Retail Salespeople/Cashier
Work Activities
Greet customers entering stores.
Use cash registers, computers, or scanners to enter items and total sales. Learn codes for various items.
May weigh produce or operate other machines.
Enter charges for all items, total items, and subtract discounts.
Take payments with cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards. Verify identification or authorization.
Issue receipts and count change.
Help customers by answering questions and complaints. Wrap or bag purchases and offer carry-out service.
Make sure there is enough change in cash drawer.
Count contents of cash drawers at end of shift and compare totals with sales data. Total charge slips, return slips, and other non-cash items.
Handle returns or exchanges. Check merchandise and receipts.
May supervise other cashiers and issue cash drawers.
May stock shelves, put returned items back on shelves, and label prices on items.
Keep work area clean and orderly.
Perform for or work with the public
Identify objects, actions, and events
Get information needed to do the job
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Establish and maintain relationships
Update and use job-related knowledge
Communicate with people outside the organization
Teach others
Process information
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Assist and care for others
Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
Control machines and processes
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Make decisions and solve problems
Perform activities that use the whole body
Evaluate information against standards
Handle and move objects
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
Working Conditions
Interpersonal Relationships
Have a high level of social interaction. They work with customers constantly.
Have daily face-to-face discussions with customers and coworkers.
Use the telephone often.
Work as part of a sales team.
Physical Work Conditions
Mostly work indoors. May work outdoors at some businesses, such as garden centers.
Sometimes wear a special uniform.
Work near other people, but have a few feet of space separating self from others.
Work Performance
Must be very exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could cost the company money.
Repeat the same physical activities, such as scanning merchandise.
Can make some decisions and set some tasks without consulting a supervisor.
Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis.
Hours/Travel
May work part time or full time.
Often work weekends, evenings, or holidays.
May have flexible schedules.
Physical Demands
Cashiers frequently:
Stand for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
It is important for cashiers to be able to:
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
It is not as important, but still necessary, for cashiers to be able to:
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
Determine the distance between objects.
Skills and Abilities
Communicate
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Understand written information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Reason and Problem Solve
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Use Math and Science
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.
Use math skills to solve problems.
Work with People
Look for ways to help people.
Be aware of others’ reactions and understand the possible causes.
Knowledge
Cashiers need knowledge in the following areas:
Customer and Personal Service: Providing special services to customers based on their needs.
Mathematics: The rules and uses of numbers.
Administration and Management: How to run a business or group.
Clerical: General office work such as filling and storing information.
Interests and Values
Cashiers typically have the following interests:
Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Have enterprising interests. They like work activities that involve starting up and carrying out projects, especially in business. They like to lead and persuade others, make decisions, and take risks for profit.
Values
Cashiers typically have the following work values:
Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.