Job Responsibilities
My job responsibilities include product knowlege, helping
customers choose suitable product for their needs, processing
sales and handling cash. Each of these responsibilities takes up
100% of my time whilst I'm at work.
I also participate in opening and closing the store. Opening
takes approximately 15 minutes to achieve and closing takes
between and half and one hour.
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Job Requirements
Hiring takes place around October. Management usually prefers
applicants to have some tertiary education. Applicants must also
be well presented when applying.
Educating new staff happens as we work and as our transaction
protocol is simple, sales training takes minimum time. Product
knowlege comes with time and repetition.
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Uppers
The best parts about my job would have to be the fact that we ell some of the
coolest products ever. Staff are also encouraged to borrow products
(books/videos/dvd/CD's) and enjoy them so as to gain product knowlege and be able
to reccomend certain products to customers who are undecided as to what may be a
great gift for a friend or relative.
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Downers
The worst parts about my job would have to be prank callers
around Christmas and customers allowing their children to use
the products as teething toys - there's nothing worse than
handling products covered in baby drool, wether the customer
decides to purchase said item or not...
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Lifestyle
Work hours vary depending on position. Casuals usually work about 6 hours per
week, permanent part timers work between 8 and 19 hours per week and full time
(management) work about 40 hours per week. As the store I am part of is only
small, the staff are all quite close and often we find ourselves socialising
outside work hours with a casual barbecue at someones house. The store is located
in a central position in the Gold Coast City and it is easy to access using
public transport. Parking is also plentiful. The dress code is smart casual, no
denim or revealing clothes (low cut tops or skirts much shorter than knee length.
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Compensation
Base salary in my position is 18.25 per hour, increasing on
sundays and public holidays where pay is equal to double time
and a half. Public holidays are paid out wether your working or
not. There are overtime bonuses (increased base salary), Super
fund contributions and service leave benifits as wel as workers
compensation cover for any on-the-job accidents.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Retail is a great place to be employed. You meet hundreds of
different people every day that offer you new and exciting
challenges to keep you on your toes. Many of the customers have
interesting traits which will either delight or frustrate you to
no end but you always leave work with a feeling of
accomplishment.
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