Prismatic Pages is seeking a motivated bookseller to cover a maternity leave (temporary position September 1, 2026-May 31, 2027 with possibility for extension)

Prismatic Pages is Oslo’s only all-English language bookshop, offering an array of both new and used books in a cozy Grünerløkka space. The shop opened in December 2023 and has quickly become a hub for readers in Norway as well as visitors from all over the world—not least due to our extensive calendar of events which include book clubs, book swaps, author visits and book launches, art workshops, and more. In 2026 we also launched Prismatic Press and published our first novel by local author Jay Samuel.

Indigo, the founder and owner of Prismatic Pages, will soon be on maternity leave, and therefore a position is opening for the first time since the store opened. Long-time employee Maria will continue to work at the shop and be acting manager while Indigo is away.

Are you the new addition to our team?

Application deadline: June 1

Work schedule:

This is a 35% contract (53 hours a month guaranteed) with an additional 1-2 days a week during the Christmas season (up to 60%).

Workdays are Tuesday-Wednesday every week (11.00-17.00) and one Sunday a month, located at Prismatic Pages bookshop Rathkes gate 7b, in addition to Mondays during the Christmas season (11.00-17.00 starting November 23, 2026.)

Additional shifts (not accounted for in the 35%) will include evening work for events at the store and/or working events and pop-up sales tables at other locations (around once a week).

The successful applicant will be expected to be available for training and some shifts starting in August, with the possibility to start training as early as July depending on availability.

Who a successful candidate is:

You love reading and have a passion for independent bookstores, and an interest in learning more about how a small business works. You are friendly, outgoing, and easy to talk to. This is a highly customer-oriented job.

You are good at self-guided work, a problem-solver and able to work independently – but also comfortable asking questions when you need to and working as part of a team. You address things on the job as they come up, take responsibility, and do the little extra things to make your work stand out.

You will be part of a core team and integral to both the everyday and long-term running of the store with significant responsibility around the operations of the store itself beyond the day-to-day. You will also be working on the administrative side that keeps the business running (see selected responsibilities below).

Please note any additional skills or experience you think might be relevant to the job in your cover letter.

Responsibilities include:

• Greeting and assisting customers, including giving reading recommendations

• Evaluating and pricing used books

• Inputting new and used books in the point-of-sale system

• Managing orders and book subscriptions

• Helping to manage and run the store social media

• Adding events to the website, Shopify, and Facebook

• Helping to run book clubs and host other events

Required qualifications:

• A genuine passion for reading

• Retail or customer service-oriented work experience

• Fluent and comfortable in English. Additional languages are a plus.

• Social media experience

• A flair for writing for our social media posts and email newsletter

Additional desirable qualifications:

• Experience using Shopify

• Website editing experience

• Event management experience

• Database and/or Excel experience

• Google analytics and/or advertising experience

• Visual content creation (including photo, video, social media content, etc.) and/or artistic skills (making shop displays, drawing and illustration, other design experience)

• Norwegian at a B1 level or higher, OR an ongoing effort and motivation to learn Norwegian

Benefits and perks:

• Pay: 210 NOK/hour

• 30% employee discount in store

• A predictable and consistent work schedule, with the possibility for additional shifts

• Daily opportunities to give joy to customers by recommending great books that fit their passion for reading

• Continuous learning about the pleasures of operating a small, successful business

Apply via this form with your resume (2 pages maximum), cover letter (1 page maximum), and two references. If you have content creation experience, please include links to 2-3 examples. If you have published writing, please include 2-3 links to examples.

Do not apply unless you can work the days and times stated, as they are not flexible.

Your cover letter should include:

• The last three books you read, and one sentence each about what you thought of them.

Interviews will be held in June in person at Prismatic Pages.

We're hiring a bookseller!