Sales assistant
Career outlook for sales assistant
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£13,000
£13,000
Experienced
£26,000
£26,000
Currently employed in Scotland
100,000
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would serve customers and look after stock in a shop such as a supermarket, fashion store or department store.
Your aim would be to help people have a great shopping experience. You could work in a large chain store or a smaller independent retailer. Your place of work might be anywhere, but would probably be on your local high street or in a shopping centre.
You would:
- Serve and advise customers
- Take payments
- Help customers to find the goods they want
- Order goods and look after stock
- Give information on products and prices
- Stack shelves or display goods in an attractive way
- Arrange window displays
- Promote special offers or store cards
- Handle complaints or pass them on to a manager
Some stores, for example mobile phone shops, DIY or electrical goods stores, may expect you to have a lot of knowledge about their products before you apply.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
23%
Part-time
75%
Self employed
2%
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- Positive attitude
- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Working with numbers
- Respecting
- Attention to detail
- Managing resources
- Mentoring
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Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but most employers value a good general education and some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF levels 4 to 6.
You can enter some National Certificate or National Qualification courses (SCQF 5-6) with no formal qualifications but most courses ask for National 4/5 qualifications (SCQF level 4/5).
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
You will also need
Good customer care skills.
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience that show good customer service skills and levels of numeracy such as Skills for Work Retailing (SCQF Level 5) or a National Certificate / National Qualification in Retail (SCQF 5-6).
Relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Retail (SVQ Level 2/3) or be willing to work towards qualifications once in a job.
Some experience of working with the public. Many stores take on staff at Christmas and this can be a good way of gaining experience which may lead to a permanent job.