold, this might include little day-to-day work or constant attention. For a clothing retailer, the associate might be tasked with ensuring all displays have neatly folded items at all times. An attendant working for an auto retail company could be in charge of moving vehicles around a sales lot every week. No matter the product, this job generally requires that items be displayed in the best manner possible to help ensure profitability.

Customer service is another component of most part-time sales assistant positions. This field is sales-driven, so the ability to interact well with others can be crucial. The level of interaction might vary among companies, but generally the associate is in charge of ensuring that customers find what they are looking for, can order items that may be out of stock, and have an overall enjoyable shopping experience. If a company conducts sales via telephone or Internet, great customer service would typically entail polite and helpful written and oral communication.

Many sales businesses receive product from outside suppliers, so a part-time sales assistant might be required to interact with these vendors. This could involve a variety of tasks such as verifying shipments, paying invoices, and unloading merchandise. In addition, a part-time sales assistant might be responsible for contacting vendors when there is a problem with a shipment, such as incorrect items or damaged goods. He or she might also be responsible for ordering products that are out of stock.

Other duties of a part-time sales assistant could include general administrative work and a small amount of cleaning. During slow periods the employee might be called upon to help file paperwork, make phone calls, or open mail. In addition, display cases, restrooms, and other items typically need cleaning on a regular basis. To maintain a clean and inviting display area, an employer might call upon the assistant to tidy the areas.