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Merchandiser – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Merchandiser in the UK.

Main Duties

A merchandiser has to make sure that products are in stores at the right time and in the right amounts. This may seem just like stock taking, but there is more to it as they have to forecast trends in the future and monitor sales and plan based on this. They will work with the buyer deciding on budgets and how many and what lines are bought.

This is a key role in retail as it can massively affect profits. They have to set the right prices to encourage sales but to maximise income. This is therefore a responsible role and could be stressful if things do not turn out as expected.

They will also deal with suppliers and receive stock ensuring it gets distributed correctly. A merchandiser may also be responsible for planning store layouts and working with display staff to put goods in the correct places to encourage sales.

Working hours would normally be 9-5 Monday to Friday although weekend and evening work may occasionally be necessary. Work is mainly office based although there may be some travel to visit stores, suppliers or trade fairs. Work tends to be at a head office which is likely to be in a large city or town. Part-time work or temporary work is unlikely.

Expected Salary

Salaries tend to start at £18,000 and can rise to £36,000 with experience.

Pros

Good salary expectations.
Exciting and variable work.
Responsible position which could lead to other exciting roles.

Cons

High pressure to increase profits.
A lot of responsibility and so likelihood of stress.
Will need to make unbiased decisions perhaps on the spur of the moment.

Qualifications Required

A degree is necessary and subject is not that important although accountancy, finance, economics, retail management, maths, marketing, business and IT are likely to be more favourable.

An HND may be enough but normally in business, management, operations management, finance or accountancy.

Although not normally necessary, it is possible to get post graduate qualifications in merchandising.

Required Skills
Ability to work under pressureBeing able to work as part of a teamGood arithmetic skills for budget planningGood IT skillsPresentation skills, to report back to senior managersGood knowledge of the retail tradeGood communication skillsClear headed and decisiveCreative with some idea of good design and layouts

  
Purchase Ledger – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Purchase Ledger in the UK.

Main Duties

A purchase ledger deals with the money that a company is paying out. This means that they will have to deal with the invoices, VAT payments, staff expenses and pay out money as required, making sure that they are paying the right amount to the right people.

The job will be an office based job with little opportunity to travel and normal office working hours like 9-5, Monday to Friday. There may be the possibility of flexible hours, part-time or temporary work, depending on the company.

You will need to work with purchase, sales and general ledgers, do bookkeeping and check and then organise payments.

Check supplier statements and process them.

You will also need to organise and file paperwork.

There will be a mix of administration and phone work as well as the mathematical side of the role.
Clients may phone to chase payments and so some time will be spent on the telephone.

Expected Salary

This job would probably pay between £16,000 and £23,000 depending on past experience and qualifications.

Pros

Can lead on to other better paid positions such as supervisory roles or management accountant.
Provides good experience for anyone who enjoys the idea of an office job.

Great for anyone who is a lover of figures and maths, especially arithmetic and would like a job in this area.

Cons

It will be your responsibility for paying people and so if they do not get what they want then you may have to deal with their complaints.

You will be the first port of call for suppliers who have not been paid and so they may take out their frustrations on you.

You need a head for figures which many people do not have.

A responsible job where mistakes could be problematic to the company.

Qualifications Required

You will need GCSE Maths and English.
Bookkeeping experience may be preferred.
IT skills would be a bonus especially Excel, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics and BACS.
Those wanting to progress their career should look to do a Level 1 Association of Accounting Technicians qualification, which will provide basic bookkeeping skills.

Required Skills
A good head for figuresPatience when dealing with frustrated clients and a thick skin to accept criticismGood administration skillsCapable of working well with a teamTime management skills Ability to consistently reach deadlinesConfident computer skillsA good telephone manner

  
It Support Technician – Job Description

Learn more about becoming an IT Support Technician in the UK.

Main Duties

An IT support technicians main duty is to monitor computers and maintain them if they go wrong. They may upgrade the systems and provide new hardware and software solutions supporting one department or a whole company, depending on its size.

Technical knowledge would need to be applied to ensure that all of the computers are running as efficiently as possible.

Problem solving skills are key as computers that need fixing would need the problems to be diagnosed and solved.

The work may involve working directly with the computers or advising the users over the telephone so they can make the fix themselves.

When new software and hardware is installed the technician may need to provide continuous support to help users get used to the new system and to fix any bugs or problems.

The job would usually be based in one office, although it may involve travel to other branches. It is usually within normal office working hours although may involve being on call or doing shift work in some cases.

Expected Salary

A starting salary would be from £17,000 to £26,000 and this could rise to £35,000 with relevant experience and qualifications.

Pros

Great salary prospects.
Many jobs available in this area as all companies have computers that need maintaining.
Lots of different problems to solve or systems to work with so interesting and variable.

Cons

It is necessary to keep skills up to date as IT is an ever changing area. This learning is usually expected to be done in your own time.
Often overtime is expected with no extra pay.

Qualifications Required

HND or degree in business IT, IT, software engineering, computer science or similar.
Knowledge of the systems the company uses such as Microsoft, Linux and/or Cisco.
MCSE, MCSA, MCITP may increase chances of securing a role using Microsoft products and similar postgraduate qualifications for Linux or Cisco are a plus.
Work experience is also useful.

Required Skills
Logical thinking and problem solving skillsAn ability to understand a problem from a customer’s description and then come up with an answer that can be explained to themGood team work skillsAn ability to work well with customers and colleaguesTime management and prioritising skillsGood at learning how software works and remembering this for practical applicationPatience with others and good at explaining thingsAn interest in technology

  
Beauty Therapist – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Beauty Therapist in the UK.

Main Duties

A beauty therapist is responsible for providing face and body treatments for their customers. They help to make them feel less stressed and more confident by improving their appearance and giving them relaxing treatments.

The types of treatments offered include hair removal, nail treatments, massage, eyebrow and eyelash shaping and facials. They may also offer skin and beauty advice and specialised treatments such as electrolysis and tanning.

Beauty therapists may work in health and fitness clubs, spas, airports, hotels, cruise ships, hair salons or holiday resorts. Some are self-employed and may provide services in their home or visit clients in their own home.

Some may be required to book appointments and manage telephone calls.

Selling beauty products is often part of the job too.

Expected Salary

A newly qualified therapist should expect to earn between £10,000 and £13,500 but this can often be supplemented with commission on sales of beauty products. Salary will increase with experience, but managers can earn significantly more.

Pros

A very rewarding job where customers should leave treatments feeling more relaxed and beautiful.
Opportunity for promotion to a salon manager or to run own business if self-motivated.
Lots of possible locations to work from salons to cruise ships so working abroad could be possible.

Cons

Physically demanding as the therapist is always standing and needs energy to give treatments.
Has to always be smiling and friendly as well as polite even if they do not feel like it.
Is responsible for making the customer look and feel good and so could feel high pressure.

Qualifications Required

NVQ/SVQ level 3
Some hands on experience is preferred
Qualifications need to be up to date due to the ever changing treatments in the industry
Additional qualifications that will help include:
BTEC Higher National Diploma in Beauty
CIBTAC
CIDESECO

Required Skills
Need to be professional all of the time and respect their customers privacyNeeds to have high standards of personal hygiene and grooming to make customers feel comfortableHas to have good communication skills and able to put clients at easeHas to be a very good listenerNeed to be good at handling a full schedule and standing up all dayGood time management skills so appointments are on timeNeed to keep up with changes in the beauty business and may need to train to improve skills

  
Security Officer – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Security Officer in the UK.

Main Duties

A security officer’s main duty is to protect property and stock. In an office based role, they would normally work out of hours, to ensure the property is secure. They may be responsible for issuing passes and checking in visitors during office hours. In a retail environment they would work while the shop was open to make sure that items were not stolen.

The security guard may therefore have a variety of roles. They may need to patrol the building and carefully check passes of visitors or issue them. They will need to on the lookout for thieves and be prepared to take appropriate action should they spot any. There may be CCTV cameras and the security officer may have to keep a check on the footage to watch for any suspicious activity and then take appropriate action.

It is possible that the security guard will need to help customers or office workers and so they may have additional duties. There will also be a certain amount of paperwork including reporting of incidents that may need to be passed on to the police.

In most cases there will be a uniform unless there is undercover work. There may be shift work and this could involve anything from early morning starts to late night finishes for retail stores plus nights for those that are open all the time. For office security guards they will be expected to work night and weekend shifts.

Expected Salary

Starting salary is from £12,000 to £15,000 and this can increase to £21,000 after some years of experience.

Pros

Good salary prospects.
Can be interesting work in some positions as you get to meet a lot of people.
You do not need many qualifications.

Cons

There is the chance that the work could be dangerous.
You may need to do shift work which does not suit everyone.

Qualifications Required

A security guard licence from doing an SIA course.
There are no other qualifications required however a basic education and work experience is useful. Showing the ability to handle trouble is useful and so work experience in the armed forces or police work can help.

Required Skills
Good communication skillsAble to work as part of a teamQuick reactionsReport writing skillsAssertive and confident natureHappy using CCTV and similar equipmentPhysically fit and strong

  
Project Manager – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Project Manager in the UK.

Main Duties

A project manager has to manage the resources of a project. This includes the people working on the project as well as any equipment.

They will be responsible for the project being delivered on time and to budget to a high quality. They will use software to help them track the time and budget and break it down in to sections so that it is in more manageable chunks. This software might be Microsoft Project, 24 Seven Office, Omniplan or AtTask.

They will be responsible for writing reports on the project and presenting progress reports. They will have to work together with everyone involved on the project to ensure it is all delivered on time and within budget.

They therefore have to make sure that resources are cheap but work well and so provide good value for money for the project. They will need to closely monitor this, making sure the workforce are reaching their potential as well as checking that any equipment is running properly and items purchased are offering value for money to the project.

Most project managers would be office based and therefore often need to be smartly dressed. Working hours would tend to be 9-5 on weekdays, although overtime is likely at times.

Expected Salary

Salary would tend to start at around £37,500 with the national average being around £50,000. With experience salary can rise up to £72,500.

Pros

Satisfaction of seeing a project completed at a high quality, on time and on budget.
Great for anyone who enjoys being in control.
Varied tasks within the role keep it interesting.

Cons

Can be a lot of pressure to get work completed on time.
If budget is overspent it may cause difficulties.
Needs to be able to resolve any conflicts within the team.

Qualifications Required

A degree is essential and a business or industry related subject would be preferable.
Additional project management qualifications from the Project management Institute.
Several years of relevant work experience in a related field.

Required Skills
Time management and prioritisingAbility to stay calm under pressureAble to work in a team and lead them as appropriateIT skills, usually a specific project management programReport writing and presentationDecision making and judgement skillsGood leadership skills and a well respectedGood industry knowledge where relevantGood financial/budgeting skills.

  
Bank Clerk (Cashier) – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Bank Clerk – Cashier in the UK.

Main Duties

The bank clerk is the person that customers will first meet when they go in to the branch of a bank. They therefore have to be customer focused and able to have a friendly conversation with everyone that comes in. They will need to be confident in all of their duties because they will have to perform them with the customer watching.

The job will involve paying out money, checking statements, processing payments and transferring money. However, there is also a sales role as bank clerks are expected to be able to offer customers other financial products.

Working hours will tend to be 9-5 and possibly Saturday mornings as well. You will be required to wear a uniform and will be desk based most of the time. There are sometimes part-time positions or even shift jobs in customer service centres.

Expected Salary

The basic salary would be around £14,000 but this would increase up to around £27,000. There may be bonuses available linked to the profits made by the bank as well. There could also be opportunities to get discounts on financial products such as loans, pensions and mortgages.

Pros

Getting to meet new customers every day helps to keep the job interesting.
Great for anyone who loves to chat to people.
Not too many qualifications are required but the starting salary is reasonable.

Cons

The pressure of having to sell products to customers as well as remaining helpful and polite.
Many banks do not have that many staff so you need to be quick and efficient and remain calm when there could be a long queue.
There is a chance that some customers will have problems that they want to discuss and they could get emotional or angry as money can be a very serious matter.

Qualifications Required

School leavers with four GCSE’s at A-C including English and Maths are required.
A friendly personality is essential and so this will be more important than any more qualifications. Training is offered on the job where you will be taught about the bank and the products that it offers.
In most cases where there will be the opportunity to earn NVQ/SVQ in customer service and providing financial service at level 2 and 3. There is also a professional diploma in financial services management which anyone looking to advance in role.

Required Skills
Friendly personality, relaxed and chattyAbility to work under pressureSales skillsIT and numeracy skillsAttention to detail

  
Finance Assistant – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Finance Assistant in the UK.

Main Duties

A finance assistant will normally work for the accounting department of a company doing administration work. They may be answering the phone and email, meeting clients and doing some bookkeeping. The may need to open and respond to mail, type reports and they may check the work of colleagues too. Being an assistant, they will have to respond to the needs of their team and help out wherever required.

The may be responsible for making appointments and communicating between departments. They may have to do filing and record keeping as well as other typing duties. They may need to reconcile accounts, process invoices and payments and deal with petty cash. They may even have to write business plans and analyse accounts type data producing reports on their findings. They will work as part of a team.

Work is normally office based and so smart business dress would normally be expected, especially if the role involved meeting clients. Work would normally be 9-5, Monday to Friday although there may be a need for overtime at the end of the financial year. There may be part-time or shared roles in some companies.

Expected Salary

The average salary is £19,000 but it would start lower especially for those who have less qualifications. Location and industry would be an influence on salary too.

Pros

Easy working hours and reasonable pay.
Opportunity to move through the company using the administration skills gained.
Could be the opportunity for in house training towards accounting certificates.

Cons

Could be high pressured at end of financial year.
Have to ensure that calculations are completely accurate

Qualifications Required

Qualifications required depends on the amount of responsibility the position expected. A degree may not be necessary, but work in an accounts role might be.
A graduate role would expect applicants to not only have a degree but to have further ACCA certification or equivalent to work in this field. Even non graduate applicant may be expected to have an ACCA qualification or at least to be working towards one.
A masters in accounting, finance, economics, maths or statistics would help.

Required Skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a teamHead for figuresGood organisational skillsGood at prioritising and sticking to deadlinesGood communication skillsIT skills specifically ledgers, spread sheets and journalsAccounting skills

  
IT Consultant – Job Description

Learn more about becoming an IT Consultant in the UK.

Main Duties

An IT Consultant will work with clients to help them to install and use their information technology in the best way to meet their business needs. They may have to replace the systems that are in place, in order to improve things or just make changes to what is there.

They may be brought it to guide decisions with regards to the installation of new IT equipment. They may then be expected to support that environment, setting it up and making sure that it runs efficiently, providing user support where necessary.

Consultants may be independent contractors or they may work for a company that outsources their staff to customer sites. This means that they will be working closely with customers and will therefore need good communication skills, polite and friendly approach and a smart appearance.
There may be some sales duties, encouraging customers to make more use of their company’s services as well as highly technical role.

Jobs tend to be office based and in normal office hours although unpaid overtime is often expected so that deadlines are met. Formal dress will normally be necessary. Work will also have to be done to keep skills up to date, that will not be paid.

Expected Salary

Salary does vary depending on location, role and experience, but averages at £43,000.

Pros

Good salary prospects and a lot of available vacancies.
Interesting work where the job will change a lot keeping things interesting.

Cons

Lots of competition for the best jobs.
Can be stressful and hard work.
Working hours can be long and overtime is unlikely to be paid.

Qualifications Required

All graduates have a chance of entering this profession but a relevant degree is a big plus and so information systems, computer science, mathematics, engineering or similar areas will be preferred. At least a 2:1 would be needed if the degree is not in a relevant area and an interest in IT would need to be proved.

Although a Masters degree is by no means necessary it can help to improve chance of employment, especially for those with a less relevant first degree.

Work experience, such as internships or volunteer work, will help.

Required Skills
Communication skillsAbility to work as part of a teamProblem solving skillsAble to quickly learn new thingsCustomer service skillsTime management and prioritisation skillsFlexible and confident

  
Dental Nurse – Job Description

Learn more about becoming a Dental Nurse in the UK.

Main Duties

A dental nurse supports the dentist in all of their duties. They will need to get instruments ready for them, prepare filling material and help the patient to feel happy and comfortable. They will update patient records, sterilize instruments and keep the surgery tidy.

During treatment they will be working beside the dentist responding immediately to their requests to prepare the patient for x-rays or other treatment, getting instruments and materials ready and doing anything else required of them.

A dental nurse may be expected to do some reception work, such as taking appointments, checking in patients, sorting paperwork, taking payments and meeting patients.

They may have to collect patients from the waiting room, when it is time for their appointment and show them the way to the dental surgery.

Dental nurses are employed in private and NHS practices as well as hospitals and by the army.
Working hours would normally be 8.30-5.30 Monday to Friday with possible Saturday and evening work where required.

A uniform would need to be worn, which would be chosen by the employer.

Expected Salary

Starting salary would normally be £18,000 to £21,000 but lower for those working in the army.

Pros

Great job satisfaction from seeing patients happy with treatment that they have received and knowing that the treatment is helping them to keep their mouth healthy.

Working closely with others as part of a team of people who are likely to be friendly as they need this approach for working with their patients.

Opportunity to move up and become a dental hygienist or therapist if required.

Cons

Have to deal with people who may not have good mouth hygiene and still remain polite and friendly.

Have to work well under pressure to make sure appointment times are kept to as well as possible.
Possible health effects of working with x-rays.

Qualifications Required

NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing or NVQ/VRQ/QCF level 3 in Dental Nursing or as a trainee dental nurse to be working towards this qualification.
Registration with the General Dental Council.

Required Skills
Friendly and positive approachGood customer facing skillsResponsible attitudeGood co-ordination and dexterity skillsAbility to work under pressureAble to support nervous patients and put them at easeHappy to work under instruction from the dentist and the rest of the dental team