Cashiers assist customers in purchasing items and take cash in exchange for items sold. They process cash, credit, and check transactions and that is why they need to be experts in mathematical calculations.
Also, they are required to provide excellent customer service since they are in direct contact with customers at all times – especially in retail environments.
A cashier’s job does not end at handling cash; more often than not, they will be required to assist customers in choosing products and also provide them with product information, and in some instances, demonstrate product features.
For obvious reasons, employers prefer to hire people who have physical stamina and excellent interpersonal and calculation skills. This may be difficult to gauge especially when everyone is at their best behavior during an interview.
However, if you have a look at the following interview questions (and answers that you would like to hear), you may be able to choose a good candidate for this position.
Related: Cashier Resume
27 Possible Interview Questions and Answers for Cashier Position
1. What is your previous experience working as a cashier?
I have worked as a cashier in both retail and hospitality environments over the last 10 years. While most of the cashiering work is similar, auxiliary work varies. For instance, you have to act as a sales associate in a retail environment and sometimes as a food service worker in a hospitality environment. With exposure to these environments, I can handle both.
2. What specific skills do you think cashiers need in order to work well within this role?
Cashiers have to possess great attention to detail, along with exceptional knowledge of processing payments – both cash and credit card. Additionally, they need to be customer service-oriented and know the industry that they are specifically working for so that they can do justice to additional work duties that they are entrusted with.
3. Why would you want to make cashiering a career?
I am good with both cash handling and customer service. Since these two aspects of a cashier’s work are the most important, I excel in this role.
4. What do you deem the most important aspect of a cashier’s work?
Good customer service is the most important aspect of any cashier’s work. Since they work at the front end, creating a good impression of the establishment they are working for is extremely important. On the other hand, proper cash handling and cash balancing are equally important.
5. Tell us of a particularly difficult situation that you handled involving the customer.
At Macy’s, a customer got quite angry when he assumed that he did not get excellent customer service. He got very upset and asked to see a supervisor. I apologized but did not offer too much of an explanation of my error as I somehow gauged he was too upset to listen to me. I called my supervisor before the situation got out of hand.
6. How do you think you will be a good fit for our company?
Quite well, actually! I have worked in the retail arena before and can safely say that I am comfortable with most of its demands.
7. Do you have any experience with cash balancing and amounts reconciliation?
Yes. In fact, it was part of my duty at my previous workplace. I performed cash and records balancing daily before closing.
8. What strategies do you use to remain focused on a repetitive task for consecutive 7-8 hours?
I take a short 3-5 minute break after every hour and also deal with customers in between receiving cash for purchases which breaks the monotony. This enables me to carry out the core cashiering tasks especially hard cash handling effectively, in a focused manner.
9. Why do you think customer service skills are essential for a cashier?
Since the cashier deals with the public and represents the company or the store, customer dealing skills are a must.
10. How would you define excellent customer service?
Excellent customer service begins with greeting the clients and assisting them in finding what they are looking for. Providing detailed information regarding the products they are interested in along with specifications and prices is the most important component of excellent customer service.
11. What steps do you take when you find out that physical cash does not tally with the records?
First, I recount the physical cash. If the difference persists, I check the records. The error is almost always somewhere on the cashier’s table. The key to cash balancing is not panicking and checking vigilantly for the discrepancy.
12. Differentiate between discount and rebate?
Discounts are given at the time of purchase while rebates are given after the purchase has been made. Once the customer has paid the full amount, they are refunded the rebate amount after some documentation. Discounts and rebates, both imply that the customer has to pay less than the actual price for the merchandise bought.
13. State three traits you possess that you think are your major strengths as a cashier?
Numeracy skills, customer service-oriented attitude, and cash balancing expertise.
14. What is the most recent skill you have developed as a cashier?
I have recently attended a two-day workshop on cashiering in which I perfected my credit card payment processing and verification skills.
15. If the receipt is 19.45 and the customer gives you a hundred dollars bill, what would be the change?
80.55 (take your time if you need it, but produce the correct reply)
16. Tell us about a problem you faced as a cashier and how you overcame it?
It was the annual closing when I had worked only two weeks at my first job. While balancing the cash there was a major discrepancy that just wouldn’t resolve. I solved the problem by conveying it effectively to the management, taking guidance, following instructions, and remaining calm. On checking and rechecking several times, I found the wrong entry. I perform balancing daily ever since.
17. What experience do you have in processing noncash transactions?
I have handled all forms of non-cash transactions including credit cards, vouchers, check payments and online amount transfers.
18. What do you know about retail work associated with a cashier’s position?
As I mentioned earlier, I have been actively involved in working as a first contact individual within a retail environment. Apart from greeting customers and processing their requests, I have been involved in inventory management and shelf stocking activities as well.
19. Why does a cashier have to be customer service-oriented even if they have less contact with customers?
Cashiers are actually quite involved with customers. Even if it is just processing payments, it is important to be polite and accommodating as the last impression that a customer leaves with, plays a great role in them returning or not.
20. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where were stumped because of a cashiering error?
There was a time when the cash drawer that I was handling would not tally. For 4 hours, I tried everything that I could to figure out why this was so, all in vain. Then, a coworker (also a cashier) walked over to me and apologized, saying that he was running short of a change in his cash drawer so he “borrowed” change from mine, while I was away on my break.
21. A situation such as this must be quite annoying and alarming. What did you do to make sure that it does not transpire again?
To be honest, I was probably at fault. I should have locked down my station before I left. This wouldn’t have happened then.
22. As far as a store’s promotional activities are concerned, how active have you been?
During promotional activities, I assist marketing and merchandising teams by providing assistance in setting up displays, banners, and promotional merchandise. I also indulge in suggestive selling activities while performing cashiering services, to increase revenue.
23. Tell us of a time when you had to deal with a demanding customer. How did you handle the situation?
One of our regulars complained that he had not been tendered his change. I was quite sure that I had given him the change but he was adamant and got aggressive. My supervisor was called in and there was a lot of checking and balancing. All my accounts were straight so the supervisor asked the customer to check again. He got antsy again and delved into his back pocket to take his cell phone out to call the authorities – and discovered that he had accidentally put the change I gave to him in his back pocket!
24. As far as cash station lockdown activities are concerned, what is your specific experience?
At the end of my shift, I make sure that I perform lockdown activities. This includes balancing the drawer, ensuring that all receipts are present, and handling any discrepancies that may transpire.
25. What auxiliary cashiering services have you performed in the past?
Apart from processing cash and debit/credit card payments, I am experienced in handling returns, refunds, and exchanges and redeeming coupons and stamps as well.
26. If you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to work as a cashier, bagger and a sales associate all together, how would you handle it?
While challenging, I am sure this is doable. I would make sure that I pick my pace up and respond to customers in an individual manner. I will of course recognize my limitations – handling more than one customer in a situation like this may not be too feasible.
27. What is your general reaction when faced with an adverse situation, especially when you are not in such a good mood yourself?
I practice restraint. Even if I am not in the best of moods, I will keep my peace when dealing with irate customers or untoward situations.