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how to apply to be a Category Manger (x1) - Junior Level full guide, requirements, skills, qualifications & how to apply


  

Introduction

In this guide we are going to dive into what is need as well as what is required when you  are applying to be a Category Manager in South Africa, we help you cover things like what type of Qualifications are needed for this type of positions, the skills as well & better yet the salary expectations & we take it a step further by showing you how to apply too. 

Pick n Pay stores is looking for jobseekers for a new variety of positions that just opened up for the new year & the new season these positions include a Category Manager, which is a highly regarded role in this industry, we are going to have a deep dive into what this job is & what type of people can be a perfect fit for this, like detailed oriented people would do great I can just see it, as a Category Manager you are essential in the growth & success of a certain product which you'll be responsible for.

In this Guide we go through step by step in what is Needed & what is Wanted when you are applying for this position, we talk about what Qualifications you need, the Skills you have to posses in order to succeed & the Salary of course as well as how to Apply. 

Job Overview

  • This new season Pick n Pay stores are offering a role of Category Manager (CM) to a well & deserving candidate, someone who understands what it is being a Category Manager (CM), of which they understand that being a Category Manger is being responsible for specific product categories, coming up with Marketing Strategies to ensure the products push & do well for the company & this might also mean analyzing trends, you have to keep it all in order

  • Pick n Pay stores are a retail company putting this position in the retail industry, meaning this is one of the busiest industries with the amount of demand & supply that is always required, you have to make sure that everything like your daily roles are always done, with this being an ever changing industry you have to always be up to date with everything.

  • You will be applying for the junior level position which requires to have at least an experience of 3-4 years within this industry, someone who has a good & solid understanding of this role will be at a huge advantage of being way more likely to get accepted for this position, when applying you have to mention that you do possess knowledge on the role that you are applying for. 

  • Pick n Pay is looking for someone who can take up the position of being a Category Manager & this is someone who is required to manager a category of products & ensure that they maximize the revenues growth for the company, your goal as their manager is to make sure that the products that you are responsible for do well & help the company succeed so you are kind of playing an important role well you actually are.

Key Responsibilities

  • Marketing research - Look, you are not just doing any research here, you are looking & trying to understand how the trends are going & how they  are moving so that you are able to tell what products are now going to sell & how well they are going to do if they are even going to do good at all, this is important because you are able to identify what do the consumers what through the research.
  • Pricing Strategies - With the responsibility like managing products that YOU have ensure do well you are also tasked with placing the pricing on products accordingly, using the pricing intentionally to increase or maintain the demand or the product so you have to come up with ways to price everything you have under control.
  • Analyzing product performance - It will be important to understand how well your products are doing & you can use this tip because it helps you have an idea of what is right & wrong, you will be in a good position to know where & how you can improve your product as well as what is needed to increase quality.
  •  Marketing - This is one important key responsibility because this is needed in the retail industry in order to bring the consumers, you will be tasked to do marketing with promos, these promotions will be affective in bringing in more & more people, because we love sales & any chance we get we can accept promos, your role will be to strategize with the marketing team on what products are going on promotions & how everything is going to be run.  

Requirements & Qualifications


  • A Diploma/bachelor's degree in business management is highly required when you are applying for this position, having this or any other degree like in Marketing or Supply chain you are also in a really good position of being a candidate for being a Category Manger at the Pick n Pay stores & not forgetting having a Matric (Grade 12) which is advantageous.

  • Well, it is stated that it is for a junior level position making it a job post for people who have at least 0-1 year of experience in this field & I am not saying be clueless of what you are getting into, they are offering this role to someone who has knowledge of the industry & is still willing to learn & get more understanding on being a Category Manager,  

  • Having technical skills is highly regarded as you possess essentially skills that can help you succeed in the long run like being familiar with a computer, having basic computer skills, being able to do & understand excel which is taught in high schools in South Africa, things that we talked about like analyzing trends require you to have knowledge on these skills 

  • Some people might say these are soft skills but trust me when I say that having them in the retail industry in literally a gold miner, because you are at a higher percentage of having an interaction with someone in order to conduct business & being able to communicate, negotiate or make decisions on the spot then you are , what Pick n Pay stores is looking for, these skills will be essential to you everyday life as a Category manager.

Skills Needed to Succeed in This Role

 Negotiation skills - Trust me when I say that this is a field that you are NEEDED to improve in, a strong negotiator gets deals done & in your role deals with suppliers need to be done & you will have to play a vital role in making that happen, this is to keep things moving, being a strong negotiator gets you a good image on everyone who is a part of the deal & as the manager of products you will have to improve/obtain this skill.

Decision making skills - Being a Category Manager means you are in an important role from the jump & decisions will need to be made no matter what & being able to come to a good decision requires a lot of aspects & planning with many more & your job is to come up with the best decision in order to have the best outcome, you'll have to learn & understand what steps are taken to come up with the best solution & it is not like we can just say whatever we want with these decisions it has to be what is best for the company making it more of an important skill.

Strategic thinking skills - Coming up with strategic plans to implement & get a really good outcome is one of the best skills that you'll need to have for this role, with the amount of steps that need to be taken a good well planned out idea will have a better chance of happening & being more of a success & that takes really good strategic thinking skills to even come up with a plan, you are in meetings where important decisions need to be made & you having an input on those decisions means you have a good strategy.

How to Apply 

Where to find jobs
To find a job at Pick n Pay stores, you need to go to their Pick n Pay stores career portal. You can also check some trusted websites that have job listings, something like us here at Jobconnkted. Sometimes they even put up job ads in their stores.

It is very important to apply for jobs through their official website or other trusted places. This is how you can be sure that the job is real.

2. How to prepare a CV
When you want a job in customer service, you need a CV. Your customer service CV should have your details, what you studied and where you worked before. You should also say what you are good at. Everything should be easy to read and understand. If you do not have any experience, you should say what you can do that is useful, like talking to people, working with others and being on time. Your customer service CV should not be too long; it should be one or two pages, at the most.

3. Cover letter tips
A cover letter is like an introduction to who you are why you are a good fit for the job. It needs to be short, professional and really focused on the Category manager position you are applying for. When you write a cover letter for the job, you should sound excited about the job, talk about what you're good at and say how you have a good understanding & knowledge about the position like we talked about, your experience will matter to them.

4. Interview preparation
When you are getting ready to go to a job interview, you should find out more about the company. What the job is all about. This will help you a lot. You should also think about the kinds of questions you might be asked and practice your answers. It is an idea to wear nice clothes and get to the interview on time. This shows that you are serious about the job. When you are in the interview, just be yourself. Tell the truth. The company wants to hire someone confident and honest, like someone really good at their job, and that is what you should show them, so remember that confidence and honesty are very important during the interview.

5. Avoiding scams
Applicants should be cautious of job scams. Legitimate employers do not ask for payment or personal banking details upfront. Always verify job adverts and apply through official company platforms.

Salary Expectations & Career Growth

  • At an Entry-level salary/Junior level you are earning the minimum because it is a starter wage if you would say, I think this also Soley depends on the experience that you have because as a junior you are just starting out & beginning in the company being a junior category manager you earn R35,000 to R55,000 monthly & this of course may differ on the contract you get of which were you get your exact number/amount.

  • Promotions as a junior manager might easily open up when you are good at your job & you become the number one guy that everyone wants to hire, you are at a good point to get promoted to become a potential Director of the company or a Senior Category Manager, so this career does have room for growth, in the industry as well, because it comes with a large sector so you are in a really good role, it just needs you to work hard & gain that experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When applying ensure that all your documents are clear & visible for anyone who is reading it, double check that all the information that you used is all there & it is all correct, it doesn't hurt to check twice you might have some spelling mistakes that need correction.

Have a clear digital CV that has everything you'll need because most of these companies are now using digital systems to vet applicants & when you apply you present the digital document.

Read ALL the instructions carefully & read to understand what they need, not presenting documents that are required can increase your chances of them not reaching out which will mean you are rejected. 

Beware of scams, As an candidate who is applying for a job you do not need to pay a fee & if a fee is being asked for then its a scam, be careful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

what skills are necessary for this role?

-well, firstly being a good negotiator is a really good skill to have, as well as strong communication skills do come in clutch for you, being able to make good decisions for the team/company & team player skills, someone who can work with different types of people.

how does being a Category Manager help a business grow?

-in all honesty it is clear to say that the Category Managers are a very important part of the business because if you look at it, they are responsible for the growth of the revenue of the company/brand, they increase the sales because of the responsibilities they placed like the pricing strategies or even the promotions that they implement.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. We are not a recruitment agency and do not charge any fees for job applications.

APPLY HERE 

JOB TITLE: Category Manager

COMPANY: Pick n Pay Stores 

LOCATION: Remote 

EXPERIENCE: 1 Year 

SALARY: R5000/Month 

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