What is a cashier?
Cashiers accept payments from customers in the form of cash, credit or debit card, check or other forms of payment. Their primary job function is to receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions like grocery and home improvement stores.
Main duties include ringing up sales, bagging items, requesting price checks, honoring coupons, collecting payment and giving appropriate change.
How to become a cashier?
You can start by taking a college course like:
- Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Retail
- Level 2 Certificate in Retail Knowledge
This would teach you some of the skills needed for the job. Then you can try to find a trainee position.
Although cashiers typically don’t need any formal education to be successful, some employers may ask for GCSE passes at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in maths and English. Experience of handling cash and serving customers will be helpful.
Cashier duties
Cashier duties are diverse and depend on the employer and specialty, but some responsibilities are common to most:
- Collect payments whether in cash or credit
- Issue receipts, refunds, change or tickets
- Redeem stamps and coupons
- Resolve customer complaints, guide them and provide relevant information
- Bagging or wrapping purchases to ensure safe transport
- Provides a positive customer experience with fair, friendly, and courteous service
- Balances cash drawer by counting cash at beginning and end of work shift
- Answer customers’ questions and get a manager if answer doesn’t solve the issue
Cashier skills
To be an effective cashier, you’ll need certain skills and competencies. The following are often cited in job vacancies:
- Basic Math
- Interpersonal Communication/Written and Verbal Communication
- Dispute resolution
- Customer Service
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, stressful environment
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work well with others
- Ability to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to find a cashier job
These jobs are advertised online, in local newspapers and at your local jobcentre. To find all the cashier jobs near you, you need to:
- Search for cashier jobs on popular job websites such as; Indeed, Total Jobs and CV Library
- Use the DWP’s Find A Job Service
- Check local newspapers and local Facebook groups, especially groups dedicated to local jobs
Cashier Job Titles
When you search for cashier jobs online, be aware that the jobs might be advertised using a different job title. Popular job titles for cashier jobs include;
- Checkout operator
- Retail assistant
- Till assistant
- Sales associate
- Front end associate
What does a cashier do?
The day-to-day tasks of a cashier include;
- Scan items for customers
- Weigh and price fresh food items
- Use special tools to remove security tags
- Monitor sales of restricted items like alcohol or medicines
- Pack and wrap purchases
- Process store loyalty cards, coupons and vouchers
- Take payments and make sure the till balances at the end of the day
- Do extra jobs like shelf filling, stock checks or customer service