Customer Assistant - Foods - Exeter

Join our team at M&S as a Customer Assistant in our Foods section, where you'll become a champion of our high-quality products, great value offers, and excellent customer service. We're seeking passionate individuals who take pride in their knowledge of M&S Food products and are excited to share it with our customers.

You'll be a brand ambassador who’s ready to recommend our newest Food products. Through remarkable service you'll make sure our customers feel truly valued every time they shop with us.

• At M&S our customers don't wait, you’ll be ready to roll your sleeves up, work hard and go above and beyond every day.
• Being digitally confident is essential. You'll utilise our digital tools, such as the Sparks App and our in-store devices, to enhance the customer experience and ensure they get the products they want when they need them.
• Being a team player is crucial. You'll take responsibility for creating a great inclusive store environment, supporting and respecting your colleagues and the local community.
• Flexibility is also vital. You should be confident to work effectively across various areas of the store, adapting to the changing demands of the retail environment seamlessly.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve our customers efficiently and brilliantly well – on the shop floor and at service points.
• Deliver ‘best in town’ standards through presentation standards, availability and keeping the store clean and tidy.
• Skilled to utilise all digital tools and communication channels to do the job.
• Share customer and colleague feedback to help us do things better.
• Share knowledge and experience with colleagues to support others in building skill and confidence.
• Own their own learning & development and proactively access digital learning solutions.
• Know the daily sales targets, priorities, promotions & selling opportunities.
• Have great product knowledge to sell and recommend our products and services.
• Proactively engage with customers to understand their needs and make recommendations.
• Understand the store priorities and their part to play.
• Complete tasks with pace and in line with SOPs.
• Minimise cost and waste through good process practice.
• Follow safe and legal working practices.

Key Capabilities

• Understands how M&S operates, its strategy, future and the role they play.
• Committed to delivering excellent work fast with great attention to detail.
• Open to and acts on feedback, asking for this regularly.
• Sets performance objectives for self in conjunction with line manager and in line with business plans.
• Takes accountability for planning and managing own work efficiently to ensure objectives are met.
• Is curious and asks questions to challenge the status quo.
• Effective at communicating their intentions to others; ensures communication is clear and simple.
• In control of their own reactions and considers how to share their perspective to create better reaction for team.
• Copes well with change and work challenges and recovers quickly from its impact.
• Builds positive relationships by being a good listener and getting to know people by establishing a connection.

Technical Skills/Experience

• Contributing to store sales and cost control.
• Work across the store to get things done right first time within timescales.
• Comprehensive knowledge of customer shopping channels.
• Good level of product knowledge and services across the store.
• Up to date knowledge of the commercial operation and brilliant basics.
• Good level of digital capability and use of digital tools and applications.
• Understand customer needs and spot selling opportunities.
• Adapting to change.
• Good Knowledge of VM principles.

Key Relationships and Stakeholders

• Customers
• Colleagues
• Store Leadership
• BIG

We’re a 24/7 business and our working patterns adapt to our customers’ needs. Worklife is our flexible working policy that gives colleagues the option for part-time working, a 4-day compressed week, or to job share if it’s in the best interests of everyone.

Benefits

• Get access to resources to support your wellbeing, including a free virtual GP service.
• Support your favourite charities by donating through your pay or even volunteering for them.
• Earn a competitive salary.
• After completing your probation period, you'll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
• Get cover for twice your salary up to age 70 (double with our Pension Plan).
• We’ll help you save through our Pension Savings Plan, Share Buy and Sharesave schemes.
• Save on everyday costs through discounts and offers and get access to great health benefits.
• Bike/accessory hire with Cycle to Work and save on tax and national insurance.
• Buy the latest technology with interest-free financing directly from your salary.
• Industry-leading maternity, paternity, adoption and neo-natal policies, providing support and flexibility for you and your family.

How to Apply

Here’s what to expect at each stage of the application process. This can change depending on the role you’ve applied to. If you need any reasonable adjustments made at any stage, let us know and we can help.

• Send us your application: Fill in our short application form and hit submit.
• Online assessment: We’ll invite you to take part in an online assessment. This could be before or after your interview.
• In-person assessment centre: We’ll invite you to an in-person assessment centre or an interview. This process may differ depending on the role you’ve applied to.
• Decision: After we’ve decided, we’ll be in touch. If you’ve been successful, we’ll officially invite you to join the team and let you know the next steps.