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PhrasesAt the Clothing StoreCercate personale?
B1

Cercate personale?

Are you hiring staff?

Pronunciation

'Personale' — 'per-so-NA-le'. Four syllables, stress on the third.

When to use it

When job-seeking. Italian retail often hires verbally — asking directly in-store is common and not inappropriate.

What it means

'Cercate' is the second-person plural (voi) of cercare — used because you're addressing the shop as a whole. 'Personale' = staff/personnel (formal).

Variations

Avete bisogno di commessi?

Do you need shop assistants?

'Commesso/commessa' is the specific word for retail assistant

Come si fa per lasciare un curriculum?

How do I leave a CV?

Asking about the application process

C'è un responsabile con cui posso parlare?

Is there a manager I can speak to?

Escalating to the right person

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Scusi, cercate personale? Commessa: Dipende dal periodo. Lasci il suo curriculum e le faremo sapere. Cliente: Perfetto. Ho esperienza nel settore moda. Commessa: Ottimo, lo tenga presente.

Customer: Excuse me, are you hiring? Assistant: It depends on the period. Leave your CV and we'll let you know. Customer: Perfect. I have experience in the fashion sector. Assistant: Great, we'll keep that in mind.

Cultural Note

In Italian retail, personal connections matter. Showing genuine enthusiasm for the brand, knowledge of fashion, and presenting a well-groomed appearance during an in-store enquiry can make a strong impression.