A grocery clerk is a person who works in a small grocery store or large supermarket. Typically, education beyond a high school diploma is not necessary, and many clerks do not yet have a high school diploma, as it is a popular job for teenagers who are still in school. This person may have a few different duties on a day-to-day basis, but it is usually a fairly straightforward job.
Typically, a person who works as a clerk in a grocery store will need to run a cash register and help customers check out with their groceries. He or she will scan the groceries, make sure all of the prices are correct, and carefully put the purchases in bags. The clerk will then ask customers for any coupons or club cards so they can save money on their purchases. Once the order has been entered into the register correctly, the clerk will need to let customers know the total.
The grocery clerk will then accept payment and give correct change. This is the most important part of the clerk's job: to provide good customer service and to correctly maintain a cash drawer. In addition to working with customers at the register, a clerk at a grocery store may also need to answer questions customers may have, or to assist them with returning merchandise or price adjustments. This is more often the job of a customer service clerk, which is usually a type of promotion within the grocery store.
Maintaining the grocery store may also be the responsibility of a clerk, who is sometimes also called a stock clerk. This person is responsible for stocking food on shelves, removing expired products, and making sure that the shelves all look neat and presentable. He or she may also need to sweep and mop the floors at the end of the day and keep the aisles clean. Some clerks are responsible for setting up product displays of new products or ones that are on sale.
Someone who does a good job as a grocery clerk, who always comes to work on time, looks neat and presentable, and provides good customer service, is more likely to be promoted into a customer service or supervisory position. The hours when working in a grocery store are usually not very regular, but this can be beneficial for students. For someone who is interested in pursuing a career in business, working at a grocery store while still in school can be valuable experience.