Sales Jobs

How To Get A Job As A Warehouse Worker

If you want to get a job as a Warehouse Worker, you must be honest, organized, and hard-working.  You must be able to follow directions and work well with others.  You should be able to understand, speak and write English.  Entry level positions will undoubtedly involve loading and unloading merchandise.  This work is physically demanding as it involves constant lifting, bending, and carrying.

Those who work on the docks must be prepared to work in all weathers.  Warehouses are vast and employees often must walk long distances during the day.   Warehouse employees work in groups under the supervision of a leader, often called a ‘gang leader”.  With education and experience, entry level Warehouse Workers can advance to more interesting and challenging areas of warehouse employment.

Warehouse Workers are on the job for forty hours a week, with some shift work and opportunities for overtime.  Most warehouse jobs are full time.  Those who work in warehouses may be required to wear safety equipment.

Most warehouses are located in large urban areas, in close proximity to railroads, major highways, ports and airports.  They may be owned and operated by government agencies, retail outlets, and private corporations.  Warehouses may be crowded, cold, or noisy.  Items stored in warehouses may be large, small, highly valuable, perishable, fragile, toxic, or even alive or dangerous.  Many such items require special care, handling, storage, and protection.  Care of all these items lies in the hands of the Warehouse Workers.

If you get a job as a Warehouse Worker,  you may find you have any one or several, of a variety of duties, depending on your experience, skills, and education, and the facility in which you are employed.  You may load, and unload goods, transport them manually or by small trucks, store them manually or by the use of lifts and cranes.  You may drive these trucks or operate these lifts and cranes.  You may check incoming goods for damage, and orders for completeness.  In this process, you may use scanners and computers.  You may prepare receipts.  You may stock shelves, keep records, take inventories, and prepare orders for leaving the warehouse.  You may wrap, pack or crate these orders, prepare bills of lading, or move items out for delivery.

There is a steady ongoing demand for Warehouse Workers.  Most warehouse positions offer steady employment with paid benefits.

Education

Many warehouse positions require little formal education.  Because of this, there is keen competition for these jobs.  There are some skills that are advantageous to have if you want to get a job as a Warehouse Worker.  These skills include the ability to drive (especially warehouse vehicles), the ability to use a computer, and knowledge of data entry, or book-keeping.  It is important also to understand, and preferably be trained in, workplace safety, and first aid.  Working in a retail outlet, especially if you have received and stored stock, used a pricing gun or done inventory, could be an asset.

Be aware that some warehouse employers prefer those with a high school education.  If you get a job as a Warehouse Worker, a high school education would be especially valuable if you wish to advance and command a higher salary.    While in high school it would be wise to take courses in English, mathematics, and computers.  Learn how to type efficiently.

Warehouses provide on-the-job training for those employed.  This training will take from two to three months.

With experience and education, Warehouse Workers may advance to positions as specialized clerks, group leaders, manager, and supervisors.