You are looking for the Pick n Pay number to WhatsApp your CV, because that is what the Facebook posts told you to do. Before you send anything, here is how applying actually works.
The Official Way to Apply
Online: Go to pnp.co.za and open the Careers section, or go straight to pnp.co.za/careers. This takes you to Pick n Pay's official recruitment portal.
- Open pnp.co.za/careers
- Create a free candidate profile
- Search for store and head office positions near you
- Apply online and track your application in the portal
In-store: For some store-level jobs, such as cashier or general assistant, you can ask at your local Pick n Pay's customer service desk whether they are hiring and leave your CV there.
Boxer was separately listed on the JSE in late 2024, with Pick n Pay retaining a shareholding, so it now hires through its own portal at boxer.erecruit.co rather than through Pick n Pay. It also takes walk-in CVs at store level, and it does not advertise jobs on Facebook. See our Boxer application guide.
Is Pick n Pay Hiring Now? Vacancies, Part-Time and Near You
Pick n Pay recruits more or less continuously, because staff turnover in retail is high and individual stores hire as they need people rather than in one annual round. So there is rarely a moment when the group is not taking applications, and there is no closing date for "Pick n Pay is hiring" in general. Any post telling you applications close within 24 hours is trying to rush you into paying something.
Finding vacancies near you. The online application form asks which area and which store you want to work at, and that is how "near me" actually works: you register your area once and the group matches you to branches there. You do not need to message anyone to find out what is open near you, and nobody legitimate will offer to check for you in exchange for a fee.
Part-time and festive work. Most store roles are full-time or shift-based, with more part-time and casual contracts appearing over the festive season. South African retailers take on extra staff for December trading, and they usually recruit for it from around September to November. If you want December work, apply in September or October rather than waiting for the shops to get busy. Fake "mass hiring for December" posts spread at exactly that time of year because the real thing is happening alongside them.
What Jobs You Can Apply For
- Cashier and till operator
- General assistant and shelf packer
- Bakery, butchery and deli assistant
- Storeroom, receiving and forklift roles
- Head office and graduate positions
The Fake "Pick n Pay Is Hiring" Scam
Scammers copy the Pick n Pay logo, post "mass hiring, WhatsApp now," and give a number that is not Pick n Pay's. Once you message it, they tell you that you have the job, then ask for a fee of around R150 to R300 for a "background check," "uniform," or "training." You pay, and they vanish.
Hold on to the one rule that beats every version: a real employer pays you. You never pay to be hired. Pick n Pay will never charge you to apply or to start.
Real Versus Fake
| Sign | Real | Fake |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | pnp.co.za/careers or in-store | A random WhatsApp number |
| Cost | Free | A fee before you start |
| Speed | Apply, wait, get shortlisted | "Hired" in minutes |
If You Already Paid or Shared Your Details
If you paid a fake recruiter, tell your bank straight away and report it to the police. If you only shared your ID number and contact details, watch for follow-up scam messages and pay nothing further, then apply properly at pnp.co.za/careers.
Not sure if a "Pick n Pay is hiring" post is real?
Paste the message or number into our free checker and find out in seconds.
Official channels verified: June 2026
Related Guides
- How to Apply for a Shoprite or Checkers Job
- Retailer WhatsApp Numbers for Jobs: Which Are Real?
- How to Apply for a Job at Boxer
- How Shoprite, Pep and Pick n Pay Actually Hire
- The "R250 Background Check" Scam
- How to Write a CV in South Africa
Sources
- Pick n Pay: Official Careers
- Africa Check: Ignore Facebook posts claiming retailers are hiring
- Department of Employment and Labour: Warning on social media scammers
Type pnp.co.za yourself each time, rather than tapping a link from a post. That one habit keeps you out of reach of the fake job ads.
