At a Glance
- Tasks: Serve customers with a smile, ensuring a smooth café experience.
- Company: Join the vibrant M&S Café team in Harrogate.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, great team culture, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced environment where your service makes a difference.
- Qualifications: Must be 18+, with a passion for customer service and teamwork.
- Other info: Fast-paced role perfect for those who thrive under pressure.
The predicted salary is between 11 - 16 £ per hour.
Work Pattern
- Week 1: Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Saturday 08:00-18:00
- Week 2: Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00, Saturday 08:00-18:00
Join our team in the M&S Café – the heart of our store and a place where customers come to recharge. This is a hands-on, high-pressure role for those who can handle pace, stay calm under pressure, and still deliver warm, five-star service. You’ll be a brand ambassador, making great food and drink recommendations while ensuring the café operates smoothly, even during the busiest periods.
Being digitally confident is essential. You’ll use our tools to take and fulfil orders fast, keeping customers moving and satisfied. Efficiency and effectiveness are key aspects of your role. You’ll maintain impeccable food safety standards while juggling orders and queues. At M&S, our customers don’t wait. You’ll be fast and relentlessly focused on delivering quality under pressure while focusing on delivering five-star service.
Teamwork matters. You’ll support colleagues and contribute to a high-performance culture that meets customer needs – no matter how hectic it gets. Flexibility is also vital. You’ll adapt quickly, working where needed with pace. It’s intense but, for the right person, incredibly rewarding. Are you ready for it? Take Your Marks and apply today.
This job role involves working with specialist cutting equipment and this means we can’t consider applications from anyone under the age of 18. This is to comply with the relevant health and safety legislation and to keep our colleagues safe in the workplace.
Purpose
- To deliver a great shopping experience for our customers, putting customers before task every time
- Champion new ways of working within stores through an open mindset and positive attitude
- Complete tasks and processes that deliver ‘best in town’ standards
- Serve and sell across all channels brilliantly well
- Be the voice of our customer to help us continually improve
Key Accountabilities
- Serve our customers efficiently and brilliantly well – on the shop floor and at service points
- Deliver ‘best in town’ standards through presentation standards, availability and keeping the store clean and tidy
- Skilled to utilise all digital tools and communication channels to do the job
- Share customer and colleague feedback to help us do things better
- Share knowledge and experience with colleagues to support others in building skill and confidence
- Own their own learning & development and proactively access digital learning solutions
- Know the daily sales targets, priorities, promotions & selling opportunities
- Have great product knowledge to sell and recommend our products and services
- Proactively engage with customers to understand their needs and make recommendations
- Understand the store priorities and their part to play
- Complete tasks with pace and in line with SOPs
- Minimise cost and waste through good process practice
- Follow safe and legal working practices
Key Capabilities
- Understands how M&S operates, its strategy, future and the role they play
- Committed to delivering excellent work fast with great attention to detail
- Open to and acts on feedback, asking for this regularly
- Sets performance objectives for self in conjunction with line manager and in line with business plans
- Takes accountability for planning and managing own work efficiently to ensure objectives are met
- Is curious and asks questions to challenge the status quo – ask why the company does things the way it does
- Effective at communicating their intentions to others; ensures communication is clear and simple
- In control of their own reactions and considers how to share their perspective to create better reaction for team
- Copes well with change and work challenges and recovers quickly from its impact
- Builds positive relationships by being a good listener and getting to know people by establishing a connection
Technical Skills/Experience
- Contributing to store sales and cost control
- Work across the store to get things done right first time within timescales
- Comprehensive knowledge of customer shopping channels
- Good level of product knowledge and services across the store
- Up to date knowledge of the commercial operation and brilliant basics
- Good level of digital capability and use of digital tools and applications
- Understand customer needs and spot selling opportunities
- Adapting to change
- Good Knowledge of VM principles
Key Relationships and Stakeholders
- Customers
- Colleagues
- Store Leadership
Customer Assistant - Cafe - Oatlands Harrogate Simply Food employer: Marks & Spencer
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Assistant - Cafe - Oatlands Harrogate Simply Food
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on M&S and their café culture. Understanding their values and what makes them tick will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Since this role is all about delivering five-star service, think of examples from your past experiences where you've gone above and beyond for customers. Be ready to share these during your chat!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your digital skills! As being digitally confident is essential, be prepared to discuss how you've used technology in previous roles. Whether it's taking orders or managing stock, let them know you're up to speed with the tools they'll use.
✨Tip Number 4
Flexibility is key! Be ready to talk about how you handle change and adapt to new situations. Share examples of times when you've had to think on your feet or support your team during busy periods. This will show you're the perfect fit for their fast-paced environment!
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Assistant - Cafe - Oatlands Harrogate Simply Food
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Customer Service: When writing your application, let us know how much you love helping customers. Share any experiences where you went the extra mile to make someone's day better. We want to see that five-star service attitude shine through!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use simple language and avoid jargon. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to understand at a glance.
Highlight Your Teamwork Skills: Since teamwork is key in our café, mention any past experiences where you worked well with others. Whether it was in a busy environment or during a project, show us how you contribute to a positive team culture.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of M&S and its café operations. Familiarise yourself with their products, services, and customer service standards. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've delivered excellent customer service, especially in high-pressure situations. Highlight how you handled challenges while maintaining a positive attitude and ensuring customer satisfaction.
✨Demonstrate Digital Confidence
Since being digitally confident is essential for this role, be ready to discuss your experience with digital tools and applications. You might even want to mention specific instances where you used technology to improve efficiency or enhance customer interactions.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Flexibility
This role requires strong teamwork and adaptability. Be prepared to talk about how you've worked effectively in a team and how you can quickly adjust to changing circumstances. Share examples that illustrate your ability to support colleagues and contribute to a positive work environment.