Bookseller

You may have an advantage when looking for work if you've completed a qualification at university, like a higher national diploma or a degree. Employers will accept any subject, although some may prefer English, humanities or the arts.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You can learn some of the skills you need for this job by doing a:

• Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Retail Skills
• Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills Sales Professional

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can get into this job through a retailer intermediate apprenticeship or a retail team leader advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths. Retail, customer service or publishing experience will also be helpful.

You'll need a broad range of reading interests and an enthusiasm for books.

You may need a particular qualification or understanding of a certain book type for some specialist bookshops. For example, an in-depth knowledge of comic art for a shop that sells graphic novels, or a background in classic literature for rare book sales.

Career tips

You'll need sound business skills and a good grasp of the publishing and bookselling industry, if you're looking to open your own bookshop.

Further information

You can find more advice about bookselling and setting up your own business through the Booksellers Association.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Your day-to-day duties might include:

• serving customers – taking payment, giving advice, answering enquiries and ordering in books 
• stock control – assessing the market and ordering new stock 
• admin tasks – accounting, distributing orders, arranging deliveries and dealing with returns

You could work at a store.

Your working environment may be physically demanding.