Employability and Enterprise: Retail Industry Labour Market Report

This report delves into the intricacies of the retail labour market, emphasizing the importance of skilled employees for enterprise success. It begins by exploring the national and UK retail labour markets, highlighting key statistics from 2017. The report then identifies essential skills and competencies required in the retail sector, such as communication, customer service, IT proficiency, and selling skills, as well as competencies like teamwork and decision-making. Furthermore, the report provides a curriculum vitae example and a cover letter, tailored for a retail operation manager position, demonstrating practical application of the discussed concepts. The document covers the nature of the labor market, UK labor market figures, and required skills in the retail industry, including a detailed CV and cover letter of a retail operation manager candidate. It also addresses various aspects of the retail sector, including the importance of customer service, IT skills, and business ethics.

Employability and Enterprise

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
PART 1...........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction.................................................................................................................................1
1.1) The national labour market-.................................................................................................1
1.2) The labour market in retail industry-...................................................................................2
1.3) The skills and competencies required for a job in retail sector-..........................................2
Summary.....................................................................................................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
Curriculum vitae..........................................................................................................................4
2.2) Cover Letter.........................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Every enterprise required skilled and qualified employees to accomplish its pre-define
objectives and goals (Amslem and Gendron, 2018). Organization looking for such skilled
employee who show teamwork, planning and organizing, decision making, excellent
communication with co-workers and dedicated towards job responsibilities. Labour market is a
platform where employers or employees come together to fulfil job requirements. TESCO is an
online retail organization of United Kingdom who deliver groceries, banking etc. services. UK
labour market statistics in September to November 2017 shows increase in number of people
employment rate. Report will explain nature of labour market, United Kingdom labour market
figure and require skills and competencies in retail industry. It describes curriculum vitae or
cover letter of a retail operation manager candidate.
PART 1
In this part report will discuss about national labour market. It is place where owner and
worker interact with each other to fulfil job requirements. Labour market statistics in United
Kingdom, require key skills will be describe in report.
1.1) The national labour market-
A labour market is a place where employees and employers interact with each other. In
its owner compete to appoint the best candidates or the worker compete for satisfying job. It is an
economy functions which impact with supply & demand of labour (Ashton, 2017). Its influenced
by changes in bargaining power.
Nature of labour market- In this market employers have to compete with others for human
resources. Employees supply some of their precious time and efforts to organization for a wage/
salary while the industry demand labour in order to manufacture products and services.
Interaction of demand & supply decide the price of labour which is known as rate of wages. It is
mostly to be high in those organizations where the demand for worker is high or supply of
employee is limited.
Use of labour market statistics- Labour market statistics is useful to figure out the total numbers
of employment or unemployment, private & public sector employees etc. United Kingdom's
current labour market statistics is below-
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 According to the labour force survey which shows that from June to August 2017 or
September- November 2017, number of people increased, and unemployed person figure
was little changed.
 In United Kingdom, there were 32.20 million people in work, 102,000 more than 2017
June- August.
 The inactivity rate was 21.2%, lower than for a year earlier.
Everyone aged 16 or over is either employed, unemployed or economically inactive. The
employment includes all people in paid work(company pay salary for their work) and those are
not working or looking for job comes in unemployed category (Brown, 2018). Comparing the
estimates for employees and self-employed person for September- November 2017-
 Employees increased by 426,000 to 27.24 million.
 Self-employed person was increase with minor changes, and reached at 4.77 million.
1.2) The labour market in retail industry-
The retail industry is a vital to the United Kingdom economy. It individually generated
358 billion of retail sales. This is the biggest private sector with around 290,300 bricks and retail
outlets in United Kingdom. This industry provide work at different level in retail like buying,
customer services, online retail, management, warehouse, distribution, logistic or supply chain.
TESCO is an online retail service provider of United Kingdom. It delivers groceries, banking,
mobile products or services. UK's labour market is a fix sizeable area. There were 780,000
people had employment on 'zero-hours contracts' in their full-time job from June-August 2017.
1.36 million persons were unemployed, 65,000 fewer than January-March 2018. Economic
inactivity rate (people aged from 16 to 64 years) was 21.1%, higher than January to March 2018
(21%). Retail trade worker approximately 1,290,600 people, full or part-time, which is 10.3% of
whole workforce (Dinning, 2017). In the last 5 years employment in this market has increased
6.1%. Retail was a dark black spot in a healthy United Kingdom market in May, according to a
general survey the industry demand for permanent staff contract. Signs of strength in labour
market haven't been enough to persuade economists activity is set to power.
1.3) The skills and competencies required for a job in retail sector-
Retail industry required different core skills and competencies, those are below-
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 Communication- It is an important for retail position. Person in retail need to have strong
communication skills in order to speak effectively with customers, users, employers and
workers etc. Communication should be clear or effective with others. Listening is another
part of this skill. It required when person working with consumers. Retailer should have
ability to listen and understand what a customer require and need to provide best to them.
 Customer service- It is another important skill. Retail associates in particular need to
positive, friendly, with consumers, help them to purchase products and handle issues.
Certain customer service skills needed in industry-
1. Customer-first mind-set
2. Customer relations
3. Customer satisfaction
4. Customer welcome
 Information Technology- Retail industry use Information Technology to make their
work easy. Few skills needed in retail-
1. Data analysing
2. Assist customers with online services
3. Cash registers
4. Point of sale system
5. Technical knowledge
 Selling skills- Because of a good retailer, a person should be able to sell their products
and services (Gedye and Beaumont, 2018). They should be able to clearly explain goods
or selling market (super markets) them to consumers. Selling skills are-
1. Accomplish sales targets.
2. Advising shopper.
3. Close outs.
4. Ability to Demonstrate products.
5. Goal oriented.
6. High influencing power
7. Knowledge about present trends and market
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Competencies- Teamwork- Teamwork spirit is necessary to work in any industry. It makes all task easy
or effective. In team worker can help each other and get best results. Decision Making- It is more important that employer take right decisions for industry
growth, which make employees happy. What is good or not for business purpose is
compulsory to decide to get success.
 Interpersonal Skills- Working in retail industry seller has to interact with others like
customers, colleagues, workers or users. Retailer has a friendly nature and high patience
level which is required in order to deal with irritating customers. Skills are-
 Flexibility
 Outgoing
 Positive attitude
 Team building
 Teamwork spirit
 High patience level
Business ethics- In retail industry, issues surrounding ethical employees' behaviour. They
influenced by different factors like management, organisation work culture and environment
(Rodríguez de Céspedes, 2017). Workers have to maintain company ethics or get success.
Summary
Above part explained the labour market importance for an enterprise. An organization
can't function without employees. Employers hire workers to fulfil their vacant job places.
United Kingdom retail market spread at worldwide level and in this sector employees have
different skills to perform their responsibilities.
PART 2
Curriculum vitae
Name- Andrew Joseph
Address- 2756. Hun-dred End
London, United Kingdom
21 August 2018.
Email- [e-mail]
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Mobile Number- 54684692
Personal Profile- I would like to work as an Operation Manager in TESCO retail industry. In
further days I wish to be a part of this growing organization. It is one of the fast developing
company of UK. I have abilities to provide best manufacturing or warehousing facilities to
merchandising team. I am good in framing plans and developing strategies which will be
beneficial for growth purpose. I want to improve my retail skills or competencies by being
operation manager. I have this kind of personality who can take advantages of beyond the after
duty and has leadership skill along with excellent or effective communication. Currently, I am
looking for an opportunity to make my bright career with this organization which has safe or
friendly working environment where I can develop my personality.
Career History
Operation Manager at Walmart June 2016- Present.
Responsible for developing the retail strategy within organization, ensuring that plans work and
make decisions on day to day retail work issues.
Duties
 Frame strategies for mechanising with the organization's extra activities.
 Increase the number of sale departments by development of retailer engagement or
maximise profit.
 Manage the individual performance in retail area.
 Ensure that my team members have all required equipment to do their job effectively.
 Make sure that company's store in the selected region achieve pre-fix income, annual
profit, customers service mark.
 Ensure that staff performance issues are self-addressed and provide correct solutions.
Professional Skills Management
 Customer care service is boosted within the organization by rapidly investment cases of
poor customers care.
 Motivated and high performing team member can be built by effective style of leadership.
 Like open feedbacks and always listening carefully customers’ suggestion and thoughts
about company.
 Excellent organizer.
Personal
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 I am an open minded person.
 I am ready to accept challenges.
 Maintain good working relationship with peers and seniors.
 I am a good learner.
 I have team working skills.
 I am a good listener and speaker.
 I am a good organizer, I can easily manage meetings, seminars or official parties.
Educations and Qualification
 Bachelors of Business Administration
 University-MBA (Operation Management)
 High School- CPS
 Certified computer skills.
 Languages learn C++, Java.
Others
 National cricket player.
 Winner at state level chess competition.
 Participated in cultural activities.
2.2) Cover Letter
A cover letter is an introduction attached and accompanying with another document like resume
or CV. It called by different names covering, motivational, motivation letter etc. It is different
according to need such as-
For employment- A job seeker send a cover letter with their application or resume for
employment. It is a way of introducing themselves to employers. Job provider may look for a
person and written cover letter as method of screening candidates those are not sufficiently
interested in their current position. It categorized according to two purpose-
 Applying for a certain, advertised opening. Expressing interest in company when unemployed is uncertain whether current opening in
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organization.
For internship- Students are generally asked to submit a cover letter for an internship program
application. This include extracurricular or academic experience. Letter has specific information
such as-
 Application letter, which is considered to be as a response to a job opening.
 Inquires about possible positions.
Cover Letter for retail industry
(David John)
TESCO
5984. Carlos Hills
21 August 2018
Dear Mr. (David John)
I saw your job advertisement for operation department in The Sun. I am writing you today
regarding to the open position for operation manager. As this is a role I am currently looking, I
was pleasantly surprised at my destiny, and would like to take this golden opportunity to apply, as
feel I will be fit for the job.
I have 6 years of experience as an operation manager in retail industry, having worked since the
last 4 years for Walmart. As an operation manager, my main responsibility was managed
manufacturing functions, maintain knowledge of warehouse and providing excellent or expected
customer services. Working at Walmart has helped me to learn about the management of store,
how to fulfil customers’ requirements, handle daily departmental issues. I have successfully got
top ratings for effective performance.
Previously, I also worked at Arcadia group as an operation manager, where I increased consumer
satisfaction and numbers by providing best services. I take honour in working with efficiently and
have passion for promoting results with my team. I would like to say thank you for a chance to
meet with you and hope that you will give me an opportunity to show my talent.
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Thank you for your precious time.
Sincerely,
Andrew Joseph
Address- 2756. Hundred End
London, United Kingdom
21 August 2018.
Email- [e-mail]
Mobile Number- 54684692
CONCLUSION
From the above report TESCO is a growing retail organization of United Kingdom who
has large numbers of employees Labour market statistics show the figure of employment or
unemployment in country. Employees need to develop important skills which relate to their job
requirements. Curriculum vitae is a brief account of a person's education, sent with a job
application. Report spread the information about value of resume in employee career.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Amslem, T. and Gendron, Y., 2018. From emotionality to the cultivation of employability: An
ethnography of change in social work expertise following the spread of quantification in a
social enterprise. Management Accounting Research.
Ashton, D., 2017. Media Enterprise Education. International Handbook of Media Literacy
Education, p.289.
Brown, A., 2018. Embedding research and enterprise into the curriculum: Adopting Student as
Producer as a theoretical framework. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based
Learning, 8(1), pp.29-40.
Dinning, T., 2017. Embedding employability and enterprise skills in sport degrees through a
focused work-based project; a student and employer viewpoint. Cogent Education, 4(1),
p.1387085.
Gedye, S. and Beaumont, E., 2018. “The ability to get a job”: student understandings and
definitions of employability. Education+ Training, 60(5), pp.406-420.
O’Leary, S., 2017. Developing entrepreneurial and employability attributes through marketing
projects with SMEs. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 19(1),
pp.77-90.
Rodríguez de Céspedes, B., 2017. Addressing employability and enterprise responsibilities in the
translation curriculum. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 11(2-3), pp.107-122.
Rothwell, A. and Rothwell, F., 2017. Graduate Employability: A critical oversight. In Graduate
Employability in Context (pp. 41-63). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
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