Kick-start your customer service career at takealot.com with a structured 12-month learnership. This on‑site internship in Cape Town combines an 8‑week training block with hands‑on customer support work across phone and email — a great fit for school leavers who are eager to learn, tech‑savvy and ready to work shifts.
Quick overview
| Role | Customer Service Intern – Group Customer & Insights |
|---|---|
| Company | takealot.com |
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape (on‑site) |
| Employment type | Intern / 12‑month learnership |
| Work arrangement | On‑site; rotational shifts including weekends and public holidays |
| Training | 8‑week training programme followed by practical placement; may lead to an NQF‑accredited certificate |
| Apply | takealot.com application page |
About the organisation
takealot.com is South Africa’s leading online retail and delivery organisation. The company describes itself as entrepreneurial, customer‑centric and fast‑moving. The Customer & Insights team focuses on delivering excellent service and improving customer experiences across the takealot.com platform.
What the role involves
This learnership is designed for people who want practical customer service experience in e‑commerce. You’ll start with an 8‑week training programme to build the core skills required, then spend the remainder of the 12 months working on the customer service floor. Daily work revolves around communicating with customers, resolving product and service issues, and using internal systems and tools to follow up and close cases within agreed service levels.
Duties and responsibilities
- Complete the 8‑week training programme and the full 12‑month learnership.
- Communicate with customers by phone and email, delivering timely and professional responses.
- Diagnose and resolve product or service problems using active listening and logical problem solving.
- Use a variety of software tools to navigate customer issues to resolution.
- Identify root causes of service failures and take appropriate corrective action or escalate when needed.
- Own customer issues from first contact to resolution, ensuring outcomes meet service level agreements (SLAs).
- Liaise with internal departments to coordinate solutions and follow‑up actions.
- Work reliably on rotational shifts, including weekends, public holidays and overnight where required.
Requirements explained clearly
- Minimum qualification: Matric / Grade 12 (NQF4) successfully completed.
- Language: Excellent written and verbal English is essential.
- Availability: Must be able to work rotational shifts that include weekends and public holidays.
- Experience: No prior work experience required — the programme is entry‑level and training is provided.
Skills and personal attributes the employer is looking for
Beyond the formal requirements, takealot.com emphasises attitude and behaviour. Successful candidates typically demonstrate:
- Strong customer service etiquette and a passion for delivering exceptional service.
- Computer literacy, excellent typing and fast navigation of software tools.
- Emotional intelligence and resilience under pressure.
- Self‑drive, punctuality, reliability and integrity.
- Curiosity, coachability and a willingness to learn and iterate.
- Ability to think logically, identify root causes and use good judgment to resolve issues.
- Teamwork and an understanding of how individual actions affect colleagues and customers.
Who should consider applying
This role suits school leavers and recent Matriculants who want a structured entry into customer service and e‑commerce. It’s a good fit if you:
- Have strong English communication skills and solid computer confidence.
- Are comfortable working shifts and in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.
- Want hands‑on training with the potential for an accredited certificate.
- Are coachable, emotionally resilient and eager to build practical customer service experience.
Application checklist
Prepare these items before you apply or attend any interviews:
- Updated CV highlighting Matric completion, any volunteer or informal customer contact experience, and computer/typing abilities.
- Certified copy or scanned image of your Matric certificate (if available) and South African ID or ID number for the application form.
- A short cover note (1 paragraph) explaining why you want to join takealot.com and what makes you a good fit for a customer service learnership.
- Be ready to demonstrate communication skills and basic computer tasks if invited to an assessment or interview.
- Availability confirmation for rotational shifts, including weekends and public holidays.
How to apply
Apply online through takealot.com’s application page. Follow the instructions on that page to submit your CV, Matric proof and any other requested documents.
Create a Job Specific ATS CV and a Cover Letter Here
Edupstairs advice: how to make your application stand out
- Lead with your Matric achievement. Put your qualification near the top of your CV and include the year of completion.
- Showcase communication: include any school or volunteer roles where you spoke, wrote or supported others (e.g. school admin, fundraising, peer tutoring, sales at a school event).
- Demonstrate computer confidence: list software you use (email, MS Office, Google Workspace) and your typing speed if you know it. Mention any informal experience with online platforms or social media customer interactions.
- Use concrete examples that show problem solving and ownership. Even short stories (2–3 lines) about resolving a customer or team issue are powerful.
- Be honest about shift availability. State clearly that you can work rotational shifts, weekends and public holidays — this is essential for the role.
- Keep your CV concise (1–2 pages), use clear headings and a simple layout, and proofread for spelling and grammar errors in English.
- If invited to an assessment, practice phone etiquette: be clear, patient and professional; listen actively; and answer concisely.
Tools you may find useful:
- RDP / BNG Housing Eligibility Checker
- SASSA Grant Eligibility Checker
- SAPS / Metro / Traffic / DCS Eligibility Checker
- Youth Employment Eligibility Checker
- SA Bursary & NSFAS Eligibility Checker
- UIF Benefits Eligibility Checker and Payment Estimator
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Frequently asked questions
- Is prior work experience required? No. The learnership is entry‑level and designed for candidates with Matric; no previous work experience is required.
- How long is the programme? It’s a 12‑month learnership that begins with an 8‑week training programme before placement.
- Where will I work? The role is on‑site in Cape Town, Western Cape. The position requires being physically present.
- Will I need to work nights, weekends or public holidays? Yes. Candidates must be flexible to work rotational shifts that include weekends and public holidays.
- Does the learnership lead to a recognised qualification? The programme may lead to an NQF‑accredited certificate on successful completion.
- Does takealot.com support candidates with disabilities? Yes. takealot.com is an equal opportunity employer and gives preference to applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities.
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Disclaimer
Confirm final details, specific application instructions and any additional requirements on the official takealot.com application page before applying.
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