Who is a sales assistant and what do they do? The salesperson sells goods. The salesperson usually specialises in certain kinds of goods, e.g. food, pharmaceutical supplies, textile and clothes, kitchen supplies, construction materials, motor vehicles, art, antiques, etc. He/she must be familiar with the goods they sell, must be able to provide customers with detailed information about them, and must be familiar with the value and prices of respective goods.
What are the activities of the sales assistant job? Provision of the necessary information and advice to the customer – sale of goods, presentation to customers, incl. display of goods, arranging, promotion and price labelling – acceptance of customers’ orders, claims and their processing – checking shelves to ensure they are kept filled with the right quantity, quality and variety of goods – receiving, checking, storing, treatment and the keeping of inventories – operating cash registers, processing cash and non-cash payments – keeping and processing sales documentation, e.g. warranty certificates, receipts and other relevant documents.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In shops that offer service over the counter as well as self-service shops, department stores and kiosks, mostly shift work. Certain workplaces, and especially certain types of goods, may involve putting up with dust, dirt or unpleasant strong smells or working with chemical substances.
What tools/equipment do the sales assistant use? Examples include cash registers, scales and other weighing devices, knives and other cutting equipment, wrapping paper, shopping trolleys, your own hands and the spoken word.
What do you need to succeed? You need vocational training, numeracy, ability to deal with people, cultivated appearance and manners, and, at times, manual dexterity and patience.