What Grocery Store Job is Right for You?

The grocery store industry was responsible for 2.4 million wage-and-salary jobs in the US in 2004 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Grocery store employers hire people for a range of jobs from cashiers to managers to seafood department managers to inspectors. Many of these jobs are as different as night and day. When thinking of pursuing a job in a grocery store or supermarket, consider the options that are available to you.

Cashiers: Cashiers are a grocery store employee staple. Not only do cashiers check people out, they also deal with customer issues and can handle a significant amount of money over the course of a shift. Even with the industry’s shift toward self-checkout, the cashiers continue to be in high demand in the grocery store industry.

Demonstrators and Product Promoters: If you have ever gone into a large grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, you may leave feeling like you have had a full meal. That is because many stores have demonstrators and product promoters providing samples of their selections. They often offer a coupon for the food being promoted as well. Some grocery stores will also have samples of wine and alcohol for customers of the legal age limit.

Grocery Store Managers: The larger the grocery store or supermarket, the more complex the job of the manager can be. General managers and operations managers are responsible for the overall operation of the grocery store or supermarket. Typically there are mutiple layers of management, including management trainees and assistant managers and managers of specialty departments.

Specialty Department Managers: With increasing specialization among grocery stores, it is not unusual to see a sushi bar or food court within a grocery store. There are several specialized areas that require dedicated employees within the grocery and supermarket industry. These areas include meat, seafood, produce, bakery, cheese and catering.  Within the constantly maturing grocery and supermarket industry, you can expect that more unique offerings will continue to evolve.

Florists: Most large grocery stores and supermarkets have a floral department. These florists offer premade floral arrangements, plants and decorative items. They also handle custom orders. In some cases, the floral department is actually a “partner” of the grocery store or supermarket, where the partner is given retail space for a revenue share of its sales.

Purchasing Managers: Purchasing managers are responsible for buying of items for resale in the grocery stores. This can be a very challenging job with the responsibility of analyzing trends, estimating the demand for specific items and then negotiating the best possible rates with the suppliers. They are also responsible for maintaining a healthy relationship with the grocery store’s suppliers.

Warehouse/Stockroom Personnel: Behind the scenes in the grocery stores’ warehouse, there are employees doing physical labor to ensure that the grocery store is fully stocked. These employees transfer stock in storage to the sales floor and load and unload delivery trucks.

Grocery Baggers: Baggers or courtesy clerks handle a range of jobs to help customers, including bagging groceries, taking them to customers’ cars and running unpurchased items from the cash register to the shelves.