Retail assistant requires managing money, helping customers to the best of your ability, being vigilant of theft and handling in a professional manner, utilising time correctly to ensure efficiency. A Retail assistant must think fast in problem solving or resolving complaints to ensure the predicament does not escalate. you must be able to work well with other store assistants and lead certain situations when required. You must be able to train new employees to work at their full potential and with full knowledge of their job requirements. Retail assistants must be able to handle money and use general mathematics. Most importantly, you must be friendly and approachable for all customers and employees to create a comfortable work environment.

Job Role: This role was based in a contact centre for a stockbroker. I would be required to provide customers with shareholder information about the stock markets. Some work was based on the telephone and through Outlook email. As a customer service representative, I was required to meet deadlines, hit targets and use time efficiently. The role required me to meet financial industry standards, set out by the financial conduct authority. This included handling complaints, resolving problems by deadlines and reporting issues such as CASS breaches. The role has helped me to develop many skills such as IT skills, expand my knowledge in the finance industry and adapt my time management skills to be more efficient.

As the team leader I was responsible for a team of staff based in Manchester as well as managing payroll and time sheets for all staff in UK outlets. This involves collecting the paper-based time sheets from all stores and breaking the data down into a spreadsheet suitable for the finance department. I have interviewed applicants for positions in Oxford Street, London and Glasgow, and have also represented the UK branches on trips to places as far as head office in Turkey. I also must organise rotas for the many stands across the country, for example adjusting rotas when staff members were on holiday.

Jobs Role: As Cabin crew we had a variety of roles, we had to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. We were trained in immediate first aid such as CPR, childbirth, defibrillation, cuts and fractures. We were also trained in security measures such as how to restrain disruptive passengers, how to resolve a situation before it would get out of control, and how to look out for the signs of a potential disruptive passenger. Security measures also included what to do in the event of a bomb threat, hijacking, and hostage situations. The training provided contributed to the safety of passengers and crew and also contributed to helping others outside of Monarch Airlines. We also were trained in World Host, which contributes to customer service such as exceeding customers’ expectations, going above and beyond, and greeting guests with a warm and welcoming approach.

Job Role: Being a Team member at Premier Inn involved working as part of a team, as well as working independently. In the restaurant you would have to work as a team to liaise with each other to ensure that the customer’s needs are met, such as informing the kitchen if a customer had a specific allergy or dietary requirement. Working behind the bar and on reception was independent work as I was on my own dealing with customers’ requests and resolving problems, such as complaints, or taking drink orders.