All 15 cashier interview questions
Cash handling
- 1.Walk me through how you count back change to a customer who pays $20 for a $13.47 purchase.
- 2.Your drawer is $10 short at the end of your shift. What do you do?
- 3.A customer hands you a $100 bill and it feels different from the others. What do you do?
- 4.How do you make sure you do not make the same mistake twice on a register?
Customer service
- 5.Tell me about a time a customer was angry with you. What happened, and what did you do?
- 6.A customer says an item rang up at the wrong price, and the line behind them is long. What do you do?
- 7.How do you greet a customer when you have been on the register for six hours?
- 8.A customer wants to return an item without a receipt, and store policy says no. How do you handle it?
Speed under pressure
Reliability and honesty
Watch: 12 cashier interview questions, answered
A 13:46 video from Prepare by Goodfit. For each question you hear what the interviewer is checking, a weak answer, a strong answer and its score.
- 0:00Intro
- 0:47How do you count back change?
- 1:50Your drawer is short. What do you do?
- 2:53A payment feels different from the others
- 3:59Tell me about an angry customer
- 5:07Wrong price and a long line
- 6:10Staying friendly six hours in
- 7:11Quick pause
- 7:23Keeping a long line moving
- 8:21Your busiest shift
- 9:23A customer interrupts mid-sale
- 10:26A mistake you made
- 11:26A coworker gives a friend a discount
- 12:25Getting to work on time
- 13:20What to practice tonight
What a good cashier does on a shift
A cashier spends most of a shift on their feet at a register, scanning items, taking cash, cards and phone payments, and counting change back. At the start and end of the shift they count their drawer, and the total has to match the sales report. Most stores allow a gap of a dollar or two at most.
Between customers they bag items, check IDs for alcohol and tobacco, process returns and price checks, and keep the counter clean. On a busy Saturday a cashier can serve more than 200 customers. The good ones keep the line moving and still greet each person, and they call a manager before a problem turns into an argument.
Turnover is high in this job, so the cost of a bad hire is mostly time: a new cashier who quits in week two means another round of interviews. That is why reliability questions matter as much as cash questions.
| Skill | Why it matters for this job |
|---|---|
| Cash handling | Every shift ends with a drawer count. Small mistakes add up, and repeated shortages are the top reason cashiers are let go. |
| Customer service | The cashier is the last person a shopper talks to. One rude exchange can undo a good visit. |
| Speed under pressure | Lines peak at lunch, after work and on weekends. A slow cashier backs up the whole front of the store. |
| Reliability and honesty | Cashiers handle money alone and their shifts are hard to cover at short notice. Late or no-show hires cost the most. |
Knockout questions to ask first
Ask these before the interview, on the application form or in the first minute of a call. A clear no on any of them means the job will not work, however good the interview is.
| Question | What counts as a pass |
|---|---|
| Can you work the shifts on this posting, including weekends and holidays? | Yes, or a clear answer about which of the listed shifts they can work. |
| This job means standing at a register for most of a shift. Can you do that, with or without a reasonable accommodation? | Yes. Ask it in exactly these words so it stays about the job, not a health condition. |
| Are you 18 or older? (Ask only if your state requires it to sell alcohol or tobacco at your store.) | Meets your state’s minimum age for the products the role sells. |
| Are you legally allowed to work in the United States? | Yes. You check documents later, on the I-9 form, after the offer. |
Cashier interview questions and answers, by skill
Each question says why to ask it, what a strong answer sounds like, what should worry you and one follow-up question. Ask every applicant the same questions in the same order, and score each skill with the scorecard below.
Cash handling
Every shift ends with a drawer count. Small mistakes add up, and repeated shortages are the top reason cashiers are let go.
1. Walk me through how you count back change to a customer who pays $20 for a $13.47 purchase.
- Why ask it
- It shows whether they have a real method. People who count back out loud make fewer mistakes and catch quick-change scams.
- A strong answer
- “I would say the total, put the $20 on the drawer ledge until the change is done, then count up from $13.47: three pennies makes $13.50, two quarters makes $14, then a dollar and a five makes $20. I hand it over in that order so the customer can follow.”
- Red flag
- Just reads the number off the register screen and grabs coins, or puts the $20 straight in the drawer.
- Follow-up
- Why keep the customer’s bill on the ledge until you are done?
2. Your drawer is $10 short at the end of your shift. What do you do?
- Why ask it
- Shortages happen. You want someone who reports them and looks for the cause, not someone who hides them.
- A strong answer
- “I would recount the drawer once, then tell my manager before leaving. I would think back through the shift, like a large bill or a return I did by hand. If I could not find it, I would ask what the store’s policy is and how to avoid it next time.”
- Red flag
- Says they would cover it from their own pocket or "it is only ten dollars". Both hide the problem.
- Follow-up
- Has that happened to you? What did you find?
3. A customer hands you a $100 bill and it feels different from the others. What do you do?
- Why ask it
- Tests whether they know the store will have a counterfeit check and whether they handle it without accusing the customer.
- A strong answer
- “I would check it with the pen or the light we use, and look for the security strip. If it still looked wrong, I would not hand it back or accuse anyone. I would call my manager over quietly and follow what the store does.”
- Red flag
- Would tell the customer it is fake in front of the line, or accept it to avoid a scene.
- Follow-up
- What would you say to the customer while you wait for the manager?
4. How do you make sure you do not make the same mistake twice on a register?
- Why ask it
- Accuracy comes from habits. Good cashiers can name theirs.
- A strong answer
- “When I made a mistake with a coupon at my last job, I wrote down the rule on a sticky note by my register for a week. I also ask for the total out loud before I take payment, so the customer catches any wrong price.”
- Red flag
- Says they never make mistakes.
- Follow-up
- What is the most common mistake you have seen new cashiers make?
Customer service
The cashier is the last person a shopper talks to. One rude exchange can undo a good visit.
5. Tell me about a time a customer was angry with you. What happened, and what did you do?
- Why ask it
- Past behavior is the best guide. You want a real story with a calm first step.
- A strong answer
- “At the movie theater I worked at, a man was angry his card was charged twice. I said sorry it happened and showed him the receipt that had one charge. I explained a pending charge can show twice for a day, and I wrote the manager’s number on the receipt in case it did not clear. He left calm.”
- Red flag
- Can not give an example, or the story ends with them winning the argument.
- Follow-up
- Looking back, would you do anything differently?
6. A customer says an item rang up at the wrong price, and the line behind them is long. What do you do?
- Why ask it
- Shows how they balance one customer against the rest of the line, and whether they know the usual price check routine.
- A strong answer
- “I would ask where they saw the price and call for a price check. If the store lets cashiers do it, I would set that item aside and keep ringing so the line moves. If the shelf price is right, we honor it.”
- Red flag
- Argues that the register is always right.
- Follow-up
- What if the price check takes ten minutes?
7. How do you greet a customer when you have been on the register for six hours?
- Why ask it
- Friendliness is easy for the first hour. You want someone who keeps it up.
- A strong answer
- “I make eye contact and say hi before I start scanning, every time. When I am tired I pick something small to say, like asking if they found everything. It helps me as much as them.”
- Red flag
- "I just scan. People want to get out quickly."
- Follow-up
- What do you do on your break to reset?
8. A customer wants to return an item without a receipt, and store policy says no. How do you handle it?
- Why ask it
- Tests whether they follow policy without being cold, and know when to bring in a manager.
- A strong answer
- “I would explain the policy plainly and say sorry. Then I would check if there is anything I can offer, like looking up the purchase with their card or calling a manager to see if store credit is possible. I would not make up an exception myself.”
- Red flag
- Would do the return anyway to keep the customer happy.
- Follow-up
- What if the customer starts raising their voice?
Speed under pressure
Lines peak at lunch, after work and on weekends. A slow cashier backs up the whole front of the store.
9. The line is ten people deep and your manager is busy. How do you keep it moving?
- Why ask it
- Shows whether they have practical habits for rush periods.
- A strong answer
- “I keep bags open, scan with one hand and bag with the other, and ask for payment while I scan the last few items. If someone has a problem that will take a while, I ask them to step aside for a moment and call for help, so the rest of the line keeps going.”
- Red flag
- Says they would ignore the line and take their time.
- Follow-up
- How do you know when to call for another register to open?
10. Tell me about the busiest shift you have worked. How did you get through it?
- Why ask it
- A real story tells you more than a promise to work fast. Any busy job counts: food service, events, babysitting several kids.
- A strong answer
- “Black Friday at a shoe store. We had a line out the door for three hours. I focused on one customer at a time, kept my area stocked with bags before it got bad, and took my break when my lead told me to, even though I wanted to skip it.”
- Red flag
- Has never been busy and can not imagine what it would be like.
- Follow-up
- What did you learn about yourself that day?
11. You are ringing up a customer and another customer interrupts to ask where something is. What do you do?
- Why ask it
- Multitasking without being rude to either person is daily work for a cashier.
- A strong answer
- “I would say, "Give me one second and I will help you," finish the current transaction step, then point them to the aisle or call someone on the floor. The person at my register comes first.”
- Red flag
- Leaves the register to walk the second customer to the aisle.
- Follow-up
- What if it happens five times in an hour?
Reliability and honesty
Cashiers handle money alone and their shifts are hard to cover at short notice. Late or no-show hires cost the most.
12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work or school. What did you do about it?
- Why ask it
- People who own small mistakes are the ones who report a short drawer.
- A strong answer
- “I once gave a customer the wrong change, five dollars too much. I noticed when I counted my drawer. I told my manager right away, and we added a rule to count large bills twice. Nobody likes saying it, but it was better than her finding out.”
- Red flag
- Says they can not think of any mistakes, or blames someone else.
- Follow-up
- How did your manager react?
13. You see a coworker give a friend a discount they should not get. What do you do?
- Why ask it
- Cashiers handle money in front of each other. This tests whether they will report problems.
- A strong answer
- “I would not call it out in front of the customer. After, I would tell my manager what I saw. It is not my place to decide what happens, but keeping quiet makes it my problem too.”
- Red flag
- "I would mind my own business."
- Follow-up
- What if the coworker was your friend?
14. How have you made sure you get to work on time, every time?
- Why ask it
- Attendance is the biggest predictor of whether an hourly hire works out.
- A strong answer
- “I plan my bus so I get there 15 minutes early, and I have a backup ride with my sister if the bus is late. At my last job I missed one shift in a year, and I called in four hours ahead.”
- Red flag
- No plan, or a long list of reasons they were late before.
- Follow-up
- What would make you call out of a shift?
15. Why do you want to work as a cashier here?
- Why ask it
- A specific reason, like the hours, the location or liking the store, predicts staying past the first month.
- A strong answer
- “The hours work with my classes, and I shop here every week so I already know the store. I like jobs where I talk to people all day, and I want to work toward a lead cashier role.”
- Red flag
- "I just need a job." It is honest, but ask what would keep them here.
- Follow-up
- What would make you stay here for a year?
How a Goodfit AI interview asks these
Goodfit can ask these questions for you. It calls each applicant or sends a browser link, asks follow-up questions, and scores each skill out of 10 with the line the score came from. Here is a short scripted example for this role.
Scripted example · Cashier · phone interview
Goodfit AI interviewerYour drawer is ten dollars short at the end of a shift. What do you do?
JordanI would count it again first. If it is still short, I tell my supervisor before I clock out and think back to any big bills or returns.
Goodfit AI interviewerHas that happened to you before?
JordanOnce, at the pharmacy. It was a twenty I gave as change for a ten. Since then I keep the customer’s bill on the ledge until I finish counting.
JJordan
Cashier · AI phone interview, 6:12
7.8 /10
- Cash handling9/10
“I keep the customer’s bill on the ledge until I finish counting.”
- Reliability and honesty8/10
“I tell my supervisor before I clock out.”
- Customer service7/10
“I said sorry first, then showed her the receipt.”
- Speed under pressure7/10
“I ask for payment while I scan the last few items.”
Cashier interview scorecard
Score each skill from 1 to 5 right after the interview, before you talk to anyone else about the candidate. A 2 or a 4 means the answer sat between the two descriptions next to it.
| Skill | 1: weak | 3: fine | 5: strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash handling | Has no method for counting change. Guesses when asked how they would check a drawer. | Counts change back and knows the drawer must balance. Has no habit for catching their own mistakes. | Describes a clear routine: counts back out loud, keeps large bills under the tray, recounts before handing over the drawer. |
| Customer service | Blames customers in their stories or says they would argue back. | Stays polite. Hands every problem to a manager without trying a first step. | Gives a real example of calming someone down, fixing what they could and getting a manager at the right moment. |
| Speed under pressure | Says they get flustered or freeze when it is busy. | Works steadily when it is busy but can not say how they keep pace. | Names habits that keep a line moving, like having bags open and asking for payment while scanning the last items. |
| Reliability and honesty | Vague about past attendance, or treats small rule-bending as normal. | Shows up and follows rules but gives no example of doing so when it was hard. | Gives a specific example of owning a mistake, reporting a problem or covering a shift. |
10-minute cashier phone screen script
| Minutes | Step | What to say or do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Say hello and set the plan | "Thanks for applying to the cashier role at our Main Street store. This call takes about ten minutes. I will ask about your availability, a few questions about working a register, and then answer yours." |
| 1 to 3 | Check the knockout questions | Ask the four pass/fail questions above. If any one is a clear no, thank them, explain the reason and end the call kindly. |
| 3 to 7 | Ask three interview questions | Use one from each of cash handling, customer service and reliability. The drawer that is $10 short, the angry customer and the getting-to-work-on-time questions work well by phone. |
| 7 to 9 | Share the job details | Pay, shift times, where to park, the dress code and when training starts. Saying it now stops no-shows on day one. |
| 9 to 10 | Answer their questions and give next steps | "Do you have any questions for me? We will let you know by Thursday. If it is a yes, the next step is a short in-person interview." |
A two-minute change test
Give three sums on paper or on screen: $20 for $13.47, $50 for $31.18 and $10.25 for $5.25. Ask for the change and how they would count it back. Allow a calculator for the first one and not the others.
Most good cashiers get all three in under two minutes. If you have hundreds of applicants, a numerical reasoning test checks the same skill for every one of them.
To test this for every applicant, send the numerical reasoning test with the AI interview. The result sits on the same report.
Questions not to ask in a cashier interview
These questions can break federal or state law, and none of them tell you whether someone can do the job. Rules change by state and city, so check yours before you write an interview guide.
| Do not ask | Why | Ask instead |
|---|---|---|
| Have you ever been arrested? | An arrest is not a conviction. Many states and cities ban asking about criminal history before an offer, and federal EEOC guidance warns against blanket rules. | Tell applicants a background check is part of the process, and run it when your state allows, usually after a conditional offer. |
| Do you have kids? Who watches them when you work? | Questions about family or childcare can lead to discrimination claims, and they do not tell you if someone can work the shift. | Can you work Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm to 10 pm? |
| How much did you make at your last job? | About 20 states and many cities ban asking about pay history, and the list keeps growing. | This role pays $X an hour. Does that work for you? |
| Are you able to stand all day with your back problem? | Asking about a health condition before an offer breaks the Americans with Disabilities Act. | This job means standing for most of a shift. Can you do that, with or without a reasonable accommodation? |
Cashier pay and jobs in the US
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $32,880 a year, about $15.81 an hour |
| People in this job (2025) | 3,106,300 |
| Openings each year (2025 to 2035) | 521,300 |
| Usual education to start | No formal educational credential |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, table 1.2 and the Occupational Outlook Handbook, read October 16, 2026. Most openings come from people leaving the job, not new jobs, which is why hiring for it never stops.
Tips if you are interviewing for a cashier job
- Have one real story ready for each skill above: a time you handled money, an upset person, a rush and a mistake you owned. School, sports and volunteering count if you have not had a job yet.
- Practice counting back change out loud. Interviewers notice when you do it without thinking.
- Know your availability before the call, including weekends and holidays. It is the first thing most stores ask.
- Say why you want this store, not just any job. Mention that you shop there or that the hours fit your life.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common cashier interview questions?
The most common ones ask about counting change, handling an angry customer, your availability, a time you made a mistake and why you want to work at the store. Expect at least one question about what you would do if your drawer was short.
How do I answer "Why should we hire you as a cashier?"
Name two things the store needs and back each with an example. For example: you are careful with money, and you once found a mistake in your drawer and reported it, and you are reliable, and you missed one shift in a year. Keep it under a minute.
What skills does a cashier need?
Accuracy with cash and cards, basic math, patience with customers, speed during rushes, and honesty. Stores also look for people who show up on time, because cashier shifts are hard to cover at short notice.
How long is a cashier interview?
Usually 10 to 20 minutes. Many stores start with a short phone screen about availability, then hold one in-person interview with a manager. Some large chains use an online assessment or an AI phone interview first.
Can I get a cashier job with no experience?
Yes. Most stores train new cashiers. In the interview, use examples from school, sports, volunteering or helping family to show you are reliable, good with people and careful with money.