Employability and Entrepreneurship Skills
This domain tests readiness for a retail job and the basic ability to plan a small retail venture - from CV and interview to costing and registration.
Employability
A CV carries contact details, a short objective, education, skills, any practical experience and references; keep it to one or two pages and truthful. A cover letter states the post applied for, why you fit and when you are available. In interviews, answer behavioural questions with STAR - Situation, Task, Action, Result. Workplace behaviour that employers actually assess: punctuality, attendance, honesty in cash handling, teamwork, accepting feedback and a clean, correct uniform.
Entrepreneurship
A business plan covers the idea, target customer, market survey findings, competition, marketing, operations, staffing, finance and risk. Separate fixed costs (rent, salaries) from variable costs (purchase cost, packaging) and know the contribution margin.
Break-even units = fixed cost ÷ (selling price − variable cost per unit).
Worked example
A small grocery: monthly fixed cost ₹40,000; selling price per basket ₹100; variable cost ₹60. Contribution = 100 − 60 = ₹40. Break-even = 40,000 ÷ 40 = 1,000 baskets a month, roughly 34 a day. Reasoning: below 1,000 baskets the shop makes a loss even if the till is busy; the owner must either raise contribution (better margin mix) or cut fixed cost.
Registrations and support
Udyam (MSME) registration, GST registration once the turnover threshold is crossed, FSSAI licence for food, Shops and Establishments registration and a local trade licence. Schemes worth naming: MUDRA loans (Shishu, Kishor, Tarun), PMEGP, Stand-Up India and the GeM portal for government supply.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing turnover with profit; forgetting working capital and the owner's own salary; and presenting a plan with no market survey evidence.