At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage customers, inspire creativity, and manage store operations as a Retail Sales Assistant.
- Company: The Works is a vibrant retailer dedicated to inspiring reading, learning, and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25% discount, flexible pay access, holiday perks, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Keyholder responsibilities available for those over 18, with training provided.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team where your passion for creativity can shine and make a difference.
- Qualifications: No specific experience required; just bring your enthusiasm and love for helping others!
Job Description
8 hour contract
Why The Works??? 10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies'
We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.You sell the paint that turns someone into an artist. You provide the book that unleashes an inner author. You supply the games that help bring families together. You give someone the puzzle book that reconnects them with a late family member’s memory. You never know who someone will become. So with your passion, and our products, you will help ignite the spark within people, allowing them to unleash their creativity, find new passions, hobbies, or rekindle fond memories. The unseen possibilities are limitless, and it all starts with you.
Our Perks Are 'The Works'- ?? 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
- ?? MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
- ?? Holiday – 28 days including bank holidays, or 33 days including bank holidays for Deputy and Store Managers.
- ?? Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
- ?? Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
- ?? Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
- ?? 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with Retail Trust Charity, who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
- ?? Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs.
- ?? And loads more! – Long service awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work scheme and optional charity giving.
As a Retail Sales Assistant at The Works, you’ll discover that this is not just a job. This is a mission to inspire people to read, learn, create and play!You’ll be the heartbeat of our retail store by greeting customers with a warm smile and helping them leave happy and excited to unlock their imaginations. Your passion and enthusiasm for our brand and products will be contagious and motivating. Our customers will want to return, time and time again for more inspiration and products that satisfy their creative needs.Some of our colleagues are even BookTok influencers or Instagram creatives, crafting their latest shorts or stories with our in-store products - That's super cool with us!
Our CultureThe Works is an awesome place to… well, work! Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly, and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.Our environment is always moving and full of energy, yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations, and our favourite page-turners. Because even superheroes need some downtime to fuel their imaginations!We are one team. You won’t find anyone too proud to roll up their sleeves here, with all hands-on-deck to inspire our customers and support each other.
Skills / Behaviours That Will Set You Apart- Genuine and authentic: Your positivity, creativity, and passion for our brand and products shine through. Talking to people is your superpower, and customers can't resist your helpful recommendations!
- Resilient champion: You can handle the fast-paced retail environment like a boss, juggling busy days, heavy deliveries, and customers with ease. You're the ultimate multitasking hero!
- Stock magician: You tackle the puzzle of sorting, pricing, and merchandising deliveries like a pro! Embrace the boxes; they've got nothing on you!
If you’re over *18, you’ll join as a keyholder. Our Retail Sales Assistants support our Store Management team to keep the stores running like clockwork by opening, closing, and running the store when needed, (holidays, days off, sickness etc), but don’t worry we’ll train you to do this.There are a lot of valuable skills to learn here that will benefit you in the future. You’ll also receive our additional keyholding pay enhancement when holding keys.
*Under 18?
That's cool. If you're under 18, you won't be able to complete keyholding duties just yet, but when you reach your 18th birthday, we'll get you set up for training so that you can earn the additional keyholding pay enhancement when on keyholder duties.
Our PurposeTo inspire reading, learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled
Our ValuesWe are Crafty ?? | We are Caring ?? | We are Can-do ??
We Listen. We CareEach year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.
Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments.At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic ...
Retail Sales Assistant - Temporary Contract in Reading employer: The Works
The Works is an exceptional employer that prioritises creativity, inclusivity, and employee growth. With a supportive work culture, generous benefits including a 25% colleague discount, access to training through the Can-Do Academy, and a commitment to employee well-being, we empower our Retail Sales Assistants to inspire customers while developing their own skills. Join us in a vibrant environment where your passion for reading and creativity can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Sales Assistant - Temporary Contract in Reading
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Sales Assistant - Temporary Contract in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to The Works:Don’t forget to personalise your application for The Works! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Works
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that The Works offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at The Works and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
