Cashier skills are crucially important for anyone working in department stores, small businesses, and any type of job that deals with cashiers. Many people believe cashiers do not possess many key skills, and that this work is only done by children.
However, there are many different soft skills and even technical skills that cashiers need to succeed. To truly achieve your potential, you should try to build up these skills. It doesn’t have to be complex or overly costly, either. In this article, we will discuss what cashier job skills are and how you can acquire them.
What are cashier skills?
Cashier skills are any abilities that allow you to succeed and achieve your career as a cashier and beyond.
Many cashier skills are used to help a cashier develop long-lasting abilities that apply to their next jobs, for many people decide to change their jobs after years of being a cashier.
There are many facets of your job that cashier skills help you master. For instance, technology skills can help an individual become more efficient.
The job descriptions outline many of the key skills needed to succeed in your job. If you are able to build those particular skills, your current or potential employer would likely be extremely impressed.
Importance and benefits of having cashier skills
If you want to be a fantastic cashier, you need to build up cashier-related skills. These abilities will help you in nearly every part of your job, from your productivity to dealing with coworkers. In addition, you can also find ways to use your career skills beyond your cashier work.
These skills are known as transferable. If you are a cashier looking to increase your skill levels and perform your best at work, consider the following benefits you will gain:
- Increased ability to land the job of your dreams and highly impress your interviewer.
- Become more efficient and productive, thus boosting revenue and profits.
- Learn how to effectively communicate with customers to build long-term relationships.
- Decrease the amount of conflict you have with your fellow team members and clients.
- Become more adaptable and stay calm as well as efficient in a fast-paced environment.
- Develop a more positive attitude, thus also helping your team become more positive.
- Understanding skills that will be useful for you far after you leave your job as a cashier.
- Boosting your satisfaction and fulfillment so that you can stay committed to your work.
- Potentially decreasing your risk of certain illnesses due to more positivity.
- Develop goals that are more relevant to you in the long term and achieve these goals much quicker than ever before.
18 most important cashier skills
There are a plethora of different skills that cashiers need in their careers. In fact, many of the abilities you acquire during your time as a cashier can be applied later in your career as well.
If you are able to hone your abilities as a cashier, you now know of the many benefits you can acquire. If you are thinking about which specific cashier skills you should focus on, consider the following as a top priority. Cashier skills are:
- Efficiency
- Math
- Communication
- Product knowledge
- Technical
- POS
- Coaching
- Sales
- Speed
- Commitment
- Conflict resolution
- Hard-working
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking
- Time management
- Patience
- Positive attitude
- Personable
1. Efficiency
Customers truly dislike waiting. Their precious time should be cherished and used optimally. So, you need to know how to be quick and efficient as a cashier.
This means improving how quickly you move items as well as becoming more familiar with the technology you will use during your work. If you want to impress an interviewer and demonstrate your superior efficiency, consider working at the speed checkout line and describing that experience.
2. Math
String math skills are necessary for you to be a successful cashier. Surely, you do not need a mathematics degree, but simply know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly (as well as use some algebra).
These strong math skills are crucial if you want to boost efficiency. If you are unsure of how to get better at math, review basic concepts on sites such as Khan Academy.
3. Strong communication
As someone who works in the service industry or department stores, you will need to communicate with coworkers and customers on a daily basis. If you want to leave a great impression on a customer, you must use your communication abilities.
Communication also reduces frustration and misunderstandings, saving you time and money in the long run. You might even form long-term relations with customers and coworkers as a result of your effective communication.
4. Product knowledge
The best cashiers are also very knowledgeable about the products they sell. If a customer has a question, you need to act as essentially a salesperson to address the question and highlight the product’s positive qualities.
Be familiar with the types of products you are selling. Of course, you do not have to memorize every detail about them, but a general understanding should help you seem more knowledgeable to customers.
5. Technical
All of the skills listed above are soft skills. However, cashiers also need to utilize hard skills at their jobs. One of the most crucial is understanding the technology you will work with.
For many, this means getting a strong understanding and experience using POS systems. Many companies have trainers that will guide you in using the technology for your first few weeks, so ensure you pay attention to that mentorship.
6. Coaching
When you think of cashiers, teaching and mentoring skills do not typically come to mind. It is crucial to remember this type of job has high turnover rates. Many new employees are coming in and out of department stores.
Great cashiers know how to help other employees become as great as they are. Coaching and mentoring skills are fantastic for this, and will also help you develop strong relations with your new coworkers.
7. Commitment
Great employees, regardless of which industry they work in, are committed to their work. They know their work is meaningful and feel emotionally attached to it. When a cashier sees how they can impact customers on a daily basis, that even a small smile can make someone’s day that much brighter, they take their relationships with clients to a much greater level. Being on time will also show you are committed to your work.
8. Conflict resolution
No matter how hard you try to prevent conflict, it will inevitably occur at some point. Teams often get bogged down with drama and conflicts, leading to less clients and poor experiences for employees.
By honing your conflict resolution skills, you can make the workplace a better place for everyone. It will also increase the productivity of your entire team and make you seem like an outstanding employee.
9. Hard-working
Being a hard worker can make you stand out from the crowd. Some cashiers do not take their job seriously and overlook its importance. Hardworking employees are more likely to get better jobs in the long run and develop necessary skills useful for their future careers.
If you are always on your feet, communicating with clients, and nearly never distracted, your bosses will likely notice it.
10. Attention to detail
Attention to detail may not seem particularly important to cashiers. However, if you look deeper, it is precisely the details that most customers will remember. They recognize the small personable gestures you make.
Your bosses will notice how you stock shelves, and if they are slightly imperfect, they will take note of it. The goal is to appear as personable and organized as possible, and attention to detail helps you do this.
11. POS
12. Positive attitude
13. Patience
14. Multitasking
15. Sales
16. Time management
17. Speed
18. Personable
List of 5 most important cashier responsibilities and duties
If you are someone interested in becoming a cashier, understanding their day-to-day duties may be helpful. It allows you to better evaluate whether this job is appropriate for you and how long you may want to stay in this industry.
Here are a few of the important tasks you can expect to perform:
1. Communicating with customers
Being silent as a cashier reflects poorly on you. It leads to awkward interactions and generally leaves the customer somewhat bored. If you want to be a memorable cashier, you need to communicate with your clients. Talk to them about what they are buying, or any other topic that seems relevant at the time.
2. Stocking shelves
Stocking shelves requires attention to detail and efficiency. Without these abilities, your store would likely begin to look disorganized and unpleasant to customers. Many business owners take note of how you stock shelves to test your efficiency. They want to make sure you are able to navigate the store well.
3. Up-selling
You may be thinking: cashiers are not salespeople! However, in many ways, they play an integral role in marketing and selling the store many items. You must be able to highlight the store’s new products, have lots of product knowledge, and connect the knowledge with the customer’s needs.
You could also up-sell products by speaking about deals you have. Take note of what the customer is buying to make sure your upselling is tailored to them and their unique needs.
4. Cleaning and keeping tidy
Many cashiers will also have responsibilities in keeping their work area clean. This is simply expected of most employees. They must also ensure key store areas maintain their cleanliness. This applies to the way they stock shelves as well. If they notice a spill or mess, the cashier will be expected to clean it up in most businesses.
5. Addressing customer complaints and basic customer service
Most stores have managers who handle high-level customer service requests. However, for relatively simple tasks, the cashier will be expected to communicate with the customer directly.
For instance, if they need help with paying with their credit card, the cashier is expected to assist them. If a customer goes up to ask them where a product is found, the cashier is expected to guide them.
How to identify and develop cashier skills?
Now that you know of the many different types of cashier skills and their benefits, you are likely thinking: how do I get these skills? There are many ways to go about building these relevant skills.
Some individuals believe that only investments of hundreds of dollars and years of experience in the industry will lead to you maximizing your cashier soft skills. However, this is simply not true.
In fact, some of the most efficient and accurate ways of finding your cashier skills are completely free. In general, all you need to find your cashier skills is a connection to the internet. There are many websites that provide tests for your top soft skills.
One of the most in-depth tests you could take is the HIGH5 assessment. It will not only give you your cashier-related soft skills, but it also provide you with an overview of your general strengths profile.
Another way you could test your soft skills is by recalling your top successes or promotions as a cashier. Are there any strengths that helped you stay focused, energized, or positive? Others could weigh in to help you.
This strategy is less efficient than just taking the HIGH5 test, though. If you want to test your technical skills, consider testing how quickly and efficiently you use POS systems and other cashier technology compared to your colleagues.
How to improve cashier skills in the workplace?
Once you recognize your existing cashier skills, you may become empowered to improve them. Many questions typically arise at that point. If you are confused about how to improve your skills at work, know that a weakness-oriented approach should be avoided. This approach is very common, but it decreases your motivation and confidence.
On the other hand, you should use a strength-based approach. After you identify your existing strengths your energy should go toward building upon them instead of turning your weaknesses into new strengths.
One way to do this is by exposing yourself to new scenarios where you could use your strengths. Come to work more often, and try not to transfer customers to your managers whenever you encounter a problem. Attempt to solve it yourself.
Another key way to build your strengths is with feedback. Your customers may already be giving you feedback with their body language. Notice what makes customers excited and smile, as well as what makes them seem uninterested or uncomfortable. Try to use the strategies that make customers happiest consistently.
Finally, you could also focus on greater communication and organization in general. These strengths are that, for most people, need reinforcing.
Ensure you prepare for your work and come on time. Try to think positively while working and stay focused by eliminating distractions. And, treat customers with the respect they deserve.
How to highlight cashier skills in a resume and job interview?
One of the greatest benefits of acquiring a new skill or building upon existing ones is the increased job opportunities.
The first factor many interviewers and employers look for is your strengths. You need to make sure you appropriately highlight your cashier skills. Simply listing them out, as most employees do, is not enough to convince interviewers you have these abilities.
Instead, you must provide some additional proof. For example, you could talk about your prior job experiences when you are in the interview. Highlight how your experience at the quick checkout line made you more focused and efficient. Make a note of how you kept organized with planners and to-do lists, too.
Cashier skills for a resume
Add your cashier skills to the skills section in a resume, and your cashier skills to the work experience section in a resume.
On your resume, you could include most of your skills under your prior job descriptions. You could describe how your skills positively impacted your prior teams to highlight why your cashier skills are important to note for the interview.
For instance, you could describe the positive customer feedback you received (either during the interview or in your resume if it is particularly powerful) or how you played a key role in reducing turnover rates for new cashiers at your last workplace.
Cashier skills FAQ
What skills should a cashier have?
Cashiers need numerous specific skills to succeed in their work. For instance, they must be able to communicate effectively. Cashiers are constantly communicating with clients and coworkers, so it is crucial to master this skill.
Basic math skills are also useful, as they boost efficiency and productivity. Cashiers should be personable and attentive to their clients to create a memorable experience for store visitors. Attention to detail is important for this work, too, especially when it comes to making lasting impressions on visitors.
What are the duties of a cashier?
As a cashier, you will be performing several activities throughout your daily job. For one, they will have to communicate with customers and answer product questions. Additionally, many cashiers also have to stock shelves. Many are asked to react to customer complaints and issue refunds as well. Knowing how to scan items and enter them into the store’s database is also a key duty for many cashiers.
