WHSmiths

Advantages: Fairly average wage, good discount rate (for now)
Disadvantages: You really do have to work for your money, till work primarily

WHSmiths is well known in the UK for their prolonged success in the high street, as well as for theirinnovative advertising strategies, but what's it like on the inside? Being an employee of WHSmiths has it's pros and cons like all jobs, and I intend to show you all of them that I am aware of. ***First off, how much do you get payed?*** Well I expect this is the question on most people's minds right now, it's better than the minimum wage, but don't ...
...rest of your time there. At the moment the pay for a trainee is £4.20 per hour, and in my experience there is no set time for leaving your trainee status behind sadly. For me it was a few months, and then you get upgraded to the standard pay of £4.72 per hour. Rumor has it that the people in charge of the pay rises are organising another one up to £5.00 per hour ready for sometime this September/October time. There is the possibility to get more ... Read review

Advantages: Good work experince
Disadvantages: Long hours, Poor breaks, Crap pay, Poor Management, Rude customers

I had been given a Christmas Temp job for Christmas 2006 which had my contracted for 2 months work. Firstly, to get a job at WH Smith its like any other, you can go in and hand your CVs in around the times of year staff are most needed, Christmas, Summer etc or you can fill out an application form. I got a call and the group interview went well and i ended up getting the job. **First day** On my first day i recieved little training, just the basics ...
...else, and if you shop at smiths you will know that there is coupons, giftcards, book tokens, etc and as i was thrust onto the tills at a busy period on my first day i did not have a clue what to do, my training lasted barely longer than 20m. I was placed on the CD counter yet my first customers wanted to pay with discount coupons and return items, i had no training on how to undertake these requests which was a hinderence and slowed things down. ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere and easy to learn.
Disadvantages: No till training when on work experience

I am currently doing work experience at Smiths and am enjoying it. The staff are friendly and easy to get on with. The manager is just as nice. Most of the customers are nice but you get a few bad ones but I just smile and bare it. Because I haven't been till trained I have to get my collegue to serve them which sometimes annoys the customer. I taught myself how to do cash and card payments as the till is touch screen. Then I was told I can't use ... Read review