Overview
Checkout assistants work at the till in supermarkets and other shops. Most items have a barcode on them. The checkout operator passes this over a scanning machine. This tells the till how much the item costs. When all the items have been scanned, the checkout operator tells the customer what they need to pay. Checkout operators keep the area around the till tidy and clean. They need to be polite, friendly and helpful to customers. Sometimes they do other work in the shop as well. This might include working stocking the shelves and customer service.
Activities
- Entering barcodes into the till using a scanner
- Weighing and pricing items like fruit and vegetables
- Telling customers how much they need to pay
- Taking payment from customers using cash or cards
- Helping customers to pack their goods
- Keeping the till area tidy and clean
- Being helpful and friendly to customers
Organisation
Checkout operators work in many different types of shops across The Black Country. These range in size from small shops to huge supermarkets and superstores.
Workplace
Checkout operators work inside shops. These could be in a town, city, or in an out-of-town shopping centre, they mainly work indoors.
Average Salary and Trends
£11,500-£17,000.
Qualifications
There are no set qualifications for entry into this type of work. Some employers will want you to have some GCSEs, particularly maths and English, whereas some other employers will be more flexible.
You could also apply for an apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the Dfe exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry level 3 English and Maths qualifications.
The apprentice would have to be competent enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.