The Most Popular Types of Warehouse Jobs
The warehousing industry is one of the most important industrial fields for our current infrastructure. Not only do these hardworking professionals load trucks and inventory deliveries, but they also lay the foundation for us to effectively purchase and receive goods. Without them, it would be much harder to purchase products—both online and in the brick-and-mortar store. As such, it’s crucial that new generations of warehouse employees step up to keep the economy alive. These are some of the most popular types of warehouse jobs and what skills are needed in their roles.
Warehouse Associate
From picking orders to helping the rest of the crew unload a delivery, a warehouse associate is responsible for helping with a variety of different warehouse duties. Typically, these employees are entry level, with enough experience to know the basics of each job they’re doing. When applying for this job, it’s important to remember that while warehouse associates have duties of their own to perform, their days can vary based on who needs their help.
Warehouse Manager
More experienced in what the warehousing trade has to offer, warehouse managers are responsible for taking charge of certain teams and ensuring they’re working effectively. Because they oversee most warehouse operations, each candidate for this position must have a background in several different duties. Some of these roles include shipping and receiving, inventory management, and equipment operation.
Forklift Operator
Forklift operations are integral to the process of transporting goods through the warehouse and delivering them to the shipping area. Without them, not only would the job take longer, but there would be a higher risk of injury among warehouse workers. As such, every aspiring forklift operator needs to know how to acquire the proper forklift certifications and hone their skills before being allowed to handle this equipment.
Material Handler
These individuals handle most of the picking, packing, and inventory work in a warehouse. Therefore, they must have solid organizational and record-keeping skills as well as some experience operating a forklift. However, unlike forklift operators, they perform additional duties, such as stacking items on pallets and using other heavy machinery.
