Warehouse associate jobs are somehow more critical than other professions in terms of the inflow and outflow of products for warehouses and distribution places. This article discusses the duties of warehouse associates, the expected salary, the job description, necessary qualifications, and frequently asked questions on the topic.
Warehouse Associate Job Description
Receiving, storing, and supplying products are some of the job duties as warehouses contain a huge mass and volumes of items. Hence, their job entails ensuring that the correct items are in stock and that they are packed for shipping. In most cases, warehouse associates work in fast-paced environments and are part of a team supervised by a warehouse manager or controller. They are often required to perform moderate to heavy loading and unloading while interacting with inventory systems and handheld devices.
Retail, manufacturing, e-commerce, and logistics are a few industry segments that employ warehouse associates. It is a job that requires precision, physical endurance, and the ability to work as a dedicated team member.
Resume Description for This Job
In case of a resume for the position of a warehouse associate, I would suggest placing weight on references to strength, orderliness and working with inventory. Consider this illustrative resume sample:
“Powerful and productive warehouse associate with the experience of [X years] performing inventory activities, stock replenishment and receiving and shipping functions within busy warehouses. Adept with fork lift, inventory management package and squaring up at all points of the production cycle. Commendable for being efficient, good with other people and great at housekeeping of the neat and orderly equipment bay area.”
Feel free to adjust details to better match your experience!
Salary
The duration of a warehouse associate’s employment and his/her previous experiences, as well as the industry the company which employed him/her operates in are a few things that determine the average wage for a warehouse associate in the U.S. more or less. This is how much one can expect to earn performing this job:
- Entry level warehouse associate: From $25,000 to $30,000 per year, or about 12 to 15 USD per hour
- Competent Warehouse Associate (2-5 years): Salary averages between $30,000 to $40,000 per annum, with some establishments paying bonuses or having overtime
- Senior warehouse associate or specific duties envisioned: If companies focus on being in the metro areas, salaries could go up to $50,000 per year, the lowest being 40,000 leaving demand a substantial factor
The range of rates is likely to be wide for the warehousing business as it is common for higher wages to be paid in urban areas and industries like online shopping where there is high demand for warehouse staff.
Responsibilities
Warehouse associates perform different tasks that enable smooth and accurate operations of the warehouse. These include but are not limited to the following tasks:
- Receiving and Unloading Shipments: This engages offloading shipments, checking items for damages, and checking if the quantities meet what was ordered.
- Inventory Management: Includes activities such as cataloguing and placing labels on objects, managing stock levels, and maintaining stock records in inventory command systems.
- Order Picking and Packing: Involves gathering goods, finishing customer requests while ensuring that the goods are correctly packed, tagged, and made ready for dispatch.
- Shipping and Handling: This entails placing items on trucks or within containers, confirming appropriate shipping documents, and timely issuance of the orders.
- Maintaining a Safe Environment: Trying to adhere to the safety measures, utilization of equipment like forklifts and reporting hazards, or malfunctioning equipment to the supervisor.
- Keeping Warehouse Organized and Clean: Keeping passageways free from obstruction, equipment in the designated places and upholding the neatness of the work area to promote smooth running activities.
Qualifications
Having said that, a warehouse associate position is not one that is traditionally associated with a degree but there are certain skills and qualifications that one possesses that are advantageous.
- Education: Most employers will ask applicants for a high school diploma or an equivalent. In most cases, the training will be provided at the place of work.
- Physical Stamina and Strength: The nature of the work involves a lot of standing, lifting, and move goods during the different work shifts, it is essential to maintain an excellent physique.
- Attention to Detail: Importance has to be placed on as accurate as possible order picking, inventory taking, and shipment preparation.
- Teamwork and Communication Skills: It is paramount to be able to work under a team environment whilst being able to relate well with team members and superiors.
- Technical Skills: It is an advantage to be familiar with warehouse management systems and to have experience with the operation of forklifts or other equipment.
There is often preference for an endorsement in the operation of forklifts, with in certain instances, this being a requirement.
FAQs
Q1: Are warehouse associates the same as warehouse workers? If not explain the difference.
The two are used as synonyms, but in reality a warehouse associate more broadly can focus on such areas as inventory or orders and their logistics as well. A warehouse worker for a construction company can be more focused in the specific area required by the construction company.
Q2: Are the working hours of warehouse associates longer than the normal workday?
There are contracts of employment with many warehouse operations that vary within positions offering normal 8 hour shifts but with some that do evening or weekend shifts. Extra hours and overtime may need to be worked at busy periods for example Christmas time.
Q3: Is being a warehouse associate a strenuous job?
As a rule, yes. Depending on the warehouse’s operations, associates may have to do lifting, standing or moving for certain periods. In fact, most employers demand their associates to have the ability to lift at least 50 pounds or even more.
Q4: Are warehouse associates promoted?
Certainly, many associates get promoted to higher positions like warehouse supervisor or inventory manager after acquiring experience and dependable.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be stated that warehouse associates have an important contribution as far as the receiving, storing and relocating of the products inside the warehouses are concerned. With a focus on detail and the ability to work as a team as well as handle strenuous activities, warehouse associates perform an important function in the distribution and logistics across industries.