How to Find a Cashier's Job In Canada

Cashier's jobs may be one category of the most plentiful jobs to find in North America. This is because of a high turnover rate as well as an increase in Retail and Dining Industries and others connected with Business, Travel, and Tourism in some large metropolitan areas. Turnover is often the result of cashiers that are students who return to high schools and colleges after summer or holiday breaks. Other cashiers of all ages may find more lucrative employment, and cashiers at more advanced ages retire.

Some cashier position may be more stressful than an individual's tolerance will permit and such workers may burn out mentally or physically in that position. Standing at a cashier's station for a full-time shift can be physically stressful, especially standing on concrete flooring and during extreme high traffic business. Some cashiers are required to double as stockers in certain businesses and this requirement can be physically demanding as well. In other establishments, the cashier may be required to perform some janitorial services during down-times.

A few evenings ago, I observed a young coffee shop employee performing triple-duty. Business was winding down for the evening and she was in charge of the drive-thru window. She also jumped in to help the counter person, as needed. Between spurts of customers, she mopped the entire dining area floor efficiently. Thus, cashiering can be a varied and even demanding. Some workers enjoy this and some do not. In some restaurants, the cashier even comes out into the dining area to sing Happy Birthday or a catchy song about a certain advertised menu item when it is ordered. Cashiering offers a range of activities as work, all of which can be interesting and enjoyable. This is particularly true of resort areas, national parks, aboard cruise ships, and within other attractions in Canada.

You may or may not hear a few customers complain about cashiers, especially travelers that are visiting your area for the first time. Kids also get lost and may come in to ask for help and become frightened.

You may have heard:

• Why doesn't anyone know anything anymore?
• Not very friendly!
• Can't get directions in there!
• I couldn't understand what they were saying.

Here's an example of my own - Friends and I were traveling and stopped at a local restaurant a few years ago. We asked where the nearest department store was located and the cashier in her early 20s stared at us, not answering. I asked if there was a Target store nearby and she said that there was not. We thanked her and left. Driving on to our next stop, we found a Target just two blocks into our journey. Why did that person not know what was two blocks away?

The point of the story is to suggest that when you consider becoming a cashier in Canada,

• Think about languages. The Canadia workforce agency (see links below) advises that a cashier may be required to speak either English or French fluently and in certain Canadian cities, both languages. Communication is important to business.
• Learn what major attractions, landmarks, stores, banks, post office, police station, etc. are nearby so you can provide information; and learn how to read a map if you have not done so. Practice with Google Maps - or you may have a GPS on your cellphone and that can be useful. Gas stations once kept a large map of the area pinned to a wall for travelers to reference - few seem to do this anymore.
• Find out what highways are in the area and in what direction from your place of employment, so you can help travelers looking for a highway.
• Stay informed of special events and festivals in the area. If your town has a Visitor's Centre, is is handy to know where it is, because it provides this information and can help your customers.
• Know how to make change, in case the computerized cash register does not flash the change amount on a screen or it breaks down.
• Know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide; and perhaps keep an inexpensive pocket calculator handy. You may have a calculator on your cellphone. Sometime, somewhere, someone will ask you how much 12, 15 or 20% of a dining bill works out in order to leave a tip. It can be a headache.
• If you need help in order to assist a customer, know whom to ask.
• Let your imagination lead to you find other information that will help your customers.

The Canadian labor market information sites in the links section below alert readers to the outlook for the job title Cashier (NOC 6611-D) for the decade 2009 - 2018.

Government analysts think that the total number of cashier job openings will be 51,173 for the 10 years, or an average of 5,117 per year for all of Canada. Analysts also forecast that Canada will have 50,246 job seekers to fill these job vacancies and that 927 openings will not be filled. This is an average 93 jobs left open each year in the decade. This means a worker shortage in cashiers. Further, it indicates a good chance of fining work as a cashier for job seekers that want that position.

During the second half of August 2010, job openings listed as "cashier" on Canada's WOW Jobs employment search engine were located in the following list, according to highest numers of jobs to lowest number of jobs listed. The total of cashier position vacancies across the nation was approximately 1,950 openings. Using Indeed Canada, we found 2,500 cashier positions.

High Demand Locations on Wow Jobs

1. Calgary AB
2. Edmonton AB
3. Toronto ON
4. Ottawa ON
5. Vancouver BC
6. Winnipeg MB
7. Moncton NB
8. Montreal QC
9. London ON

Top Hiring Companies

1. Shoppers Drug Mart
2. Save On Foods
3. Town Shoes
4. Home Depot Canada
5. Pricesmart Foods
6. Sobeys
7. Sport Chek
8. Temp/employment agencies and Newspaper Classified Ads
9. Drake International
10. Services Ultramar
    

1. Customer Service Cashier
2. Restaurant Cashier
3. Pharmacy Technician/Cashier
4. Head Cashier
5. Gas Bar Cashier
6. Front Store Supervisor
7. Food Store Cashier
8. Grocery Store Cashier
9. Retail Store Supervisor
10. Cafeteria Cashier
11. Supermarket Cashier
12. Cashier Supervisor

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Additional cities that offer larger markets for cahsier jobs are found on the job search enginge Indeed Canada. These are cities needing cashiers that did not appear on the Canadian job search engine WOW Jobs. These additional cities are several in the Province of British Columbua (see the West Coast map below) and in the east, Quebec and Montreal QC (see second map below).