Overview
All Visual Merchandisers
-
$1,246 Weekly Pay
-
Decline Future Growth
-
5,900 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
50% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
42 hours Average full-time
-
36 years Average age
-
85% female Gender Share
Visual Merchandisers plan and install internal, window and fixed displays to show goods to their best advantage.
Also known as: Window Dresser.
You can work as a Visual Merchandiser without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. A certificate III or IV in visual merchandising or sales and marketing might be helpful.
Tasks
- determining goods for display in accordance with prospective seasonal and promotional events
- developing overall promotional and display plans for approval
- preparing sketches and models showing layout, colour and other features for approval
- obtaining props and other accessories, and building displays
- setting up fabricated displays in store windows and other areas
- organising the setting out of goods to be shown as part of permanent displays
- arranging ticketing and signage
- arranging lighting to highlight fixtures, displays and goods
Prospects
There were 5,900 Visual Merchandisers in 2020. The number of workers:
- fell over the past 5 years
- is expected to fall over the next five years
- is likely to reach 5,500 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a small occupation.
- Location: Many Visual Merchandisers work in Victoria.
- Industries: Most work in Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Wholesale Trade.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,246 per week (below the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Around half work full-time (50%, less than the average of 66%), showing there are many opportunities to work part-time.
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 42 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 36 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 85% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You can work as a Visual Merchandiser without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. A certificate III or IV in visual merchandising or sales and marketing might be helpful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Retail Services VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Visual Merchandisers who interact well with others, provide good customer service and who are reliable.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Fine arts
Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Sociology and anthropology
Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Persuasion
Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Serving others
Looking for ways to help people.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Negotiation
Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Working with the public
Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Negotiating and resolving conflicts
Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Coordinating the work of a team
Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Leading and encouraging a team
Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
Coaching and developing others
Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
Coming up with systems and processes
Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
Guiding and directing staff
Guiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-1026.00 - Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Walking and running
Spend time walking and running.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Contact with the public
Work with customers or the public.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Physically close to people
Work physically close to other people.
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Angry or unpleasant people
Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-1026.00 - Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers.
All Visual Merchandisers
-
$1,246 Weekly Pay
-
Decline Future Growth
-
5,900 workers Employment Size
-
Lower skill Skill level rating
-
50% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
42 hours Average full-time
-
36 years Average age
-
85% female Gender Share
Visual Merchandisers plan and install internal, window and fixed displays to show goods to their best advantage.
Also known as: Window Dresser.
You can work as a Visual Merchandiser without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. A certificate III or IV in visual merchandising or sales and marketing might be helpful.
Tasks
- determining goods for display in accordance with prospective seasonal and promotional events
- developing overall promotional and display plans for approval
- preparing sketches and models showing layout, colour and other features for approval
- obtaining props and other accessories, and building displays
- setting up fabricated displays in store windows and other areas
- organising the setting out of goods to be shown as part of permanent displays
- arranging ticketing and signage
- arranging lighting to highlight fixtures, displays and goods
There were 5,900 Visual Merchandisers in 2020. The number of workers:
- fell over the past 5 years
- is expected to fall over the next five years
- is likely to reach 5,500 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a small occupation.
- Location: Many Visual Merchandisers work in Victoria.
- Industries: Most work in Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Wholesale Trade.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,246 per week (below the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Around half work full-time (50%, less than the average of 66%), showing there are many opportunities to work part-time.
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 42 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 36 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
- Gender: 85% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You can work as a Visual Merchandiser without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. A certificate III or IV in visual merchandising or sales and marketing might be helpful.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Retail Services VET training pathways.
Employers look for Visual Merchandisers who interact well with others, provide good customer service and who are reliable.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Psychology
Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Fine arts
Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Sociology and anthropology
Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Economics and accounting
Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Persuasion
Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Serving others
Looking for ways to help people.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Negotiation
Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Operations analysis
Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Far vision
See details that are far away.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Brainstorming
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Originality
Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Categorising
Come up with different ways of grouping things.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Working with the public
Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Negotiating and resolving conflicts
Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Coordinating the work of a team
Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Leading and encouraging a team
Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
Coaching and developing others
Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
-
Working with computers
Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
Coming up with systems and processes
Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
Guiding and directing staff
Guiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-1026.00 - Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Indoors, heat controlled
Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Walking and running
Spend time walking and running.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Contact with the public
Work with customers or the public.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Electronic mail
Use electronic mail.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
Physically close to people
Work physically close to other people.
-
Lead or coordinate a team
Lead others to do work activities.
-
Angry or unpleasant people
Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Bending or twisting your body
Spend time bending or twisting your body.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-1026.00 - Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers.