Whether you’re looking for your first job as a high school student or just in need of some quick cash, working as a cashier is one of the most reliable entry-level positions.
Since cashiers work in almost every kind of re, you have a wide variety of part time and full time options when it comes to the job search. However, many of these positions have unfortunately become more competitive than they used to be owing to an increase in self-checkout technology and online shopping.
To land your preferred cashier position, it’s going to take more than just any old resume. You’ll need a polished application, and that includes a great cover letter.
Luckily, Resume.io’s collection of resume samples, cover letter examples and professional templates with pre-filled sample sentences offer everything you need to knock your application out of the park.
This guide, along with an effective cover-letter example will:
- Explain the purpose of a great application letter in winning your new cashier role
- Walk you through the cover letter format with free examples, writing samples and templates
- Share the secrets of creating a convincing cashier cover letter with no experience
- Help you avoid common pitfalls that can dash your chances of landing the job
But first, if you haven’t perfected your resume, that’s a great place to start. To write the best resume, check out our cashier resume example, resume templates and overall guide on resume writing. Our online resume maker is also a great tool to create a professional resume.
Cashier cover letter sample and general info
The majority of this cashier cover letter example will cover the how of great cover letter writing. But before we dive into the specifics, it’s important to understand the purpose behind this document and its unique advantage in helping you land your preferred cashier position.
While your resume is geared towards skills, employment history and education, it doesn’t leave much room to express your personality or unique characteristics. Cashier positions make great first jobs so it’s likely your resume may be a little thin.
That’s where a great cover letter comes in. This one page document, usually 200 to 400 words, allows you to focus on your personality traits, skills or background. This is your chance to convince an employer to give you a shot, even if you’ve never worked at the cash drawer before.
While good writing is important, your visual presentation also plays a big role in how a hiring manager perceives your application. You should stick with trusted san-serif fonts like Georgia, Helvetica or Arial with the ideal font size of 11 point. For even more specific formatting tips, check out our overall guide on cover letters.
What if the cashier job application DOESN’T require a cover letter?
Sometimes online applications fail to mention a cover letter or list the document as “optional” leaving you in the dark about whether a cover letter is actually necessary.
While some candidates may take the easy way out and try to submit an application without a cover letter, this “shortcut” will probably only prolong their job search. A cover letter is one of the best ways to grab an employer’s attention and convince them you’re the right pick.
That’s why, unless a job posting specifically asks you NOT to write a cover letter, it’s always a smart idea to write and send one.
Secondary purpose
Landing any job, especially in a tough economy, comes down to a lot of preparation, a strategic application and a little bit of luck. Of course, you can never guarantee you’ll land the job interview, but there are steps you can take to significantly increase your chances.
Writing your own cover letter that’s focused and professional is one of them.
You can’t alter the resume experience you already have, but you can draw out the most important and relevant skills to explain why you’re the right choice even with limited experience. Maybe you offered excellent customer service while working at a fast food restaurant. Maybe you mastered point of sale systems as a server. Even skills from volunteer positions can help show you’re a motivated and quick-learning candidate.
The importance of tailoring your cover letter
Writing any cover letter is a start, but you’ll need to go one step further to truly maximize your chances of landing the position.
Tailoring your cover letter helps you show an employer why you’re interested in them. This means choosing specific, precise examples directly related to the position you’re applying for. The job description and company website can help you get a good sense of what is most important to a recruiter.
While tailoring your cover letter to every position you apply for might add a few more minutes onto the process, it’s worth effort to ensure you make a great first impression and give a hiring manager exactly what they’re looking for.
If you're looking for other cover letter samples to guide you, you can click over to our related Retail examples:
Best format for a cashier cover letter
Some job seekers don’t submit a cover letter simply because they don’t understand the purpose or writing process. You can put yourself miles ahead of these applicants just by creating a simple cover letter that addresses your strengths and follows great organization. Here are the key components of a complete cover letter for a cashier position:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The introduction
- The letter body
- The conclusion
- The signature
The great news is that these sections stay relatively consistent between positions or industries. That means that learning to write a great cover letter is a skill that can benefit you for the rest of your career, even if you don’t continue working as a cashier.
For even more detailed writing tips on each of these sections, check out our overall guide on cover letters.
This cashier cover letter example will help you create your own professional application:
Dear Mr. Weatherby,
Having worked as a weekend cashier for the past three years during my studies in Boston, I would like to apply for the part-time role as I continue my education in Seattle. I am studying ancient history, so working as a cashier in your museum shop would be an ideal fit.
I take a pride in sharing my product knowledge with customers. My add-on sales were consistently the highest among the front-end team of seven and I played in active part in deciding the monthly checkout promotional strategy, increasing promotional participation from 12% to 18%. I view chatting with customers as they are waiting to pay as an extension of their museum experience – it is important to be knowledgeable and passionate.
I am a confident user of POS till systems and was also involved with stock keeping software and supplier management systems. There are certain times in the day when a museum shop is quieter, so I would like to add value wherever possible. I took part in the quarterly shop audit and it was often the case that I was trusted to shut the shop after the day’s trading.
- My attention to detail and customer service record speak for themselves:
- Accurately handle 140 transactions per day with an exemplary keying record.
- 100% attendance record and proud to never have refused an overtime request.
- My service excellence mentioned more than any employee in annual CS survey.
I enjoy the friendly atmosphere within a busy museum store and try my best to interact with as many visitors as possible. Even if they are not buying anything, they have still paid to visit the museum and should enjoy their browsing experience.
I would welcome that chance of an interview or trial shift to show how I might fit in.
Sincerely,
Hector Stanton
Cover letter header
Your cover letter header serves two important purposes. The first is to identify your document. Medium and large companies, especially those with multiple locations, tend to hire more cashiers than local businesses. Hiring for these types of positions is usually handled by a large team in a corporate office. Your cover letter header makes sure that no matter who reviews your application, they know who you are and how to contact you. Make sure to limit your header to just the necessary personal data like first and last name, email and phone number.
The second role of your header is to add a touch of attractive formatting to an otherwise plain document. For cashier positions, it’s not usually necessary to go overboard with colors or fancy fonts. A well-structured, simple resume template will do the job.
The goal of this section: Keep your name and contact information at the hiring manager’s fingertips, create clean, yet interesting formatting.
Align document styles!
One of the easiest ways to take your application to the next level is by aligning document styles. This means creating a matching format for your cover letter and resume. You can opt to design the layout yourself, or you can save time and guarantee a professional look by choosing a resume template, like these from Resume.io.
Before you choose a template or format, it’s important to evaluate the branding and image of your prospective employer. For most large companies, a simple template with minimal color and a professional font will do the trick. For more creative companies or small businesses, you may choose a more attention-grabbing cover letter template, as long as it remains appropriate for a cashier position.
Cover letter greeting
Your cover letter greeting may be a short section but it plays a big role in establishing a professional tone for the rest of your cover letter. If at all possible, try to address the cover letter recipient by name. “Dear” followed by the correct salutation and last name tends to work well in most situations. Our cover letter example sticks with "Dear" and you can feel comfortable doing the same.
The goal of this section: Address the letter recipient by name to establish a personal connection and a respectful tone.
The importance of names and addressed greetings
Addressing a cover letter recipient isn’t just sound advice from hiring experts, but it’s actually based on scientific principles about how humans respond to hearing their own names.
Unfortunately, you probably read the above paragraph and thought, “That’s great, but how am I ever going to find the name of the hiring manager at this huge chain I’m applying to?”
Unfortunately, for medium and large companies hiring is often left purposefully obscure. If the information isn’t listed on the job application and the company has more than one or two locations, hiring will likely be handled by a corporate team.
You still have options, however. Instead of using the outdated and cold “To Whom It May Concern,” try using a collective noun like “Hiring Team” or even “Family” if the company’s branding is warm and sentimental.
Cover letter introduction
Your introduction is the best chance you have at grabbing a hiring manager’s attention and encouraging them to read the rest of your letter. For a cashier position, it’s best to cut to the chase: start with a related fact, relevant skill or anecdotal evidence of your abilities. Keep this section short so that a recruiter arrives at the body section before they even know it.
The goal of this section: Use an interesting fact, anecdote or relevant skill to draw a hiring manager into your letter and encourage them to keep reading into the body section.
Having worked as a weekend cashier for the past three years during my studies in Boston, I would like to apply for the part-time role as I continue my education in Seattle. I am studying ancient history, so working as a cashier in your museum shop would be an ideal fit.
Cover letter body (middle part)
You’ve finally arrived at the body section which will make up the bulk of your cover letter. The goal here is to give concrete examples of your skills and show why you’ll make a great team player, even if you’ve never worked a cash register before. Breaking your body section into two smaller sections can help out.
First, use the STAR method to describe previous accomplishments. Briefly describe a Situation, the Task, your Action and the positive Result it created. Make sure to choose your examples based on the situations you’re most likely to encounter in your potential position.
In the second paragraph you can discuss your strengths and describe potential contributions to your new employer.
The goal of this section: Use the STAR method to give examples of how you perform in similar positions, offer potential contributions and expand on your skills.
I am a confident user of POS till systems and was also involved with stock keeping software and supplier management systems. There are certain times in the day when a museum shop is quieter, so I would like to add value wherever possible. I took part in the quarterly shop audit and it was often the case that I was trusted to shut the shop after the day’s trading.
How to close a cashier cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
You’re almost there! All that’s left is to knock your conclusion out of the park. You can do that by creating a Call to Action. This sentence expresses your interest and enthusiasm for the position and invites a hiring manager to get in touch. You can also leave your phone number and email again here.
Then finish your letter with a respectful signature. “Best regards,” “Thank you for your consideration” and “Sincerely” can all work well.
The goal of this section: Create an effective Call to Action and close out your letter with a polite and positive signature.
I would welcome that chance of an interview or trial shift to show how I might fit in.
Sincerely,
Hector Stanton
Application letter for cashier with no experience – tips and strategies
For a cashier position, there are a few key qualities you’ll want to convey in your cover letter:
- Customer service skills: Most retail store or grocery store positions are all about customer service. Make sure you convey a friendly demeanor, positive attitude and ability to resolve conflicts through both the tone and examples in your cover letter.
- Teamwork: Cashiers need to be able to follow managers’ instructions and work well alongside other employees. Show the ways you are both an effective leader and follower through specific cover letter examples.
- Accuracy: Cashiers’ primary role is to facilitate customer transactions and that means handling money with trustworthiness and accuracy. The best way to show you abilities is by highlighting other cashier positions or your comfort with POS systems.
- Efficiency: Cashiers often work busy holidays, weekends and evenings. When customers are impatiently waiting in line, you’ll need to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Concrete numbers from past roles can help you illustrate this skill.
How to write an application letter for the post of cashier with no experience
Hiring managers know that cashier positions are great options for students looking for their first job or those in need of quick employment. But that doesn’t mean you won’t need a thoughtful resume and cover letter to land the position.
When you have no direct experience, you’ll want to focus on the personality traits and transferable skills that make you a great candidate. In many cases, an applicant who puts in the effort to create a great cover letter even with limited experience is preferable over an experienced retail worker who isn’t actually invested in the position.
So where can you draw transferable skills from? Consider these bullet point samples:
- Volunteer positions: Working in a nursing home, volunteering at the school front desk or even helping out with a parent’s work can motivate a positive attitude and work ethic.
- School activities: Clubs and other organizations can show a sense of determination, focus and willingness to learn – just make sure to highlight activities that actually have professional value. Purely recreational or social clubs are likely best avoided.
- Babysitting, tutoring and other jobs: These types of “first jobs” might not come with a payslip but they are still valuable experiences to help land a cashier job. Just make sure to tailor them for retail experience. Instead of talking about how you’re great with kids, try to focus on the organizational or time management part of your babysitting job.
- Personality traits: If all else fails, you can always discuss the qualities you have that would make you a great cashier even with no experience. Personality traits like communication skills, teamwork, willingness to learn and a friendly personality are all likely abilities you already possess. Try to give relevant examples of how you would put these traits to work in a cashier position.
The power of specifics
Research has shown that people are more likely to remember information that is specific as opposed to a general idea. If you have even a small amount of customer service or work experience, this is one of the best strategies to incorporate in your cover letter.
Look for numbers, facts or statistics that can help you convey your competence or accomplishments. This could be anything from the number of customers you rang up at your last retail job to the number of event tickets you sold as a club treasurer in your high school. Numbers that convey your responsibility with money can also be useful.
Choosing the right tone
One of the ways a candidate with minimal experience can set themselves apart is by choosing the correct tone of voice for their cover letter. Even if this is your first job, you’ll want to avoid coming across as desperate or timid. Likewise, a candidate with years of experience won’t benefit from the arrogant approach.
A professional candidate should come across as confident in their skills and traits while still eager to learn and enthusiastic for the position. Try using numbers and facts to help prove your abilities rather than making grand statements that are hard to back up. If you’re a student, there’s no harm in asking a trusted adult to help you check the tone of your letter. Or, check out our cashier cover letter example at the top of this page for adaptable sample sentences.
Cashier cover letter format and common mistakes
Some errors can instantly put your cashier cover letter in the no-go pile. Avoid these common mistakes to give your cover letter a fighting chance.
- Typos and grammar mistakes: A professionally written letter goes a long way to prove your credibility and trustworthiness, especially when you have limited experience. Make sure to use spell check or have a friend proofread your application before you submit.
- Unrelated experience: Of course, you can still land a cashier position even if you’ve never worked in a store. In fact, cashiers make one of the best first jobs. But you’ll need to differentiate between experience that shows transferable skills and hobbies and activities that don’t show off any relevant abilities.
- Poor formatting: Some candidates make the mistake of thinking hiring managers won’t care about appearances for your first position. In fact, formatting can help a recruiter determine who is serious about a job. Good formatting or a strong template can significantly increase your chances of landing the job.
- Generic cover letters: While many cashier positions call for the same skillset, a generic cover letter just won’t do. Make sure to adjust each example to the specific needs of the company and their customers. A hiring manager will quickly be able to spot a copy-paste letter and won’t look favorably upon it.
Key takeaways
- A cover letter can significantly increase your chances of landing the job – if you put in the effort to tailor it to each and every position.
- The time-tested cover letter format can help you create great organization and flow while covering all the necessary information.
- If you don’t have any previous retail experience, make sure to focus on transferable skills from other positions with numbers and facts to back up your accomplishments.
- A professional tone will set you ahead of many other candidates. Make sure to strike the right balance with a tone that’s confident while still expressing willingness to learn and work as a team.
- Great formatting is just as important as clear writing. You don’t need to go overboard – a simple template with clean fonts and design elements can give your cover letter a winning advantage.
With resume.io, you can create a perfect cover letter in no time at all. Use our trusted and recruiter-verified tools to land your next interview!
