For most people who want a job in retail, a convenience store application may not be their first choice. However, if you take a closer look, you may be surprised.
You will find the average hourly pay for a 7-Eleven retail store job is competitive with some retail supermarket chains.
Working at 7-Eleven
People who have worked at 7-Eleven have given this retail chain average reviews on websites such as Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com.
They actually rated working at this convenience store higher overall than working at Dunkin’ Donuts, Walmart, and McDonald’s!
To get a better idea of what it’s like to work at 7-Eleven, here are the pros and cons mentioned in the reviews:
Pros
- You get free lunches in some stores
- Regular customers are very friendly
- You work in a pleasant environment
- Your workdays go by quickly because you are so busy
- Coworkers are helpful and friendly
- The work itself is very easy
Cons
- You work long hours with very few breaks
- The pay is way too low
- Work/life balance can be a challenge
- It can be a very stressful job
- Having to deal with very difficult customers
- Lack of security
- Very little chance of advancement within the company
Is 7-Eleven Hiring?
At the time of this writing, if you visit the official 7-Eleven careers page, it encourages people to apply right now because of so many jobs available.
7-Eleven is currently hiring over 20,000 restaurant store employees because of the increased demand.
Even when this convenience store chain is not conducting mass hirings, chances are there is an available position open for you in your area.
The best thing you can do is visit the careers page and search for jobs in your area. Take the time to visit the stores of your choice to meet with management or any other staff members. After you strike a conversation, inquire about possible job openings.
Jobs at 7-Eleven
The jobs available at 7-Eleven are very simple and straightforward. The company starts out with a store associate who eventually moves onto the job of a senior retail associate.
A senior associate can work hard and prove their worth in order to become an assistant manager. Finally, an assistant manager can eventually be promoted to a store manager position.
7-Eleven Sales Associate
A sales associate, also known as a 7-Eleven cashier, greets customers with a hello and a smile. In this job, you’re expected to keep the store clean and stock merchandise on shelves, and operating the cash register.
You’ll also receive specialized training and learn how to order merchandise and restock the shelves as you gain more experience in the store.
The job does not require much heavy lifting but you are expected to occasionally lift up to 40 to 50 pounds.
This is an entry-level position in most stores. However, those who have a high school or GED and at least one year of cashier experience have an advantage over other applicants.
7-Eleven Senior Sales Associate
A senior sales associate at 7-Eleven performs the functions of a team leader. In this position, you will lead your team of sales associates during your shift.
Only the best sales associates get promoted to this position from within. The most important thing about this job is that you have to provide the absolute best customer service possible.
Another important aspect of this job is you need to lead your team of associates by example.
7-Eleven Assistant Manager
In this highly responsible position also known as an assistant store leader, you will be helping the store manager in many areas of store operations on a daily basis. You can expect the store manager to hand you the duties of scheduling employees.
Additional responsibilities include training new employees and re-training current ones and offering feedback and coaching to your employees.
You will be given specialized training and certification to perform these functions.
The requirements are a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, you need 6 to 9 months of assistant leader experience or a similar combination of experience and education.
7-Eleven Manager
This job puts you in the position where you are completely responsible for the success of your store. You will be making business decisions on a regular basis and you’ll oversee all of your store’s operations.
It is important to be very hands-on with this type of job. You’ll make certain your employees are properly trained and that they are performing at an optimal level.
In this position, it’s important to maintain open communication with your assistant store manager. This will ensure the success and profitability of the store.
You will also be constantly emphasizing the importance of providing excellent customer service to your employees.
How to Apply at 7-Eleven
Many 7-Eleven stores are owned by franchisees which gives you a lot of flexibility in how you can approach getting hired.
The best way to get hired is to visit a franchise-owned store and ask to speak with management about getting hired for a position. Try your best to make a great impression so that you can get your foot in the door.
Management at the store may then tell you to go home and apply online. The advantage you have here is that you’ve already made contact with personnel at the store and you can later follow up after you submit your 7-Eleven application online.
To apply online, follow these steps:
- Visit the official 7-Eleven careers website.
- Click the “Apply Now” button and apply for “Retail Store and Restaurant Careers.”
- Scroll down to the job search boxes and pick and enter your location. Click the “Search” button.
- On the redirected page, pick out a job that interests you, look at the description and click on the “Apply for this job online” button.
- Enter your email and click next, then follow the easy instructions to complete your 7-Eleven application.
7-Eleven Hiring Process
Generally, it’s very easy to get hired at 7-Eleven. If you present yourself well in person, you can apply online and get hired on the very same day or shortly afterward!
However, on average, it takes between 1 day to 2 weeks to get hired. The hiring manager or owner usually calls via telephone.
Once you are hired, 7-Eleven pays you while you attend a two-day training on the computer. The training will teach you everything you need to know about handling money and operating the cash register.
7-Eleven Hiring Age
You must be at least 18 years old to be hired at 7-Eleven. This is due to the most obvious reason, which is the danger factor of working as a cashier and handling money at a convenience store.
Convenience stores are notorious for being easy, soft targets for robberies. That’s not to say that you should automatically be terrified of getting a job at a convenience store.
However, the threat of this occurring is always in the back of employees’ minds because it has occurred in the past. A job in a convenience store is generally regarded as fairly dangerous.
7-Elevens have a system where you can only pull out $50 into the cash register from the safe at any given time. Money gets collected from customers and gets transferred into the safe on a regular basis.
This makes working as a sales associate at 7-Eleven much safer but it does not guarantee everyone’s safety.
Does 7-Eleven Drug Test?
7-Eleven drug tests some applicants, depending on the store owner’s preference. Remember, many 7-Elevens are franchise-owned and every owner has had their own personal experiences with their employees.
Think of it this way; if you owned a 7-Eleven and had to fire an occasional employee because they were using drugs while on duty, wouldn’t you be inclined to drug test just about every applicant you seriously considered for a job?
7-Eleven History
In 1927 Jefferson Green thought it was a good idea to start a convenience store so that people wouldn’t have to travel so far to get everyday items for their homes.
In 1937 Joe C. Thompson Junior, from Southland Ice Company, took the idea a little further and began new convenience stores called “Tote’m” stores.
In 1946 the name Tote’m changed to 7-Eleven because of the new hours from 7 AM to 11 PM, open seven days every week.
7-Eleven now has over 71,000 locations across the globe and employs over 45,000 people.
Benefits
For full-time employees, 7-Eleven offers a comprehensive health benefits plan which includes dental and vision. It also includes a 401(k) plan for employees who have worked at least 90 days at the beginning of their employment.
7-Eleven offers eligible employees paid time off, and short and long-term disability. It also offers an employee assistance program, adoption assistance, and several other perks.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, most people would be put off by the thought of having to work as an associate in a retail convenience store.
After popping the hood and looking at the engine that runs 7-Eleven, it’s plain to see that although this job is not for everybody, many people will find a home working as an associate in this type of retail environment.
The pay is consistent with other retail store jobs, the benefits are comprehensive, and although management jobs don’t pay as high as others, there is room to advance if you work hard.
This is a good retail job for people who want a solid retail career with an established company.
