What exactly is a "retail professional?"

Why do so many people use "RETAIL PROFESSIONAL" as a headline on their resume or their LinkedIn profile? I see it all the time and I'm sure you do too. So what exactly constitutes a "Retail Professional?"

Is a senior VP of operations with Target a retail professional? Probably. 

Is an HR director at Best Buy considered a retail professional? I would assume so. 

How about a regional director of loss prevention at The Children's Place? District manager at CVS? Store manager at Cabela's? Shift manager at Walmart? Assistant store manager at Claire's? Key holder at Lids? Sales specialist at Neiman Marcus? Stock associate at American Eagle?

It's possible that any of them could be considered a retail professional, which basically shows that the phrase is completely subjective and means nothing. I think all it really says is that you work in retail in some capacity and you consider yourself to be a professional (which could mean you have reached some type of job level, or you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner at all times).

Here's what it doesn't tell the reader:

• It doesn't indicate your job level. Again, you could be in an entry-level, single-store position or you could have national scope (or anywhere in between).
• It doesn't indicate your job function. You could work in store operations, loss prevention, human resources, visual merchandising, new store development, inventory planning, buying, supply chain, allocation and replenishment, marketing, finance, franchise development, etc.
• It doesn't indicate the sector of retail you have experience in. Clothing stores are in retail, of course, but so are convenience stores, warehouse stores, big-box stores, outlet stores, department stores, and pop-up stores. Many even include fast food restaurants and other food service establishments within retail.
• It doesn't even prove to the reader that you are, in fact, a professional (again, whatever that means). It suggests that YOU believe you're a professional but, to be honest, job-seekers believe a lot of things about themselves that aren't necessarily true. (Anyone else come across a "dynamic, results-oriented leader" who isn't quite so dynamic or results-oriented?)

Since the phrase "retail professional" doesn't really tell the reader anything, I would suggest using something else. Here are 20 suggestions that you could use for your resume or profile headline:

20 examples of LinkedIn profile headlines for retail leaders

All the best!