Overview
Dis-Chem Pharmacies, South Africa’s leading retail pharmacy group, is currently seeking a Casual Merchandiser to join their vibrant Waverley Store in Pretoria. This opportunity is ideal for energetic, detail-oriented individuals who take pride in maintaining high visual merchandising standards and delivering exceptional in-store customer experiences.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that all products are properly stocked, displayed, and rotated in line with Dis-Chem’s operational procedures and marketing guidelines. Merchandisers are the driving force behind the company’s visual identity — maintaining store appeal, ensuring accurate product pricing and labeling, and keeping displays attractive and fully replenished. This position also demands excellent customer service, as Merchandisers frequently assist customers with product inquiries, stock availability, and in-store navigation. Joining Dis-Chem means becoming part of a trusted South African brand known for its professionalism, people development, and commitment to excellence.
Minimum Requirements
- Essential:
- Grade 12 / Matric qualification.
- Up to 6 months’ retail experience (preferably in merchandising).
- Basic computer literacy (MS Office).
- Willingness and ability to work retail hours, weekends, and public holidays.
- Advantageous:
- At least 1 year of retail or merchandising experience.
- Knowledge of FMCG product placement and planogram standards.
Key Competencies and Skills
- Strong command of the English language (verbal and written).
- Presentable, trustworthy, and customer-oriented.
- Excellent time management and organization skills.
- Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
- Attention to detail with a proactive attitude.
- Basic understanding of stock rotation and merchandising principles.
- Physically fit and able to lift or move stock boxes safely.
- Bilingual proficiency and knowledge of FMCG trends (advantageous).
Responsibilities
- Restock merchandise regularly to maintain full shelves and drive sales.
- Ensure stock from deliveries or storerooms is packed correctly and on time.
- Monitor product expiry dates and ensure rotation (FIFO principle).
- Report stock shortages, damages, and discrepancies to management promptly.
- Maintain visual standards, ensuring displays are tidy, well-labeled, and priced accurately.
- Build and maintain promotional and seasonal merchandising displays.
- Assist with inventory counting, general stocktaking, and product organization.
- Keep the storeroom and display areas neat, safe, and compliant with health and safety policies.
- Flatten boxes, manage waste, and follow all SOPs for merchandising and safety.
- Provide helpful, friendly, and professional customer service on the shop floor.
- Assist in the onboarding or training of new merchandising staff when needed.
- Uphold Dis-Chem’s values of integrity, service, and continuous improvement at all times.
Important Notes
Only successful applicants will be contacted. If you do not receive feedback within two weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. Dis-Chem is an equal opportunity employer. Employment Equity and Transformation goals will be applied as per Dis-Chem’s policy. The company actively supports the inclusion of People with Disabilities.
🧾 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 Casual Merchandiser Job in Pretoria position at Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited 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_Casual Merchandiser Job in Pretoria_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 detail-oriented Merchandiser with hands-on experience in maintaining store displays, restocking shelves, and providing exceptional customer service in a high-paced retail environment. Adept at executing planograms, monitoring stock rotation, and maintaining store aesthetics according to brand standards. Skilled in identifying out-of-stock items, managing stock discrepancies, and ensuring accurate labeling and pricing for customer satisfaction. Demonstrates excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, with a strong ability to multitask under pressure while maintaining quality and accuracy.
I pride myself on my strong sense of responsibility, efficiency, and commitment to excellence in all aspects of retail operations. Through dedication to professionalism and service delivery, I consistently uphold company values while contributing to a clean, organized, and customer-focused shopping experience. I am eager to leverage my skills in merchandising, inventory management, and customer service to add value to any reputable retail organization.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates can apply via the Dis-Chem Pharmacies Careers Portal before 18 November 2025. Ensure your CV is updated and includes relevant experience and contactable references. Applications submitted via email will not be considered.
