Post Office customer service assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant subjects include:

• Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
• Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service

Entry requirements:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job through a customer services practitioner intermediate apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

DirectApplication

You'll need a good standard of education with numeracy and literacy skills and good customer service skills to apply for jobs.

You will generally be given Post Office counter training on the job, by your employer.

Many post offices are run as a franchise and are part of shops selling other goods and services. Each franchise will have its own recruitment and selection methods.

You can search for vacancies in Post Office branches on the Post Office recruitment website .

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• persuading and negotiating skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to sell products and services
• good maths skills
• active listening skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to use your initiative
• a desire to help people
• the ability to read English
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• thinking and reasoning skills
• business management skills
• concentration skills
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software

What you'll do:

Post Office customer service assistants help customers in post offices and at counters in shops.

In this role you could:

• meet and greet customers and give a good impression of the Post Office
• sell financial and retail products and services to meet targets
• sell stamps and deal with letters and parcels
• pay out pensions and benefits
• accept bill payments
• deal with vehicle registrations and car tax
• check passport and driving licence applications
• sell travel insurance and foreign currency
• complete admin tasks and follow security rules

Location : You could work at a store.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically demanding.

Salary:

Starter : £15,500
Experienced : £24,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

32 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is weekends on a rota

Career Path:

With experience you could progress to a position in a larger branch, or become an assistant branch manager or branch manager.

You could open up your own Post Office franchise.