Overview
Old Khaki, a proudly South African fashion and lifestyle brand under Cape Union Mart International, is offering a festive season contract opportunity for enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about customer service and retail. Located in Johannesburg North, this role is ideal for candidates looking to gain hands-on retail experience during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
The position focuses on delivering exceptional customer experiences, driving sales, and supporting store operations during the high-demand festive season. Successful candidates will assist with sales, stock control, and visual merchandising while ensuring customers enjoy a seamless shopping journey. Old Khaki is well-known for its relaxed, authentic, and stylish apparel, and the brand thrives on creating an environment where both employees and customers feel inspired.
By joining the Old Khaki team, candidates not only gain valuable seasonal employment but also position themselves for potential long-term career opportunities within Cape Union Mart International’s family of lifestyle brands. This is more than just a short-term job — it is an entry point into the dynamic retail world, offering exposure to customer relationship management, sales techniques, and brand representation in a high-performance environment.
Minimum Requirements
- Desirable: 6 months retail experience
- Desirable: Matric or equivalent qualification
- Proficiency in English (essential)
- Clear criminal record (essential)
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to engage with customers in a confident and friendly manner
Key Competencies and Skills
- Customer service excellence
- Honesty and reliability when handling cash and finances
- Adaptability in a fast-paced retail environment
- Building and maintaining positive relationships
- Strong problem-solving and innovation skills
- Ownership and accountability
- Confidence and a helpful attitude
Responsibilities
- Deliver exceptional customer service using effective selling techniques
- Consistently achieve and exceed individual sales targets
- Support store stock management and adhere to loss control policies
- Maintain a clean, organized, and visually appealing store environment
- Identify sales opportunities to maximize revenue
- Contribute to a positive, inspiring workplace culture
Important Notes
This is a seasonal contract role limited to the festive season. Flexibility to work retail hours, including weekends and public holidays, is required. Old Khaki values honesty, professionalism, and adaptability in all employees.
🧾 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 Old Khaki Festive Sales Assistant Johannesburg North position at Cape Union Mart International – Old Khaki 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_Old Khaki Festive Sales Assistant Johannesburg North_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 retail professional with a strong customer service background, I bring experience in sales support, stock management, and visual merchandising. My ability to connect with customers, understand their needs, and provide tailored solutions has consistently enabled me to exceed sales targets and contribute positively to team success. I am confident, approachable, and dedicated to delivering a professional and enjoyable shopping experience for every customer.
I am highly adaptable and thrive in fast-paced retail environments, especially during peak festive trading periods. With strong interpersonal communication skills and attention to detail, I excel in building lasting customer relationships and supporting brand loyalty. My proactive attitude, reliability, and alignment with Old Khaki’s customer-focused values make me a strong candidate for seasonal and long-term retail opportunities.
📝 How to Apply:
Interested candidates can apply via the Cape Union Mart International careers portal. Applicants are encouraged to submit an updated CV that highlights customer service, retail sales achievements, and interpersonal skills.
