6 answers
TTE Consumer
Student
Gilbert, Arizona
3
Questions
Asked
394 views
How would I adjust my experience section when transferring retail to computer science?
I have always wanted to have a career CompSci, and am currently in college and working at a grocery store. I know that jobs like applicants to have experience and while retail isn't exactly the same there are still soft skills there and I want to know how I would present that to an employer.
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6 answers
Dima Vizelman
Software Engineer
11
Answers
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel
Updated
Dima’s Answer
While retail isn't directly linked to computer science, it offers valuable skills you might not realize. Instead of listing simple tasks, highlight skills like problem-solving, managing busy or stressful times, teamwork, quickly learning new systems, and being dependable. If you've resolved customer issues, trained new staff, or managed responsibilities like closing, these show maturity and trustworthiness. Keep this section brief and focused on skills, and make sure your projects, coding abilities, and coursework shine, as these are crucial for CS internships and entry-level roles.
Siva Kann
VP of Products & Technology
49
Answers
Cincinnati, Ohio
Updated
Siva’s Answer
I like the existing answers — they correctly highlight soft skills. Let me add the hiring manager’s perspective.
When I hire interns, I’m not expecting years of technical experience. I look for:
- Ability to learn fast
- Curiosity
- Initiative and ownership
- Collaboration
- Clear communication
Retail experience is not irrelevant. It becomes powerful if you extract the learning, not just list the duties.
But here is the key: retail alone won’t land you a CS internship.
If I see retail + no projects, it tells me you want CS.
If I see retail + self-built projects + GitHub + a clear learning plan, it tells me you are serious.
For example (if your resume says):
“While working in retail, I developed strong problem-solving and communication skills, which I later applied when building my inventory management web app.”
That shows me you:
- Use retail to demonstrate character and work ethic
- Use projects to demonstrate technical capability
- Use your learning plan to demonstrate direction
That combination stands out. Let me know if you need help building a plan.
Wish you the best.
When I hire interns, I’m not expecting years of technical experience. I look for:
- Ability to learn fast
- Curiosity
- Initiative and ownership
- Collaboration
- Clear communication
Retail experience is not irrelevant. It becomes powerful if you extract the learning, not just list the duties.
But here is the key: retail alone won’t land you a CS internship.
If I see retail + no projects, it tells me you want CS.
If I see retail + self-built projects + GitHub + a clear learning plan, it tells me you are serious.
For example (if your resume says):
“While working in retail, I developed strong problem-solving and communication skills, which I later applied when building my inventory management web app.”
That shows me you:
- Use retail to demonstrate character and work ethic
- Use projects to demonstrate technical capability
- Use your learning plan to demonstrate direction
That combination stands out. Let me know if you need help building a plan.
Wish you the best.
Christopher Carr
SMB Account Manager
1
Answer
Eureka, California
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
Think of your retail job as training in dealing with people. You're not just a clerk; you're a problem-solver who can handle tough situations and challenging customers with ease.
1. Use tech terms: Instead of saying "fixed a register," say you "resolved hardware issues." Instead of "organized the backroom," say you "improved inventory management." These words show you already think like a programmer.
2. Highlight your "People Skills": Coding is a team effort. Your ability to stay calm under pressure and explain things well is a huge advantage that many new coders lack.
3. Focus on Projects: List your school projects and coding hobbies at the top of your resume to highlight your skills. Use your retail job to show you're hardworking and dependable.
You've got the drive and the skills—now it's time to show how they work together. You can do it!
1. Use tech terms: Instead of saying "fixed a register," say you "resolved hardware issues." Instead of "organized the backroom," say you "improved inventory management." These words show you already think like a programmer.
2. Highlight your "People Skills": Coding is a team effort. Your ability to stay calm under pressure and explain things well is a huge advantage that many new coders lack.
3. Focus on Projects: List your school projects and coding hobbies at the top of your resume to highlight your skills. Use your retail job to show you're hardworking and dependable.
You've got the drive and the skills—now it's time to show how they work together. You can do it!
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
162
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi TTE Consumer,
Generally, employers look for competence or potential to acquire competence in prospective employees at the point of recruitment depending on the role for which recruitment is being sought. Sound technical knowledge in your field of study provides a solid foundation for competence. However, to effectively and efficiently utilize knowledge and other resources at your disposal, you require skills. Important skills include the ability to plan, schedule & execute work, identify and resolve problems, communicate, effectively work in teams, collate, organize & critically evaluate information etc.
Additionally, for you to be fully competent, you need to consistently demonstrate willingnesss to perform your activities on time,in full and to the required standard. To be able to do this, you need to possess a number of personal qualities. These qualities include, amongst others, passion, commitment, curiosity, diligence, attention to detail, assertiveness, willingnesss to take risks, empathy, self-control etc. Embedding these qualities in your work ethic puts you in a good stead to discharge your responsibilities with excellence.
Computer applications play an important role in our day to day activities: storage of data, inventory management, asset register & asset management, sales & operational planning, work management (planning, scheduling and execution of work), financial management tools, projects management, generation of management reports etc.
Customer Service experiences are extremely important for an individual who takes up a role further upstream of the supply chain (either in supply or logistics) as such a person will be fully aware of customer needs. Exceptional customer experience drives business success.
Generally, employers look for competence or potential to acquire competence in prospective employees at the point of recruitment depending on the role for which recruitment is being sought. Sound technical knowledge in your field of study provides a solid foundation for competence. However, to effectively and efficiently utilize knowledge and other resources at your disposal, you require skills. Important skills include the ability to plan, schedule & execute work, identify and resolve problems, communicate, effectively work in teams, collate, organize & critically evaluate information etc.
Additionally, for you to be fully competent, you need to consistently demonstrate willingnesss to perform your activities on time,in full and to the required standard. To be able to do this, you need to possess a number of personal qualities. These qualities include, amongst others, passion, commitment, curiosity, diligence, attention to detail, assertiveness, willingnesss to take risks, empathy, self-control etc. Embedding these qualities in your work ethic puts you in a good stead to discharge your responsibilities with excellence.
Computer applications play an important role in our day to day activities: storage of data, inventory management, asset register & asset management, sales & operational planning, work management (planning, scheduling and execution of work), financial management tools, projects management, generation of management reports etc.
Customer Service experiences are extremely important for an individual who takes up a role further upstream of the supply chain (either in supply or logistics) as such a person will be fully aware of customer needs. Exceptional customer experience drives business success.
Hagen Finley
Technical Sales DELL Alliances
59
Answers
Fort Collins, CO
Updated
Hagen’s Answer
I my opinion there is no compsci without a domain anymore, so your retail experience isn't a disadvantage, it's an advantage.
I am not a programmer or engineer per say- tech sales - but it's really hard to develop solutions if you don't care about the problems driving those solutions. What sucks about working at a grocery store? What would you do differently? Then, more importantly, what sucks about managing a grocery store? It's a low margin business with lots of employees, logistics, perishables and so on. If you don't have a feel for those issues, then you're not going to devise a solution that matters to the people that do. They're the ones paying for your solution, so it makes sense to care about that.
That same rationale applies to any kind of engineering role you might undertake. You need to understand the domain (finance, retail, pharma, medical, SaaS) before you can effectively propose ways to address the peculiar challenges people in those fields face.
Interestingly enough, that's what AI does REALLY WELL. It not only knows a lot (content and facts) it knows a lot of contexts (how to speak in the style of specific domain). If you ask it about 'How to sell X?' it's going to give you a very different answer if you tell it you work in pharma vs finance. Those are different game boards and different language games - they each have a distinct vocabulary which you must acquire to speak meaningfully with people working in those professions.
As an engineer you can assume someone else is going to do that translation for you and then tell you "Code this" but the best engineers understand the domain and the language themselves and the feel the customer problems so solving their problems is solving their own.
Use your retail experience to frame your engineering projects- think about problems you could solve
Ask AI about the domains that interest you outside of tech so you broaden your understanding of the problems they face
Take language games seriously - you need to learn engineering speak first and foremost but there are lots of different games -corporate speak, AI speak and so on.
I am not a programmer or engineer per say- tech sales - but it's really hard to develop solutions if you don't care about the problems driving those solutions. What sucks about working at a grocery store? What would you do differently? Then, more importantly, what sucks about managing a grocery store? It's a low margin business with lots of employees, logistics, perishables and so on. If you don't have a feel for those issues, then you're not going to devise a solution that matters to the people that do. They're the ones paying for your solution, so it makes sense to care about that.
That same rationale applies to any kind of engineering role you might undertake. You need to understand the domain (finance, retail, pharma, medical, SaaS) before you can effectively propose ways to address the peculiar challenges people in those fields face.
Interestingly enough, that's what AI does REALLY WELL. It not only knows a lot (content and facts) it knows a lot of contexts (how to speak in the style of specific domain). If you ask it about 'How to sell X?' it's going to give you a very different answer if you tell it you work in pharma vs finance. Those are different game boards and different language games - they each have a distinct vocabulary which you must acquire to speak meaningfully with people working in those professions.
As an engineer you can assume someone else is going to do that translation for you and then tell you "Code this" but the best engineers understand the domain and the language themselves and the feel the customer problems so solving their problems is solving their own.
Hagen recommends the following next steps:
Sandeep Khandelwal
Software Engineer
59
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
Hello,
When moving from retail to computer science, don’t try to hide your retail experience. Focus less on job duties and more on skills that matter in tech: problem-solving, teamwork, communication, reliability, and handling pressure. Employers know students don’t start with perfect technical resumes so they look for people who can learn and work well with others.
When moving from retail to computer science, don’t try to hide your retail experience. Focus less on job duties and more on skills that matter in tech: problem-solving, teamwork, communication, reliability, and handling pressure. Employers know students don’t start with perfect technical resumes so they look for people who can learn and work well with others.