Cashier Career

Job Description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.


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What Cashiers do:

  • Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
  • Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.
  • Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
  • Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.
  • Answer incoming phone calls.
  • Greet customers entering establishments.
  • Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas, and complete other general cleaning duties, such as mopping floors and emptying trash cans.
  • Help customers find the location of products.
  • Monitor checkout stations to ensure they have adequate cash available and are staffed appropriately.
  • Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.
  • Request information or assistance, using paging systems.
  • Process merchandise returns and exchanges.
  • Count money in cash drawers at the beginning of shifts to ensure that amounts are correct and that there is adequate change.
  • Compute and record totals of transactions.
  • Assist with duties in other areas of the store, such as monitoring fitting rooms or bagging and carrying out customers' items.
  • Supervise others and provide on-the-job training.
  • Sort, count, and wrap currency and coins.
  • Calculate total payments received during a time period, and reconcile this with total sales.
  • Offer customers carry-out service at the completion of transactions.
  • Stock shelves, sort and reshelve returned items, and mark prices on items and shelves.
  • Keep periodic balance sheets of amounts and numbers of transactions.
  • Cash checks for customers.
  • Post charges against guests' or patients' accounts.
  • Issue trading stamps, and redeem food stamps and coupons.
  • Bag, box, wrap, or gift-wrap merchandise, and prepare packages for shipment.
  • Compile and maintain non-monetary reports and records.
  • Sell tickets and other items to customers.
  • Weigh items sold by weight to determine prices.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Holland Code Chart for a Cashier