Department toolkit

The E-Commerce Toolkit

Everything to set up before you apply — in the order this build-it-yourself field notices.

Why this order, for e-commerce

E-commerce is one of the few fields where you can build the proof before anyone hires you — a live store or an active marketplace listing outweighs a resume line describing the same thing. That's why a real, linkable storefront leads this path, ahead of the resume itself.

The work underneath it is scrappy and multi-tool — listing copy, product photos, supplier files, a scatter of small gigs — so the rest of this path is practical: drafting copy honestly with an AI assistant, keeping product files organized, and naming the platform you actually used.

  1. 1A simple personal site you can stand behindA live store, an active marketplace listing, or a portfolio site showing something you actually sold or ran is the strongest resume line in this field — link to it before you describe it.
  2. 2Set up ChatGPT for study and job prepProduct descriptions, listing copy, and ad variations are exactly what an AI assistant speeds up in this field — draft with one honestly, then edit until it sounds like your brand, not a template.
  3. 3A Drive folder structure your job search will thank you forProduct photos, listing spreadsheets, and supplier files pile up fast — the same folder discipline that keeps a real store running is worth setting up before you're managing someone else's.
  4. 4Set up LinkedIn like a professionalA headline naming what you actually sold or the platform you ran it on reads as far more specific and credible here than a general 'e-commerce' label ever does.
  5. 5A one-page resume structure that worksKeep the resume itself simple and in your own words — the store or listing you link to is the proof; the resume's job is just to point to it clearly.
  6. 6Track every application in one simple Notion tableThis field is scrappy and multi-tool by nature — a simple tracker for applications, gig leads, and the tools you're testing keeps the hustle organized instead of scattered across browser tabs.

Before you apply — the checklist

  • Live store, listing, or portfolio site linked from your resume and profile
  • Product or listing copy drafted with an AI assistant, then edited into your own voice
  • Product photos and listing files organized in one Drive folder
  • LinkedIn headline names the platform and what you actually sold or ran
  • Resume kept simple — one page, pointing to your live store as the proof
  • Application and gig tracker set up in one place
  • Know where you stand: your free Knock Number
Print the checklist (PDF)

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The E-Commerce Toolkit · Knock