Are You Qualified to Work at a Warehouse?
September 6, 2023 | Career Blog
As warehouse jobs continue to increase in popularity, many people who work in other industries and fields have wondered if they possess the necessary skills to work at a warehouse.
If you’ve ever considered a career change to warehouse work, you may think that working in a warehouse is limited to packing boxes, driving forklifts, or loading and unloading trucks all day. While those tasks are certainly part of warehouse jobs, warehouse workers do much more.
Whether you’re burnt out with your current job, want to look for something different, or changes at your current job have forced you to re-consider your line of work, determining if you’re the right fit for local warehouse jobs is a great way to set yourself up for future success. Let’s take a closer look at this opportunity on your career path.
Typical Warehouse Worker Job Description
There are countless types of jobs within a warehouse, many of which we will take a closer look at today. However, unlike some other industries, it’s not uncommon for people who work at a warehouse to perform multiple jobs. That’s part of what makes this type of work so exciting.
For example, even if you’re hired to work in inventory management, there may be times when your supervisor asks you to help in order fulfillment for a day or two while one of your teammates is off work.
With that in mind, your role in the warehouse will come with its own unique job description. However, warehouse work comes with some job descriptions that apply to everyone in the company. These components of a warehouse job description typically include the following:
- Prepare and complete orders for delivery or pickup according to the schedule.
- Follow company safety policies regarding the use of equipment.
- Adhere to safety guidelines that focus on the way that product is moved from one part of the warehouse to another.
- Communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors.
- Adhere to quality service standards while complying with company, state, and federal guidelines.
Since the primary focus of warehouse jobs is typically receiving, storing, and shipping products, the men and women who work in warehouses are responsible for effectively and safely handling those products.
With these five foundational principles of warehouse work in mind, let’s take a look at some of the exciting jobs that are available to people who want to work at a warehouse.
3 Types of Popular Warehouse Jobs
As long as products are being manufactured and shipped around the world, there will be a need for warehouse workers. Does your current skillset lend itself to that type of work? Take a look at some popular warehouse positions to find out more about the types of jobs that are available in this exciting, growing industry.
Material Handler
The term “material handler” refers to a wide array of warehouse positions. This critical role in the supply chain involves receiving items from distributors or manufacturers, stocking those items in an organized manner, and then gathering – or “picking” – those items to send them to a distributor, retailer, or another type of business that needs them.
For instance, if you work in a warehouse that supports a nationwide retailer, you will assume responsibility for unloading the product that manufacturers distribute in their stores. Once the product is received, material handlers stock it in accordance with company policies and then pull the needed items so they can be loaded onto trucks that deliver them to the retailer’s stores.
Training for a material handler position is thorough. You will have to learn how to unload, stock, and pull items based on company policy, and ensure that you are following state and federal safety guidelines.
Inventory Management
Inventory control is one of the most critical jobs in a successful warehouse. It’s important that workers know how to safely and efficiently unload shipments that come in and prepare outgoing shipments for delivery. A key component is knowing how much of each product is present in the warehouse.
If you’re the type of person who likes numbers and logistics, a job in inventory control is likely an excellent fit for you, especially if you have a history of dealing with facts and figures.
The training process for an inventory control position changes from one warehouse to the next, as every company has its own inventory control system in place. When training for an exciting job in inventory control, you would need to learn the following:
- The stocking process of the warehouse.
- How they use technology for managing inventory.
- The alerts to pay attention to ensure the warehouse has products to fulfill client orders.
Warehouse Management
Pursuing a career in warehouse management is not only personally fulfilling, but it’s also a great career move. As warehouse jobs continue to surge in popularity, it’s increasingly valuable for warehouses to have the right people in positions who can handle wearing multiple hats.
Not only are warehouse managers responsible for overseeing staff, but they must also know the details about how the warehouse operates. If you have a history in management, you may be able to land a job in warehouse management.
The challenge is a warehouse manager must know everything about how the warehouse operates. You will need to quickly learn the following:
- The product delivery schedule.
- Company guidelines that cover how products are handled.
- How inventory is counted.
- How products leave the warehouse.
Warehouse managers must have their finger on the pulse of everything going on in the warehouse, and a good manager is worth the impressive salary that he or she earns to the warehouse owner.
Ready to Work at a Warehouse? Talk to Us
One of the most effective ways to find warehouse job opportunities in your area is to work with a staffing agency. Fortunately, Allegiance Staffing specializes in providing job opportunities for talent looking to find work at a warehouse.
If you’re considering a transition into warehouse work, be sure to check our Jobs Board to see warehouse jobs available in your area. You can also contact one of our staffing professionals to find out more about how we can help you transition into an exciting warehouse role.