Typical full-time salaries for Sales Assistants in the UK range from £20,000 to £26,000, with Bournemouth often around £21,000–£24,000 depending on brand, store size and shift patterns. Hourly rates can sit near National Living Wage plus enhancements for late or weekend shifts; some employers add commission or sales bonuses. Expect rota-based hours with peak periods during school holidays, summer tourism, Black Friday and Christmas. Career pathways commonly move from Sales Assistant to Senior Sales, Supervisor/Team Leader, Assistant Manager and Store Manager, with options to specialise in visual merchandising, stock/operations, customer service, or head-office routes such as buying or customer success. jobwise uses real-time data to highlight higher-paying employers and roles, helping you prioritise applications.

• Customer service and communication: greeting customers, active listening, problem-solving and handling complaints with empathy.
• Sales and product knowledge: upselling, cross-selling, suggesting alternatives and meeting KPIs.
• POS and cash handling: tills, card terminals, refunds, exchanges and basic reconciliation.
• Merchandising and stock: replenishment, visual standards, stock rotation and inventory checks.
• Basic IT and admin: email, handheld devices, click-and-collect processing and order tracking.
• Certifications: Food Hygiene (for grocery/food retail), First Aid (desirable), age-restricted sales training (Challenge 25), health and safety/manual handling; occasional DBS checks for certain environments.
• Transferable skills: hospitality, call-centre or front-of-house experience often maps well—jobwise’s AI can surface these strengths from your CV to boost your match rate.

Upload your CV and jobwise will parse it instantly, mapping your experience to the skills employers ask for—like POS, customer service and merchandising. Use filters for full-time roles, salary, distance and shift patterns; save searches, set job alerts and apply in a few clicks. Our recommendations improve as you engage, so your feed stays relevant and timely.

• Lifestyle and stability: a coastal setting with reliable full-time retail opportunities across town centre and retail parks.
• Local demand: strong seasonal trade from tourism plus steady year-round footfall supports hiring across supermarkets, fashion, health and beauty.
• Smarter search: jobwise’s AI reduces missed opportunities by matching your CV to suitable postings the moment they go live.