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Make It Easy for Great Talent to Join Your Team

By Alan Miklofsky | December 14, 2024

When hiring for a shoe store, your priority should be attracting individuals with excellent people skills, a natural ability to connect with customers, and a genuine enthusiasm for retail. However, many shoe store owners inadvertently deter talented candidates by imposing overly complicated application processes. While a polished resume and cover letter can demonstrate organization, they aren’t always the best indicators of a candidate’s potential as a front-line employee.

The Problem: A Barrier to Entry

Requiring both a resume and cover letter assumes all applicants are equally proficient at presenting themselves on paper. Yet some of the best customer service representatives excel in person but may struggle with administrative tasks like preparing formal documents. This hiring barrier could lead you to miss out on exceptional employees who have the exact skills you need but lack polished resumes or cover letter-writing abilities.

The Solution: Simplify the Application Process

Instead of relying on resumes and cover letters, create an easy-to-complete application form tailored to the role you’re hiring for. By focusing on collecting the most relevant information, you can evaluate candidates more effectively and encourage more applications from the right people.

Key Questions to Ask

Here’s a list of pertinent data points to include in your application form:

1. Contact Information

• Name, phone number, and email address.

2. Availability

• Days and hours the candidate can work.

3. Relevant Experience

• Previous roles in retail, sales, or customer service (if applicable).

• Specific skills related to shoe fitting or upselling.

4. Personal Strengths

• Open-ended questions like:

• “How do you make customers feel valued?”

• “Describe a time you helped solve a customer’s problem.”

5. Education

• Include only what’s necessary for the role.

6. Special Requests

• Ask if the candidate has any scheduling or physical requirements.

7. References

• Provide a space for 1-2 professional or personal references.

8. Optional Additional Information

• Leave room for candidates to share anything they feel is important.

Application Form Template

Here’s a ready-to-use application form for your shoe store:

[STORE NAME] Employment Application

Applicant Information

Name: _______________________________

Phone: _______________________________

Email: _______________________________

Preferred Contact Method (circle one): Call | Text | Email

Availability

Days and Hours Available to Work: ________________________________________

Experience

Have you worked in retail, sales, or customer service before? (circle one) Yes | No

If yes, describe your role(s): ___________________________________________

Personal Strengths

How would you help a customer find the perfect pair of shoes?

Describe a time you helped solve a problem for someone.

Education

School Name and Highest Grade/Level Completed: ________________________

References

Reference Name: ______________________ Contact Info: ________________

Relationship: ______________________

Optional Information

Is there anything else we should know about you?

Benefits of This Approach

By simplifying your application process, you’ll open the door to more candidates who:

• Excel in relationship-building and sales but may lack strong administrative skills.

• Might otherwise hesitate to apply because of time constraints or intimidation.

• Are passionate about customer service and have the potential to thrive in your store.

Final Thought

Great talent comes in many forms. The next time you’re hiring, remember: it’s not about how polished an applicant’s resume is—it’s about their ability to connect with your customers, enhance the shopping experience, and drive sales. Simplifying the application process ensures you won’t miss out on hiring the perfect fit for your team.