The last five to seven years has seen a phenomenal increase in market size thereby the creation of a vast jobs pool in the sector. Sample this - three years back there were only 197 retail outlets in India. Today, there are as many as 2500.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The entry-level job here is basically front office personnel (customer sales executive) and support functions such as merchandisers. The former would need good communications skills. While the support functions such as merchandising would need good organisational skills. In marketing and business development people with MBA background are also taken.
EXPECTED REMUNERATION
For a fresher it can start at Rs 6,500 and go up to Rs 8,000-9,000. You go on to be a floor manager fetching as much as Rs 11,000 and further on as a store manager you could get as much as Rs 20,000.
SOCIAL STANDING
For most Indians, retail still remains a nebulous area. But increasingly it is gaining acceptance, particularly in urban areas. Mindsets are changing. Just as hotel management at one time was looked down upon, so is the case with retail.
YEARS OF TRAINING REQUIRED
Most of the training here in on-the-job training. Structured training is for a short. People are trained in product training as well sales training. Otherwise, it is weekly operational training.
YEARS OF TRAINING REQUIRED
Most of the training here in on-the-job training. Structured training is for a short. People are trained in product training as well sales training. Otherwise, it is weekly operational training.
PLACES TO TRAIN
In-house training
PLACEMENT
Retail chains in Mumbai, Delhi-Gurgaon and Bangalore. Even places like Chandigarh and Amritsar are coming up.
CHANCES OF GOING ABROAD
Very few
WORK HOURS
Shift-based. For instance timings in Delhi would be 9.50 am - 6.30 pm and 11.00 am - 8.30 pm
PERKS/OTHER BENEFITS
The product training imparted is generally very focussed and comes in handy later. More often than not this is regarded as a benefit.
The facts and figures quoted here are indicative, not exhaustive. These are broad industry estimates and do not pertain to any particular company.
For getting an overall picture of the Retail sector HindustanTimes.com spoke to Vineeta Verma, Senior Executive, Human Resources, Lifespring (a part of Morepen Laboratories Ltd)