How to become A Cashier

• Retail Sales Associate
• Customer Service Associate
• Store Clerk

What do Cashiers do?

A Cashier would typically need to:

• Assist customers with their shopping experience; accept and process their payments for goods or services
• Welcome customers politely, answer their queries, help locate goods and provide suggestions or information about store policies
• Scan or register customer purchases; operate electronic scales, if required, to figure out the exact amount owed by the customer
• Follow store policy in the sale and check-out of unique products such as cigarettes and alcohol
• Collect payment from the customer and give a receipt after confirming the accuracy of prices and quantities
• Run the credit card or debit card terminals; return change if the customer pays in cash
• Bag or wrap purchases for the customer; process returns/exchanges of merchandise and refunds efficiently; resolve complaints, if any
• Assist customers who wish to sign up for store rewards or loyalty programs; adhere to established protocol concerning gift cards and coupons
• Ensure accuracy of the cash drawer; tally the funds in the cash register at the beginning/end of a shift and during a shift, if necessary
• Generate transaction reports for credit and debit sales
• Maintain the checkout area in a clean and orderly manner

Cashiers are typically confined to their workstations, usually standing in booths or behind counters indoors throughout their shift.

Professionals work varying hours depending on their employer’s rules. They often work during weekends, on holidays, and overnight shifts too, if required. Part-time work is standard.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Cashiers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Cashiers are generally employed by: 

• Food & Beverage Stores
• General Merchandise Stores
• Gasoline Stations
• Restaurants & Other Eating Places
• Pharmacies & Drug Stores

Professional associations and organisations, such as the National Association of Sales Professionals, are crucial for Cashiers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Communicating with angry customers can get stressful
• The need to work on public holidays and weekends may lead to a lack of work-life balance
• In addition to remaining on one’s feet for the better part of the day, the repetitive nature of the work may prove frustrating
• The sole responsibility for the accuracy of the contents of the cash register and the subsequent stress if errors happen due to inattention

Earlier work experience as a cashier or customer service representative in a retail setting may help you develop the necessary skills and increase your employability. It is particularly true for those who are used to working in a hectic work environment with a high customer footfall.

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow experts working as cashiers to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Prospective Cashiers must have a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Typically, little to no post-secondary education or prior training is needed for the job. 

Focus on mathematics and English in high school to help perform well at a job that revolves around counting money, related financial calculations, and significant customer interaction.

Certification demonstrates a Cashier’s competence in customer service & sales, professional credit, food safety, and computer service, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination.

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of advancement. 

Cashiers have numerous opportunities for career progression, each determined by their current place of employment and skill level. 

Professionals working in small retail establishments may become Sales Assistants, Replenishment Assistants, or Window Dressers. Higher promotional opportunities include roles such as Checkout Supervisor, where they are typically tasked with supervising checkout stations, training other employees in checkout processes, and assisting in optimising customer payment methods. 

Larger establishments need a more complex hierarchy of staff with more positions for Cashiers to move into. They could choose to take on supervisory duties as Shift Managers and eventually become Store Managers.

You can move across industries and work as a Cashier in a hotel or restaurant. You may need to be familiar with the duties expected of a receptionist and get promoted to Reception Manager. Professionals with excellent customer service skills can choose to go into the customer service sector and rise to the position of Customer Service Manager.  

Candidates with a high school diploma, desirable certifications, and significant work experience have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Cashier build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

CPD in the form of additional certification allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge, so that you can easily make the transition to a higher post or a different industry.

Cashiers usually receive basic on-the-job training. They are taught how to open and close a cash register, manage cash, use point of sales terminals, deal with customers professionally, and complete tasks efficiently. 

Tools of the Trade

Cashiers do their daily work using technology such as scanners, cash registers, and calculators. These are typically used to process customer payments for goods and facilitate the return or exchange of merchandise. 

The cash register, or the ‘till’ (as it is known in the UK), started as an abacus in 1879. The current version was patented in 1883 by saloonkeeper James Ritty.

Cashiers, who can cultivate with ease the twin qualities of attention to detail and impeccable customer service, almost single-handedly increase the profits of their business establishment. 

When handing change to customers, remember first to give them the coins and then the bills. If the coins are placed on top of the bills, they might slide to the floor, costing you valuable time.