Brief polite considerate professional, not uncomfortable, understanding truthful. You need experience there are a lot of people who apply, you may not need retail, you do need a good back ground with a good work ethic, high school employment as well as volunteering, volunteer work ranks high with any company esp. JCP. They look for people with personality, help others like community communication with others' friendly kind-if- outgoing people regardless of retail exp. Offer to work weekends along with some holidays you got a job!