Overview
Cashbuild, one of South Africa’s leading retail hardware and building materials suppliers, is seeking a dedicated and reliable General Assistant for its Diepkloof branch. This opportunity is ideal for hardworking individuals who are passionate about customer service, enjoy working in fast-paced retail environments, and are eager to contribute to a respected national brand.
The General Assistant plays a crucial role in ensuring that customers experience seamless service from the moment they enter the store. This includes maintaining high standards of store presentation, assisting with merchandising, and ensuring stock availability and accurate pricing. As one of South Africa’s largest building material retailers, Cashbuild values integrity, attention to detail, and teamwork — qualities that help uphold the company’s strong reputation for service excellence.
Working at Cashbuild provides valuable experience in retail operations, customer relations, and inventory management. Employees benefit from a structured environment that encourages personal growth, skills development, and professionalism within the retail and construction supply sector.
Minimum Requirements
- Education: Minimum Grade 10 (NQF Level 3) with 1 year of relevant experience OR Grade 12 without experience.
- Languages: Fluent in English and the dominant local language of the area.
- Legal: Valid South African ID or valid work permit.
- Numeracy: Must be able to perform accurate basic calculations.
- Availability: Must be willing to work shifts, weekends, and public holidays.
- Work Environment: Ability to perform under pressure and in physically demanding settings.
Key Competencies and Skills
- Strong customer service orientation and friendly approach.
- Ability to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues.
- Attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills.
- Commitment to health and safety standards (OHSA).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Honest, reliable, and punctual with a strong work ethic.
- Willingness to engage in continuous personal development and learning.
Responsibilities
- Customer Service:
- Assist and advise customers on product selection and availability.
- Resolve customer queries and complaints efficiently.
- Ensure customers are treated with respect, professionalism, and courtesy.
- Merchandising and Housekeeping:
- Ensure stock is safely and neatly merchandised according to store layout and planograms.
- Maintain clean and organized shelves and storage areas.
- Ensure price labels are correct and visible at all times.
- Remove obstacles and maintain a safe environment for customers and colleagues.
- Safety and Compliance:
- Adhere to Occupational Health and Safety (OHSA) requirements.
- Use safety gear and report any safety risks to the Store Manager.
- Ensure racks, bulk stock, and equipment are safe and stable.
- Stock Management:
- Report damaged or missing stock immediately to management.
- Assist in stock rotation, counting, and storage processes.
Important Notes
Cashbuild is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from designated groups, as defined by South Africa’s Employment Equity Act, are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive feedback within two weeks after the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.
🧾 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 Cashbuild General Assistant Vacancy Diepkloof position at Cashbuild South Africa 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_Cashbuild General Assistant Vacancy Diepkloof_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
A motivated and dependable General Assistant with hands-on experience in customer service, merchandising, and retail operations. Skilled at maintaining store presentation, managing stock accuracy, and delivering excellent client support in high-traffic retail environments. Possesses a solid understanding of safety regulations and company protocols, ensuring that all operations run smoothly and efficiently. Adept at assisting customers with product selections, resolving inquiries, and supporting store management with day-to-day operational needs.
Highly organized, energetic, and committed to personal and professional growth. Brings strong teamwork, attention to detail, and time management skills to every task. Dedicated to upholding Cashbuild’s values of integrity, accuracy, and client focus, while fostering a clean, safe, and customer-friendly environment. Ready to contribute to the brand’s continued success through reliability, quality service, and a passion for excellence.
How to Apply:
To apply for the General Assistant – Diepkloof position, visit the official Cashbuild Careers Portal. Ensure that your application includes a complete and up-to-date CV with contact details, references, and your availability for shifts.
