Thinking of working as a cashier? It’s a good way to earn money and gain work experience, especially if you’re just starting out. In many shops and stores, the cashier is the person who helps you pay for your items quickly and correctly.

A cashier’s main job is to help customers pay, which includes scanning items, accepting cash or card payments, and handing over a receipt. They make sure the shopping process is smooth and that customers leave feeling satisfied.

Besides handling payments, cashiers also greet people and answer simple questions about products or prices. They play a big role in making your shopping experience easy and friendly. If you want to know what this job involves, read on.

As a cashier, your main goal is to help customers have a smooth and pleasant shopping experience. You’ll be working with money, talking to customers, and using a till or computer system to ring up sales.

Your job is to scan or enter the price of each item a customer wants to buy. After that, you work out the total cost, including any tax or discounts. You’ll accept different types of payment, like cash, debit cards, or even mobile apps such as Capitec Pay or SnapScan.

It’s important to count cash carefully and give the correct change. You also need to check if a customer has any valid coupons or discounts before finishing the sale. Once the payment is done, you give them a receipt. Paying close attention helps you avoid mistakes and keeps the customers happy.

A big part of the job is greeting customers with a smile and being helpful. You might answer simple questions about prices or where to find things. If there’s a problem—like a wrong price or a missing barcode—you may need to ask a supervisor for help or call for a price check.

Being friendly and patient helps create a good shopping atmosphere. Sometimes you’ll help customers pack their bags or wrap gifts, depending on the type of store you’re in.

You’ll use a till or point-of-sale (POS) system to complete each sale. At the start and end of your shift, you need to open and close the till properly. If there’s a small issue—like the scanner not working—you should know how to fix it or get help fast.

At the end of your shift, you’ll count your cash to make sure it matches the day’s sales. Keeping your workspace tidy and well-organised helps you work faster and with fewer mistakes.

To do well as a cashier, you need to be careful, confident with basic maths, and able to speak clearly and kindly to customers.

You need to pay close attention when scanning items and handling money. Mistakes with prices or change can lead to problems and might upset customers. It’s important to double-check amounts and make sure the receipt matches what the customer bought.

You should also keep an eye out for damaged items or prices that don’t match what’s on the shelf. Small details make a big difference in customer service.

You don’t need advanced maths, but you should be confident in adding, subtracting, and working with simple percentages. This helps you calculate totals, discounts, and change quickly—even when the till is slow or not working properly.

Being good with numbers also helps you count your cash correctly at the end of your shift, making sure everything balances.

You’ll be talking to customers all day, so it’s important to speak clearly and be polite. You’ll explain prices, answer questions, and sometimes deal with unhappy customers.

Listening carefully helps you understand what a customer needs. If there’s a problem, staying calm and respectful makes things easier. You’ll also need to talk to your co-workers, especially when handing over shifts or solving small problems together.

As a cashier, you’ll usually work in busy places like supermarkets, takeaway shops, clothing stores, or restaurants. You’ll spend most of your shift on your feet, helping many different people.

Most cashiers work behind a counter or till in places like Shoprite, Pick n Pay, KFC, or small local stores. Your main job is to scan items, take payments, and give out receipts. You may also help pack groceries or keep small shelves near the till topped up.

Greeting customers with a smile and answering their questions helps the store run smoothly and keeps people coming back. A clean and neat till area also makes you look professional and helps things move faster.

Sometimes, customers come back with items they want to return or exchange. You’ll need to follow the store’s return policy, check the item and the receipt, and then process the refund or swap.

This part of the job needs patience, especially when the customer is upset. Always stay calm and make sure the records are correct so there are no mistakes. Good record-keeping helps protect you and the business from problems later on.

Working as a cashier is a great way to build your work experience, especially if you’re starting your career or looking for a steady job. It teaches you how to work with money, speak to customers, and stay organised in a busy environment. With the right attitude and a bit of practice, you can do well and even grow into other roles, like supervisor or store manager. If you enjoy helping people and want to work in a fast-paced setting, being a cashier could be the perfect fit for you.