Every year from around September, The Foschini Group (TFG) starts hiring thousands of seasonal workers to help its stores cope with the festive rush. TFG owns more than 30 retail brands in South Africa — including Markham, Sportscene, Totalsports, Foschini, Exact, The FIX, American Swiss, Sterns, @home and Jet — and almost every store in every mall takes on extra staff for the season. If you are a matriculant, student or job seeker looking for your first retail experience, TFG seasonal jobs are one of the easiest doors to walk through.
This guide explains what the jobs involve, what you need, and exactly how to apply. The application button is at the bottom of this post.
What are TFG seasonal jobs?
Seasonal (festive) positions are short-term contracts, usually running from around October or November to January, covering the busiest shopping months of the year. TFG describes the role simply: it wants fun, energetic and hardworking seasonal employees to create the ultimate shopping experience during the festive period.
As a seasonal worker you can be placed at any TFG brand near you:
- Markham – men’s fashion
- Sportscene – sneakers and streetwear
- Totalsports – sports gear and apparel
- Foschini – women’s fashion and beauty
- Exact – value fashion for the family
- The FIX – trend-led fashion
- American Swiss and Sterns – jewellery and watches
- @home – homeware
- Jet – value clothing and home
What seasonal staff do
- Serving and assisting customers on the floor
- Working the tills and processing sales
- Merchandising and keeping displays neat
- Restocking from the stockroom
- Helping with queues, fitting rooms and gift purchases
Training is provided — you do not need previous retail experience.
Why seasonal work is worth it
- A foot in the door: TFG regularly keeps its best seasonal workers after the festive period, converting them to part-time or permanent staff.
- Real experience for your CV: Retail, sales and customer service experience counts at every employer.
- Income over the holidays: You earn while most of your peers are sitting at home.
- Discovery: You get to see how brands like Sportscene and Totalsports run from the inside — useful if you dream of a career in fashion or retail.
Requirements for TFG seasonal jobs
- South African ID
- Matric (Grade 12) is preferred; some stores consider Grade 10 and 11 for seasonal posts
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- A passion for retail and the brand you apply to
- Target-driven, energetic and able to work in a fast-paced store
- Full availability for retail hours — weekends, evenings, public holidays and the December/January peak are non-negotiable
- No experience needed for seasonal sales associate roles
Availability is the biggest deciding factor. Stores hire seasonal staff precisely for the days everyone else wants off, so make your availability clear and generous in your application.
Documents to prepare
- Updated CV – one to two pages with your contact details, education and any experience (school leadership, volunteering and side hustles all count)
- Certified copy of your ID
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate or latest school results
Save them as PDF for the online application.
How to apply for TFG seasonal jobs: step by step
All TFG hiring — for every brand — runs through one official careers portal.
- Open the TFG careers portal (button at the bottom of this post) and click Search Jobs.
- Search for “Seasonal” or filter by brand (Markham, Sportscene, Totalsports, etc.) and by your province or town. Seasonal adverts usually appear from around September to November.
- Pick the store closest to you. Stores prefer seasonal staff who live nearby, because shifts start early and end late.
- Create your candidate profile with your email address and upload your CV and documents. You only register once — the same profile works for every TFG brand and every future application.
- Complete the application questions honestly, especially the ones about your availability.
- Submit and apply to multiple stores. There is no limit — applying to Markham, Sportscene and Totalsports in the same mall triples your chances.
- Watch your email and phone. Shortlisted candidates are contacted quickly for interviews, which are usually short and held at the store.
You can also join the TFG Talent Community on the portal so recruiters can find your profile when new posts open.
Can you drop a CV in store?
Some store managers will take a CV over the counter, and it never hurts to introduce yourself to the manager at your local Markham or Sportscene. But hiring is processed through the online portal, so treat a store visit as networking and always complete the online application as well.
Interview tips
- Dress the brand — neat streetwear for Sportscene, smart casual for Markham.
- Show energy. Festive retail is fast, loud and busy, and managers hire attitude over experience.
- Know the brand’s products and be ready for “sell me this item” style questions.
- Repeat your availability clearly: weekends, evenings, public holidays, December and January.
Never pay to apply
TFG does not charge application fees and does not recruit through WhatsApp groups, agents or random email addresses. Anyone asking for money for a TFG job is a scammer. Apply only through the official TFG careers portal.
Summary
TFG seasonal jobs at Markham, Sportscene, Totalsports, Foschini and the group’s other brands are open to matriculants and students with a South African ID, full festive availability and a great attitude — no experience required. Prepare your CV and certified ID, register once on the TFG careers portal, search “Seasonal” in your area, and apply to every brand near you before the posts close. Work hard during the season and you could be one of the many seasonal workers TFG keeps on permanently.
Good luck with your application.
APPLY NOW ON THE TFG CAREERS PORTAL