The Best Cashier Skills for Your Resume

Cashiers are found at every type of in-person retail store, from supermarkets to food service establishments. If there’s a sale or a purchase to be handled, you’ll find a cashier.

Cashiers need a variety of hard and soft skills to succeed at their jobs. Show you have these key cashier skills on your resume to show employers you’re equipped to fill that position.

Example of a cashier resume with relevant skills

Here’s a great cashier resume with all the relevant hard and soft skills bolded for you to reference:

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Skills for your cashier resume

Use our AI-powered skills generator to find skills for your resume.

Or, read on to learn the best hard and soft skills employers are looking for when hiring cashiers:

Best hard skills for cashiers

Hard skills are the abilities you pick up through experience or training, such as operating point-of-sale systems, adherence to company policies, and knowledge of store layout, departments, and products.

1. Math skills

As a cashier, you’ll constantly work with money and numbers, so mention your math and cash-handling skills on your resume.

Working as a cashier, you may encounter situations where you’ll be asked to

• Split payment between two or more credit cards
• Make change for customers in specific denominations
• Calculate coupons in percentages and dollar amounts
• Count your drawer at shift change and reconcile any discrepancies to match final count
• Calculate the total of a purchase before tax
• Provide quick calcuations to stay below a certain amount
• Collect payments and receipts
• Scan coupons and promotion codes

Although cash registers often automatically do the calculations, you may still need to do calculations or memorize prices.

2. Adherence to company policies and procedures

Another hard skills that will be required is your ability to adhere to company policies and procedures.

No matter if you work at a grocery store, a pharmacy, a food-service establishment, or an entertainment venue, you may need to:

• follow age verification protocols for restricted items like alcohol, tobacco, certain medications, or entertainment with strict age limits
• properly handle coupon stacking situations based on store policy – for example, knowing if a store coupon can be combined with a manufacturer’s coupon
• follow specific cash handling procedures like having bills over $50 verified by a manager and keeping no more than $200 in the drawer at any time
• implement return policy guidelines correctly – such as requiring receipt for returns within 30 days and manager approval for returns over $50
• follow opening/closing procedures precisely – counting drawer with supervisor present, securing cash in appropriate locations, completing required documentation at shift changes

If you can demonstrate your ability to follow established procedures like these it’ll communicate to employers that you’ll be easy to onboard as a new cashier.

3. Product knowledge

Cashiers need to have enough knowledge of store products to confidently assist customers with their purchase decisions at the checkout.

Since sales, promotions, and changes in inventory happen regularly, cashiers need to stay updated and informed to best serve customers.

Examples of cashier product knowledge include:

• knowing the key features and benefits of popular items in the store
• understanding product locations
• being able to answer customer questions about ingredients, sizes, compatibility, or usage of specific products
• identifying sale items, and providing basic information about product warranties or return policies
• which products are on pomotion or on sale
• which products are best to cross-sell with others

4. Physical stamina

A cashier’s physical stamina is primarily demonstrated by their ability to stand for extended periods, perform repetitive motions like scanning items and handling cash, lift small to moderate weights occasionally, and remain alert and focused throughout a shift.

Specific examples of physical stamina required for a cashier role include:

• repetitive hand movements such as scanning items, handling cash, and operating a point-of-sale system
• occasionally lifting bags of merchandise or heavy change trays
• bending and reaching for items on lower shelves or bending to pick up dropped merchandise may be required
• mental focus and concentration while handling transactions, dealing with customers, and managing cash accurately

5. Knowledge of point-of-sale systems and cash registers

A cashier needs to demonstrate experience with using point-of-sale (POS) systems and cash registers in order to process sales and keep business moving efficiently.

Here are some examples of a cashier’s responsibilities using POS systems and cash registers:

• accurately scanning items with a barcode scanner
• processing different payment methods (cash, credit card, debit card)
• applying discounts and coupons
• managing the cash drawer, generating receipts, handling returns
• navigating the POS system to access customer information or inventory levels
• entering item quantities and prices manually if needed
• selecting the correct payment type and processing transactions
• opening and closing the cash register drawer
• printing receipts
• utilizing loyalty programs or rewards points
• applying promotional codes or discounts
• handling returns and exchanges
• checking inventory levels through the POS system
• resolving customer payment issues
• accessing different screens and menus on the POS system
• searching for items by product name or code
• understanding error messages and troubleshooting basic issues

If you have specific examples of cashier POS system knowledge like these, be sure to add them to your cashier resume, like this:

6. Familiarity with returns, refunds, and exchanges

Returns, refunds, and exchanges help maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty, and even improve your brand’s reputation. At the very least, they provide valuable feedback for product or service improvements.

Knowing how to smoothly process returns, refunds, and exchanges will make you an asset to any in-person retail store.

7. Store layout knowledge

No matter the size of the establishment you work at, a cashier will need some familiarity with store layout to better help with:

• customer assistance and inquiries
• locating a specific product, aisle, or section
• inventory management and restocking
• identifying potential shoplifting situations

8. Packaging and gift-wrapping purchases

Not all stores offer gift-wrapping services, but knowing how to package purchased items carefully will always make your cashier resume stand out.

Here’s how to highlight your efficiency and care when packaging groceries or other items:

9. Cleaning and organizing

Keeping a store clean and organized is vital for both efficiency and customer satisfaction. When cashiers find themselves in a less busy period at the store, they typically engage in several activities to stay productive and prepare for when business picks up.

Be sure to mention your experience with:

• tidying up the cash register and organizing receipts
• ensuring all supplies like bags, change, coupons, and receipt paper are stocked
• cleaning your work area, including wiping down surfaces and ensuring the checkout area is presentable
• Mopping and sweeping the floor (when needed)

10. Speed and efficiency

Employers value cashiers that can work quickly to help customers make purchases.

As a cashier you need to prioritize:

• minimizing wait times in line
• maintaining smooth store operations
• processing transactions rapidly
• accurately handling money and following proper procedures

Best soft skills for cashiers

Soft skills are non-technical skills that describe how you work and interact with others, such as patience, teamwork, and adaptability. They are often developed though experience, rather than formal education.

1. People skills

People skills are one example of soft skills — positive personality traits like being polite, empathetic, and being respectful when interacting with others.

Because cashiers work directly with customers, hiring managers seek friendly, welcoming, and personable applicants.

If you can greet customers and colleagues warmly, make small talk with customers, and say goodbye, these small gestures are all traits of an excellent cashier with strong people skills.

Here are some other interpersonal skills you might be able to add to your resume:

• Patience
• Teamwork
• Conversation skills
• Charisma
• Flexibility

2. Customer service skills

Having excellent customer service skills is critical for cashiers.

Employers seek cashiers who speak respectfully to customers and create a friendly environment. Cashiers greet customers, answer inquiries on the phone and in-person, explain product information, and direct customers to what they’re looking for, in order to ensure they have a positive in-store experience.

Here are some more customer service-oriented skills:

• Confidence
• Active listening
• Public speaking
• Strong memory
• Helpfulness
• Tactfulness

3. Communicating sales and promotions

Because you have to interact with hundreds of customers every shift, communication skills are a must-have. During checkout, a cashier can talk to customers about loyalty programs and/or upcoming promotions and events happening at the store.

Show on your resume you’ve made yourself familiar with products, promotions, and customers’ preferences and needs, and that you can also make personalized recommendations and sell more.

4. Time management skills

A cashier needs strong time management skills to balance customer service with operational speed.

Here are a few key reasons why cashiers should emphasize time management on their resume:

• Multitasking – cashiers frequently need to scan items, handle cash, provide change, and interact with customers all at once, requiring the ability to prioritize and switch between tasks quickly
• Meeting deadlines – maintaining a steady flow of customers means adhering to expected transaction times to prevent build-up at the register
• Customer satisfaction – efficiently processing transactions contributes to customer satisfaction by minimizing wait times
• Peak hours – during busy periods, good time management becomes even more crucial to handle a high volume of customers effectively

Use these resume keywords to showcase your excellent time management skills:

• Accountability
• Agility
• Delegation
• Initiative
• Logical thinking

5. Dependability

Cashiers operate the cash register and conduct transactions, so hiring managers need to see you’re honest and dependable.

Showing up to your shift on time and ready to work is another essential duty of a good cashier.

“Punctual,” “reliable,” and “trustworthy” are words you can use to positively describe yourself in your skills section to showcase your dependability.

6. Problem solving skills

To deal with problems or emergencies as a cashier, you need to think fast and come up with solutions.

Whether you’re handling complicated customer inquiries, broken merchandise, or technical issues, you must work well under pressure and de-escalate difficult situations.

If your experience includes being proactive when helping someone resolve an issue, or seeking out information to fix a difficult situation, list problem solving skills on your resume.

7. Organizational skills

Employers look for organized cashiers who can keep their workstations tidy, shelve merchandise, and keep the store neat, so mention that you’re organized and won’t misplace documents such as purchase orders, inventory lists, and store receipts.

Here are some organizational skills you can mention:

• Attention to detail
• Self-motivation
• Coordination
• Focus

3 tips for adding skills to your cashier resume

Follow these tips to properly showcase your cashier skills on your resume:

The best resume templates for 2025

One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

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Use hard numbers throughout your resume

Hard numbers give employers clarity about how many customers you served or how long it took you to complete tasks.

Here’s an example of a cashier using hard numbers in their resume work experience section:

• Greeted and directed 400+ moviegoers daily to their correct theater screens across a 16-screen multiplex
• Processed over 600 concession transactions during peak 6-hour periods on Marvel movie premiere nights
• Won “Concession Star of the Month” by successfully upselling combo deals and promotional movie merchandise, resulting in $2,500 in additional revenue during summer blockbuster season

Use keywords in your cashier resume

Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter applicants, so make sure your resume can make it past this software by using the exact cashier skills and duties they’re looking for. Do this by scouring job adverts for keywords and adding these keywords to your resume.

Write a cashier cover letter

If you’re looking for more ways to show employers your best job skills, add a cashier cover letter along with your application.

A cover letter shows initiative and employers appreciate the effort you put into explaining your cashier qualifications.

Additional skills-related resources

Here are additional skills-related resources to help you write your cashier resume.

• How to write a resume skills section
• Skills to put on a resume
• Best soft skills for your resume
• Skills-based resumes
• Transferable skills
• In-demand job skills
• Hard skills
• Technical skills
• Hard skills vs soft skills
• Is a skills section necessary on a resume?
• How many skills should you list on a resume?