Overview
@home Living Space, a premium brand within the Foschini Group’s portfolio, is inviting applications for a Sales Associate (120-hour contract) position at Menlyn Park, Pretoria. This opportunity is ideal for individuals with a passion for home décor, lifestyle products, and creating memorable shopping experiences.
As one of South Africa’s most recognized lifestyle retailers, @home Living Space is known for its curated range of furniture, décor, and homeware. The brand is built on values of excellence, customer-centric service, and innovation in design. By joining this dynamic team, candidates will contribute to delivering a world-class in-store experience while building meaningful customer relationships.
Minimum Requirements
- South African Citizen
- Matric / Grade 12 preferred
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Proven ability to deliver excellent customer service
- Sales-driven mindset with focus on meeting and exceeding targets
- Passion for retail, décor, or fashion (advantageous)
- Availability to work flexible retail hours, including weekends and holidays
- Reliable transport and immediate availability
Key Competencies and Skills
- Strong sales ability and negotiation skills
- Customer-first mindset with problem-solving capability
- Ability to manage pressure in a fast-paced retail environment
- Initiative-driven with a strong work ethic
- Team-oriented with excellent networking skills
- Adaptability to stay updated with décor and fashion trends
- Accuracy, attention to detail, and accountability
Responsibilities
- Act as a brand ambassador, ensuring every customer enjoys an unforgettable shopping experience
- Exceed customer expectations by offering tailored solutions and expert product knowledge
- Proactively track sales performance against store and individual targets
- Engage in upselling and cross-selling across a diverse range of décor and lifestyle products
- Stay informed on the latest décor and fashion trends to better assist customers
- Identify opportunities for new sales and contribute to building customer loyalty
- Ensure timely stock replenishment and maintain store readiness at all times
- Handle customer queries and complaints efficiently and professionally
Important Notes
Candidates who do not receive a response within four weeks should consider their application unsuccessful. Preference will be given, but not limited to, applicants from designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Act.
🧾 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 Menlyn Park Sales Associate Job position at @home Living Space, part of The Foschini Group (TFG) 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_Menlyn Park Sales Associate Job_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 dedicated and enthusiastic retail professional with a proven track record in sales and customer engagement, I bring strong communication skills, resilience under pressure, and a passion for delivering exceptional service. With experience in driving sales performance, handling customer queries effectively, and maintaining store readiness, I excel at creating positive shopping experiences that foster customer loyalty. My ability to adapt quickly to trends, coupled with my initiative and work ethic, positions me as a valuable contributor to any retail team.
With a keen eye for detail and a strong appreciation for décor, lifestyle, and fashion, I pride myself on representing brands with professionalism and authenticity. I am motivated by achieving sales targets while ensuring customer satisfaction remains at the core of every interaction. I aim to leverage my skills to contribute to @home Living Space’s commitment to excellence while advancing my career within one of South Africa’s leading lifestyle retail brands.
📝 How to Apply:
Interested applicants should apply directly via TFG’s careers portal. Candidates are encouraged to highlight relevant retail sales, décor, and customer service experience on their CV to increase the chances of being shortlisted.
