How to move from retail into administration

Retail and administration look different day to day, but neither is 'less than' the other — retail builds real organisational, accuracy and communication skills that admin roles genuinely need. The job here is translation, not exaggeration.

Handling customer queries, complaints or order issues on the shop floor is evidence of clear communication and calm problem-solving under pressure — exactly what's needed for handling correspondence and enquiries in an office setting.

Stocktaking, pricing accuracy and cash handling all demonstrate close attention to detail and reliable record-keeping — the same qualities admin roles need for maintaining accurate files, orders and financial records.

Managing shift patterns, handovers between colleagues, and coordinating promotions or stock deliveries all show scheduling and coordination skills that map directly onto diary management and meeting coordination in admin roles.

Most admin roles expect comfort with specific business software (spreadsheets, scheduling tools, sometimes specialist systems) and formal written correspondence — if you haven't used these yet, say so and show willingness to learn, rather than implying experience you don't have.

Before: 'Responsible for stock counts.' After: 'Maintained accurate stock records across a high-turnover department, identifying and correcting discrepancies before they affected orders' — evidence-based, not just a relabelled title.

Once you've confirmed which of these map to your real experience, tailor an admin CV directly against a live vacancy, so the translation is grounded in an actual job description rather than a generic template.