Retail Jobs with No Experience: How to Get Hired
Looking for retail jobs with no experience? You are not alone, and you are not at a disadvantage for many entry-level roles. This guide explains which retail jobs typically train you on the job, how to fill out an application when your work history is empty, and how to apply at Amazon, Costco and Sephora.
Can you get a retail job with no experience?
For many roles, yes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), retail sales workers typically do not need a formal educational credential or related work experience to enter the occupation, and most learn on the job. Training usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a few months and covers customer service, store policies, security and how to run the register[1].
BLS also projects about 550,600 openings for retail sales workers each year, on average, over the 2025–35 decade, mostly from people moving to other jobs or leaving the workforce[1]. In practice that means retailers are regularly replacing staff, so first-time applicants keep getting chances. It does not mean any particular store is hiring right now; that changes by location and season.
What employers look for instead of experience is simple: reliability, a friendly attitude with customers, basic math for handling payments, and availability that matches the shifts they need to fill. If you can show those, a blank work history matters less than you might think.
Entry-level retail roles to look for
These titles are common starting points because the skills are taught on the job. Exact titles vary by employer.
- Cashier or front-end associate: greeting customers, ringing up purchases and handling returns.
- Stocker or merchandiser: unloading deliveries, restocking shelves and keeping displays organized. Often early-morning or overnight shifts.
- Sales associate: helping shoppers find products and answering questions on the floor.
- Warehouse or fulfillment associate: picking, packing and sorting orders for online shoppers. These roles are physical but usually need no prior experience.
- Seasonal associate: short-term roles around busy periods such as the holidays, which can be an easier way in and sometimes lead to a permanent position.
Pay: pay varies by employer, role and location. Check the individual listing for current details.
Where to start: Amazon, Costco and Sephora
Amazon
Amazon's hourly hiring site lists fulfillment center and delivery station warehouse roles with full-time and part-time options. Amazon says you don't need a resume for hourly warehouse roles, the online application usually takes about twenty minutes, and the next step is an in-person pre-hire appointment where you bring identification for your Form I-9[2]. Amazon warehouse postings we reviewed require candidates to be 18 or older[3]. See our Amazon jobs guide for more detail.
Costco
Costco's careers site describes warehouse positions that prepare and display merchandise and provide member service, and says it recruits employees from its warehouses and other businesses to fill most merchandising and other corporate positions[4]. That makes an entry-level warehouse job a realistic starting point. Costco says to apply directly to the location you want and to follow up with that location, because application updates are not sent by email[5]. Read our Costco jobs guide for roles, benefits and hiring age.
Sephora
Sephora's store roles include Beauty Advisor positions offered as full-time, part-time and flex, depending on the store[6]. If you enjoy beauty products and talking with customers, it can be a good fit, but read each posting's qualifications, since some store roles ask for customer-facing or beauty experience and others don't. Sephora lists pay ranges on its postings. See our Sephora jobs guide.
How to fill out an application with no work experience
An empty employment section feels awkward, but you can still give a hiring manager plenty to go on:
- Lead with availability. Retail runs on schedules. If you can work evenings, weekends or holidays, say so clearly. Open availability is often the single most useful thing a new applicant can offer.
- List informal experience. Babysitting, volunteering, school clubs, sports teams, helping with a family business, or selling things online all show responsibility and people skills.
- Mention relevant skills. Handling cash, speaking a second language, being comfortable on your feet for a full shift, or knowing a product category well.
- Keep a simple resume ready in case the application asks for one: contact details, availability, education, informal experience and two or three skills. One page is plenty.
- Have references lined up. A teacher, coach, volunteer coordinator or family friend who isn't related to you can speak to your reliability.
Apply to several stores at once rather than waiting on one. Each employer reviews applications on its own timeline.
What to expect in the interview
Entry-level retail interviews are usually short and focus on how you would handle real situations. Expect questions like:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What hours and days are you available?
- How would you handle a customer who is upset?
- Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team (school projects and sports count).
Answer honestly, keep it specific, and show that you know a little about the store. Dress neatly, arrive a few minutes early, and bring a copy of your resume if you have one. For warehouse roles, the next step may be a pre-hire appointment instead of a traditional interview, so check what the employer tells you to bring.
Tips and red flags
- Follow up. A short call or visit to the store a few days after applying shows interest. For Costco, contacting the location is the recommended way to check on your application[5].
- Be flexible on role. If the sales floor isn't hiring, a stocking or seasonal role can get you in the door.
- Read every requirement. Age, lifting, schedule and background-check requirements vary by role and location.
- Never pay to apply. The FTC says honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job[7]. Anyone who does is a red flag.
Retail jobs with no experience FAQ
Can you get a retail job with no experience?
Yes, many entry-level retail roles do not require previous experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says retail sales workers typically need no formal education and most learn on the job. Each employer sets its own requirements, so read the qualifications in the posting.
What retail jobs are easiest to get with no experience?
Roles like cashier, stocker, front-end assistant and warehouse associate are common starting points because training usually happens on the job. Which roles are open depends on the store and the time of year.
Do I need a resume for an entry-level retail job?
Not always. Amazon says its hourly warehouse roles do not require a resume. Other retailers may ask for one or let you fill in an online profile instead, so check the application for each job.
How old do you have to be to work in retail?
It depends on the employer, the role and state law. Amazon warehouse postings require candidates to be 18 or older, and several sources report a minimum of 18 at Costco. Check the requirements in each posting.
How much do entry-level retail jobs pay?
Pay varies by employer, role and location. Check the individual listing for current pay details.
Is it safe to apply for retail jobs online?
Apply through the employer's official careers site or a reputable job search site. The FTC warns that honest employers will not ask you to pay to get a job, so treat any request for fees as a red flag.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Retail Sales Workers, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Amazon: Hiring process
- Amazon: Warehouse associate job posting example (West Columbia, SC; individual postings close over time)
- Costco Careers (careers.costco.com)
- Costco Customer Service: Costco Career FAQs
- Sephora: Beauty Advisor (Flex) posting
- FTC Consumer Advice: Job Scams
Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Amazon, Costco and Sephora are trademarks of their respective owners, used here only to identify the companies.