Till Training for Xmas Dept Store Job: Advice Needed!

Truegho

I am starting a temp Xmas job with a top dept store this week and will be getting some till training for the Menswear section, to where I have been assigned as a Sales Adviser. As I have never worked on a till before, I was wondering if anybody has any advice on how to prepare for the training. I mean, is it very complicated (e.g. knowing which buttons to press for VOID transactions etc.). I would feel less nervous if I have some good familiarity with what I can expect.

Also, does anybody know any good retail websites where they have sample till software?

kymbogs

Hi,
I've had a few jobs in retail and every till system has been different. Really, don't worry about it, it will most likely be someone showing you how to scan the barcodes, how to total a sale and take payment, how to do refunds (though it may be that they have a different desk for refunds or only a manager can do it so this might not apply).
They may show you how to check stock levels or search for stock at a different store depending on what the system allows you to do. As I say, they tend to vary from one place to the next but it's not going to be very challenging and the more you use the till the easier it will get. And of course if you do ever get stuck it is better to ask for help rather than start pressing buttons and end up in a mess!
Best of luck
Kimberley

wontfallforit

Truegho wrote: »

I am starting a temp Xmas job with a top dept store this week and will be getting some till training for the Menswear section, to where I have been assigned as a Sales Adviser. As I have never worked on a till before, I was wondering if anybody has any advice on how to prepare for the training. I mean, is it very complicated (e.g. knowing which buttons to press for VOID transactions etc.). I would feel less nervous if I have some good familiarity with what I can expect.

Also, does anybody know any good retail websites where they have sample till software?

In my experience, most tills are different from each other - even if the differences are subtle. It shouldn't be anything to worry about, though, it'll be covered in training, and there should always be someone nearby to help you out whilst you're training.

It really shouldn't be complicated, if you've got your head screwed on right, you'll pick it up in no time. And as for making mistakes, don't worry - it happens to everyone at some point and there's very little you can do that can't be put right

Being a large company, the purchases will simply be scanned through the barcode reader. It's difficult to go wrong - the correct price should automatically come up, and everything will be calculated automatically.

If for whatever reason the correct price doesn't show, or you make a mistake (i.e scanning the same thing twice!), it'll be a simple matter of either calling the manager over, or using your pretty simple training to void/adjust the amount (some companies only let managers do this, so don't be worried if anything goes wrong).

Shop work is pretty straightforwards in general, and using the till should be one of the easiest and simple parts of the job. Your employer should give ample time for till training, and/or should place you alongside someone who can help in the inital stages.

Best of luck

Truegho

Hi. Thanks for your advice on my till training query. It really was much appreciated and certainly alleviated my anxiety about starting my first step into the busy world of dept store retail work!

Looking forward to starting my new Xmas temp job - and, of course, am keeping my fingers crossed that it will lead to a permantent position!

wontfallforit wrote: »

In my experience, most tills are different from each other - even if the differences are subtle. It shouldn't be anything to worry about, though, it'll be covered in training, and there should always be someone nearby to help you out whilst you're training.

It really shouldn't be complicated, if you've got your head screwed on right, you'll pick it up in no time. And as for making mistakes, don't worry - it happens to everyone at some point and there's very little you can do that can't be put right

Being a large company, the purchases will simply be scanned through the barcode reader. It's difficult to go wrong - the correct price should automatically come up, and everything will be calculated automatically.

If for whatever reason the correct price doesn't show, or you make a mistake (i.e scanning the same thing twice!), it'll be a simple matter of either calling the manager over, or using your pretty simple training to void/adjust the amount (some companies only let managers do this, so don't be worried if anything goes wrong).

Shop work is pretty straightforwards in general, and using the till should be one of the easiest and simple parts of the job. Your employer should give ample time for till training, and/or should place you alongside someone who can help in the inital stages.

Best of luck

paulwf

I agree that all tills are different. In large stores only supervisors are allowed to do anything like refunds so you can't go too far wrong

At first it may seem overwhelming but stick with it, it is just a matter of experience. After a couple of days you'll have served so many customers you'll be able to do it in your sleep.

The really key thing, in the words of Douglas Adams, is "Don't Panic". Make sure that YOU are in control of the transaction, not the customer, and do things at a pace that suits you. At this time of the year the queue at the tills will be long - don't look at it! The customers are all in a rush, and if you let them make you rush and do things in their order that is when mistakes are made. Stay in control and do things your way.

Be polite and friendly to customers and most of them will be on your side. However don't rush just because they have been queueing for a while or their car park ticket is about to run out or whatever...at the end of the day they know full well shops are busy before Christmas!

Try and develop a routine and stick to it so that you can do it on autopilot no matter how busy. For example when processing cashback I always make sure the customer has their card back first, then their cash and then get them to initial their receipt...by following the same procedure each time if I'm ever interrupeted I know where I left off.

vixarooni

is it debenhams by any chance?

If so there is a lot to learn but just make sure you ask the people you work with for help because they wont mind and then it covers your back! especially with refunds and things. Our till training is 2 hours long, so everything is covered (and some) you get plenty of practise time before being let loose on the public!

ilikedrawing

I've just started an xmas temp job at a well known chain store, i've been there a week and i'm slowly getting the hang of using the till and everything that goes with it. The more times you have to do something the better because thats the only way you learn. So the basic till operation i'm good at but taking customer orders and finding products on the system i still have to ask and i'm getting a bit worried that they will start to get annoyed!

But really don't worry because they will have employed hundreds of temps over the years and will in the future, so someone who will have been worse than you...thats the way i think of it.

And without sounding too complacent...it's only a shop, your not killing anyone by doing something wrong on the till. As long as you're polite and explain your still training and sorry for their wait..all my customers have been very nice and patient.

Good luck and just stay calm and chilled :-)

ilikedrawing

vixarooni wrote: »

is it debenhams by any chance?

If so there is a lot to learn but just make sure you ask the people you work with for help because they wont mind and then it covers your back! especially with refunds and things. Our till training is 2 hours long, so everything is covered (and some) you get plenty of practise time before being let loose on the public!

Yeah, and then the REAL learning starts when your let loose on the public!

Savvy_Sue

Not knowing whether you are male or female, this may or may not be appropriate, BUT tills are a bit like computer keyboards, and they don't mix with talons. In other words, keep your nails trimmed or they'll break.

DCFC79

To be honest the tills arent all that complicated to use, ive used 4 differnet types and picked it up fairly easy, you wouldnt be on your own on first day, they might put a colleague who would stand behind you maybe or stand next to you to make sure your dong things right and this would maybe last a week and im sure there would be another colleague on the till next to you to help you,