A retail assistant sells goods in shops and stores. These could range from clothing or mobile phone shops to DIY and furniture stores.

The Work

You could be:

• learning about the products sold within the store
• discussing what the customer wants and showing what the shop has in stock
• taking orders for things which are out of stock
• if necessary explaining how you can pay by instalments
• working out the total price and taking cash, card or voucher payments
• operating the till which may be computerised with a barcode scanner
• removing security tags and wrapping up goods for customers
• displaying the goods on the shelves and in the window
• dealing with complaints.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of the company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

Starting pay is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW).

As of 1 April 2022 the National Minimum Wage is £4.81 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17, £6.83 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20 and £9.18 an hour for workers aged 21 to 22. The National Living Wage is £9.50 for workers aged 23 and over.

This can rise to around £9.00 an hour or more.

Conditions

• You will work indoors.
• You will be on your feet a lot and might have to carry heavy items.
• You might have to work evenings and weekends.
• You may have to work longer hours near Christmas.
• Part time work is common.
• You usually have to wear a staff uniform.
• You may get a discount on goods you buy from the shop.

Getting In

• You do not need formal qualifications, but a good general education is helpful.
• You should be fit enough to carry heavy loads.
• Apply directly to shops, from small newsagents to large department stores, from specialised boutiques to supermarkets.
• You may be able to get into a Modern Apprenticeships in retailing in some areas.
• Good keyboard skills or some computer knowledge may also be useful.

What Does it Take?

You should be:

• fast and accurate with numbers for cash handling
• able to stay calm when the shop is busy
• polite and helpful
• good at working with people
• trustworthy and dependable
• smartly presented
• clearly spoken with good communication skills
• knowledgeable about the products the shop sells.

Training

• Your employer might arrange part time training for you.
• You can do an SVQ in Retail Skills at SCQF Level 5 at college.

Getting On

• If you work for a large company, you might get training for a supervisory post.
• From there you could train as a manager, perhaps becoming a departmental manager and later moving into senior management. This may mean you have to move to another place for the best opportunities.
• You will not have as many promotion chances in a small shop but you can apply for jobs with larger organisations for more opportunities.

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Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.