Overview
Cape Union Mart, a leading South African retailer known for its premium outdoor gear, apparel, and lifestyle products, is offering festive season contract opportunities in Johannesburg North. As one of the most trusted names in the retail industry, Cape Union Mart has built a reputation for delivering exceptional customer service, high-quality products, and unforgettable in-store experiences. This seasonal role is designed for individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments and are eager to gain valuable experience during the busiest shopping period of the year.
The festive contract provides an opportunity for motivated individuals to work in a customer-facing sales environment, develop retail skills, and contribute to a vibrant team culture. Successful candidates will engage directly with customers, assist with sales, maintain visual merchandising standards, and support overall store operations. Beyond retail knowledge, this role emphasizes customer interaction, adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving.
For job seekers, this is an excellent entry point into the retail industry, especially for those looking to build long-term careers within Cape Union Mart International’s family of brands. By joining the team, candidates will gain exposure to professional sales techniques, customer relationship management, and stock control, all while representing a highly respected brand.
Minimum Requirements
- Desirable: 6 months of retail sales experience
- Desirable: Matric or equivalent qualification
- Proficiency in English (essential)
- Clear criminal record (essential)
- Ability to work flexible retail hours, including weekends and holidays
- Friendly, engaging, and confident personality
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
Key Competencies and Skills
- Honesty and trustworthiness when dealing with finances and stock
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
- Customer-centric approach with a service-driven mindset
- Adaptability and innovation in a changing retail environment
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
- Ability to take ownership and responsibility
- Positive attitude and resilience in busy trading periods
Responsibilities
- Provide excellent customer service using effective selling techniques
- Consistently meet and exceed individual sales targets
- Support store operations by adhering to stock loss control procedures
- Maintain housekeeping and uphold visual merchandising standards to enhance the shopping experience
- Identify opportunities to maximize sales and revenue
- Contribute to creating a fun, inspiring, and collaborative team environment
Important Notes
This is a seasonal contract role limited to the festive season. Flexibility to work extended hours, weekends, and public holidays is essential. Cape Union Mart International is committed to diversity, fairness, and equal opportunity.
🧾 ATS-Friendly CV Guide
In today’s digital job market, most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs before human eyes ever see them. These systems are designed to scan documents for keywords, structure, and formatting that align with the job description. An ATS-friendly CV improves your chance of getting past automated filters and landing an interview. Whether you are applying for the Cape Union Mart Festive Sales Johannesburg South position at Cape Union Mart International – Cape Union Mart Division or another opportunity, your CV must speak both to machines and people. This guide walks you through proven strategies to optimize your CV from top to bottom, offering practical examples, formatting tips, and best practices to maximize your success.
1. ✅ CV Structure
- Header: Example — Thabo Khumalo | 0612 74 1234 | [email protected] | Randburg, South Africa.
- Professional Summary: Tailored to the role. E.g., “Motivated customer service agent with 3+ years’ experience in retail and a track record of increasing client satisfaction scores by 25%.”
- Key Skills: Include 6–10 bullet points. E.g., Point of Sale (POS) systems, Inventory control, Conflict resolution, Merchandising, SAP, Microsoft Excel.
- Work Experience: Reverse-chronological. Example:
- Retail Assistant | Bradlows | Jan 2022 – Present
- • Assisted 40+ daily customers with purchases and queries.
- • Maintained 98% shelf availability by overseeing stock rotation.
- Education: Highest level first. E.g., “Diploma in Business Management, UNISA, 2021.”
- Certifications: “Occupational Health and Safety, 2023 (SASSETA)”
- References: “Available upon request” unless stated otherwise in job ad.
2. 🖋️ Typography & Formatting
- Font Choice: Use clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica — ATS systems can misread decorative fonts.
- Font Size: Body text should be 10.5pt–12pt; Headings 14pt–16pt for readability and emphasis.
- Spacing & Margins: Use 1.15–1.5 line spacing. Keep margins at 0.75–1 inch. This ensures text isn’t cramped and is easy to scan.
- Avoid: Tables, columns, headers/footers, text boxes — most ATS software can't interpret them properly.
- File Format: Save your CV as a PDF or DOCX — PDF preserves formatting across devices, DOCX is often required by ATS platforms.
3. ✏️ Content Best Practices
- Mirror Job Language: If the ad says “inventory management,” use that term instead of synonyms like “stock control.”
- Quantify Achievements: Numbers give weight. E.g., “Managed R50,000 monthly inventory with < 2% loss.”
- Tailor for Each Job: Don't send the same CV to every employer. Highlight different skills depending on the job ad.
- Be Clear, Not Clever: Avoid vague buzzwords. Say what you did and how it helped your company.
- Proofread! ATS won't reject for spelling — but hiring managers will. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway.
4. 📷 Photo?
- Photos are discouraged unless required. ATS software can’t read them and they can add bias.
- If required (e.g., acting, modeling), choose a neutral background, natural lighting, and professional attire.
- Ensure file size is small if embedded. Avoid image-heavy CVs as they increase loading time.
5. 🔍 ATS Keyword Optimization Tips
Copy the exact job description and extract nouns and verbs that repeat. For example, for a Retail Assistant post: “customer service,” “cash handling,” “inventory,” “POS,” “stocktaking,” “sales target,” “merchandising,” and “teamwork.”
6. ✅ Dos and ❌ Don’ts of ATS CVs
- ✅ Use job-relevant keywords
- ✅ Keep formatting simple and consistent
- ✅ Quantify wherever possible
- ❌ Don’t include tables or graphics
- ❌ Don’t submit images or logos
- ❌ Don’t use colored or stylized fonts
7. 💾 File Naming & Saving Tips
- Name format: YourName_Cape Union Mart Festive Sales Johannesburg South_CV.pdf
- Save as PDF unless job ad specifies otherwise
- Avoid spaces in filenames: Use underscores instead
- Check file size — keep it under 2MB
8. 🧠 More about ATS
Your CV is the first impression recruiters and ATS software get of you. To pass the ATS filter, you must optimize your CV with clean formatting, appropriate keyword use, and targeted content. Focus on clearly structuring each section: headline, summary, skills, work experience, education, and certifications. Customize the content for every role by mirroring the terminology and phrasing used in the job advert. Quantify achievements wherever possible. Format with simplicity — avoid graphics and stick to standard fonts. Proofreading is non-negotiable: even small typos can disqualify you. Save and name your file properly to avoid compatibility issues. Remember, your CV must be easily readable by both algorithms and humans. By applying the principles in this guide, you will greatly improve your chances of being shortlisted for interviews and finding the right role for your skills.
Professional Summary Example
As a motivated and customer-focused retail professional, I bring proven experience in sales, customer service, and store operations. I am confident in my ability to engage with customers, identify their needs, and deliver tailored solutions that enhance their shopping experience. My background in stock management and visual merchandising enables me to contribute to both operational efficiency and sales growth, ensuring the store meets and exceeds performance targets.
I am adaptable, proactive, and thrive in fast-paced retail environments, particularly during high-volume trading seasons such as the festive period. With strong communication skills and a focus on teamwork, I excel at building relationships with both customers and colleagues. My commitment to professionalism, integrity, and outstanding service aligns strongly with Cape Union Mart’s brand values, making me a valuable asset to any retail team.
📝 How to Apply:
Applicants can apply directly via the Cape Union Mart International careers portal. It is recommended that candidates prepare a well-structured CV highlighting retail experience, customer service achievements, and interpersonal skills.
