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- Tasks: Welcome customers, ensure safety, and provide support throughout their shopping experience.
- Company: Join Marks & Spencer, a leader in retail innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Earn £12.60 per hour with flexible working hours and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in customer experiences while ensuring a safe shopping atmosphere.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a friendly personality are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team committed to inclusion and diversity.
Overview
Customer Assistant – Service & Safety Assistant – Southend on Sea
Under 18 Disclaimer
To comply with health and safety legislation and keep our colleagues safe in the workplace, colleagues in this role must be 18 years of age or older.
Rate of Pay
£12.60 per hour
Work Pattern
Week 1: Tuesday 09:00-18:00; Wednesday 09:00-18:00; Thursday 09:00-18:00; Friday 09:00-18:00; Saturday 09:00-18:00
Week 2: Sunday 10:15-16:30; Tuesday 09:00-18:00; Wednesday 09:00-18:00; Thursday 08:30-14:00; Friday 09:00-13:00
Job Description
Key Accountabilities and Measures
- Clearly identified to provide customers with a visible presence at the beginning of their shopping journey
- Confidently welcome customers to the store with a smile and by making eye contact, and use a range of greeting techniques known to deter theft from the store
- Flexible and trained to support other areas within the store i.e. Foods, C&H, Operations
- Be knowledgeable of the store, support key marketing messages, latest products and top questions (e.g. what time do you close?)
- Assist customers in navigating the store, recognising when a customer needs help and provide the right level of support
- Thank our customers for shopping with us when they exit
- Deal calmly and empathetically with people in a variety of retail circumstances, including confrontational situations
- Respond to door alarms in a sincere and apologetic manner, resolving any issues the customer may have
- Be a visible deterrent against violence, anti-social behaviour, targeted theft, till snatches and criminal activity to support a safe shopping environment
- Identify and monitor suspicious persons, activity or theft and take appropriate customer engaging actions as required to deter
- Ensure all incidents are reported through the M&S Incident reporting process either through the Hicom app (on the Honey well) or into the Security Operations Centre, and to the police where necessary
- Ensure that persons served with a trespass notice do not re-enter the site
- Responsible for carrying store radio and engaging with police and other security personnel to improve service to M&S, this may include crime partnership meetings, agreed police meetings, shop watch schemes
- Apprehend external thieves (only if necessary) in line with business policy and only if all components of theft are seen
- Report any incidents of known or suspected internal theft or malpractice
Key Skills
- Being confident with an easily felt presence and friendly and natural personality is essential
- Strong communication skills with the ability to engage customers with ease
- Ability to remain focused at greeting customers and deterring suspicious activity
- To have a natural empathy with our M&S brand and values, including service behaviours
- To be self-motivated, willing to improvise and suggest or try new approaches
- Able to maintain high standards of appearance and uniform standards
- No requirement to be licensed, but good observation skills would be a benefit
Key Relationships and Stakeholders
- Store Management team
- Store Colleagues
- Operational Security Manager
- Regional teams (RLPMs/RCOMs)
- Store Detectives
- SOC
- Police
- Local Networks
Everyone’s Welcome
M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the retail industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact.
We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process, and we are happy to talk flexible working.
If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment.
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Customer Assistant - Service & Safety Assistant - Southend on Sea employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Plc Recruiting Team
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Assistant - Service & Safety Assistant - Southend on Sea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show off your friendly and approachable nature. Remember, this role is all about engaging with customers, so a warm tone can go a long way.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the job description. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match what we're looking for, like strong communication and customer service abilities. This shows us that you understand the role and are genuinely interested in joining our team.
Show Your Enthusiasm: We love seeing candidates who are excited about the opportunity! In your application, express why you want to work with us at M&S and how you align with our values. A little enthusiasm can make your application stand out from the rest!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the information you need about the role and our company culture right there. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand the key responsibilities of a Customer Assistant - Service & Safety Assistant. Familiarise yourself with the job description and think about how your skills align with their needs. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Practice Your Customer Interaction Skills
Since this role involves engaging with customers, practice how you would greet them and handle various situations. Think about how to remain calm and empathetic, especially in confrontational scenarios. You could even role-play with a friend to get comfortable with different customer interactions.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Strong communication is key for this position. During the interview, demonstrate your ability to engage with people easily. Use clear and friendly language, and don’t forget to maintain eye contact. This will help convey your confidence and approachability, which are essential traits for the role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Safety Protocols
Given the focus on safety and security in this role, be prepared to discuss how you would handle suspicious activity or theft. Think about examples from past experiences where you’ve had to deal with challenging situations. Showing that you can think on your feet and act appropriately will impress the interviewers.
