You are 23, living in Gqeberha, no degree, and you need a paying job. You see lots of sales jobs but you are scared they are all commission-only scams that leave you with nothing. You want a real entry job that pays a basic.
What will you actually do all day in sales?
It is not just fast talking. Most entry jobs are retail sales assistant. You greet customers, ask what they need, and show where stock is.
You work the till, take cash and cards, and balance at end. You pack shelves. You get a daily target, like 20 airtime. You hear a lot of no. In call centres you get hang-ups. You work weekends and month-end, when shops in Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha and Butterworth are busiest.
Do you need matric or a degree to get in?
No degree needed. Adverts often say matric, but Shoprite, Boxer, Pep, Clicks and Pick n Pay often hire Grade 10 or 11 if your English and maths are okay and you can handle cash. Matric helps your CV pass ATS (Applicant Tracking System), but it is not a hard gate for casual sales.
A Code B licence helps for field sales between Komani, Makhanda and Cathcart. PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) is not needed for sales.
What do employers actually screen for?
Attitude and reliability, not papers. Can you talk to people in English plus isiXhosa or Afrikaans? Will you work Saturday, Sunday and public holidays? Do you have transport so you are not late? Can you handle cash without shortfalls?
Some filters are unfair. You will see “good-looking” or “own car needed” for a mall job in Gqeberha next to a taxi rank. You do not need your own car – a taxi is enough.
Which way into sales is most realistic with no experience?
1) Retail assistant, casual to permanent. Shoprite, Boxer, Pep, Clicks take casuals for month-end and December, then keep reliable ones. See retail jobs guide.
2) Call centre sales with in-house training. Centres in Gqeberha and East London hire Grade 12 and sometimes Grade 11 with strong English. 1-2 weeks training, then basic plus commission.
3) Agency temp promoter. Agency places you for a day or week in Makro or Clicks to push a brand. Daily pay. Good for a quick reference. Must still meet National Minimum Wage.
4) Commission-only field sales. You walk in Hogsback, Butterworth, Mthatha or Cathcart selling fibre. No basic – zero sales means zero pay. You pay taxi and airtime. High risk.
5) Learnership via W&RSETA or SERVICES SETA. W&RSETA (Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority) and SERVICES SETA (Services Sector Education and Training Authority) run Retail Operations NQF 2-3 learnerships. Stipend paid. Spots limited. Check DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training).
Why is retail the safest first step?
Retail gives you a payslip, UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) and a manager reference. UIF ceiling is R17,712 per month, max R177.12 each side. You learn cash handling, targets and showing up.
A six-month reference from Shoprite or Boxer saying “on time, accurate on till” beats a blank CV. From there you move to basic-plus-commission like Clicks or telco store.
What about commission-only jobs that promise R15 000?
Two models. Basic-plus-commission: fixed basic each month plus extra over target. Commission-only: no basic.
Under BCEA (Basic Conditions of Employment Act), even commission jobs must pay at least National Minimum Wage of R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026, about R5,240 on 40-hour week. EPWP (Expanded Public Works Programme) rate is R16.62 per hour – not for private sales.
Ask in writing: Is there a basic? What gross? Travel or airtime paid? If I miss target, do I owe? How commission proved and when paid? If they ask you to pay for training, walk away.
Where are most sales jobs actually advertised?
Most online listings are in metros – Gauteng (Johannesburg, Pretoria), Western Cape (Cape Town), KZN (Durban). Most sales jobs are there.
In Eastern Cape, jobs cluster in East London, Gqeberha and Mthatha. In smaller towns – Komani, Makhanda, Butterworth, Cathcart, Hogsback – entry sales is found by walking in. Go Monday to Wednesday before 11am when managers are free.
What can your first year in sales realistically look like?
This month: Build one-page CV using our CV that beats ATS list. Pitch: “Molo, I am looking for casual sales work. I speak English and isiXhosa, I can work weekends and handle cash.” Apply to 10 shops with one taxi. In Gqeberha try Boxer, Shoprite, Pep. If in Komani or Cathcart, try there.
Months 2-6: Get casual shifts. Learn till and targets. Get one written reference.
Months 7-12: Use reference for basic-plus-commission jobs. Those pay at or just above R30.23 per hour plus small commission. After a year you have one year retail, cash, targets, customer service.
How do you ask about pay without getting blocked?
Ask short on WhatsApp so you have proof: “Basic plus commission or commission-only? What basic gross?” “Does basic meet R30.23/hr?” “Commission rate and when paid?” Check payslip for UIF. Prep for interview questions – see interview dos and donts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a driver’s licence for sales jobs with no degree?
Not for shop jobs. You need Code B for field sales driving between East London, Komani and Mthatha. No licence? Start in-store or call centre, then add licence later.
What should I do if the advert is commission-only and I need a basic?
Say you cannot work without a basic and ask for a retainer that meets R30.23 per hour. If they say no, keep looking for retail casual. R5,240 basic plus small commission beats three weeks with zero. Ignore R15k promises with no written table.
How much tax will I pay on my first sales job?
If you earn under R99,000 per year for 2026/27 tax year (1 March 2026 to 28 Feb 2027), you pay no income tax to SARS (South African Revenue Service) due to primary rebate R17,820 – about R8,250 per month. Most entry retail is under that. You still pay UIF 1%. s198B (Labour Relations Act section 198B) threshold is R269,600.90 per year from 1 May 2026, about R22,466.74 per month – you are under it.
Next step
Today list 10 shops within one taxi of home, print 10 one-page CVs, and visit them before 11am to ask the manager for casual sales assistant work.