Warehouse workers stock products, manage shipments and work with others to receive and send out many types of orders. They keep accurate records of goods by constantly updating software inventory records. If you think you are good at keeping records, can work hard and fast in a physically demanding job, and can manage the responsibility of being an essential part of the increasingly competitive supply chain industry, this is an excellent job for you.
If you want to improve your resume, the following guide will help you. Let’s start by taking a look at three types of resume formats you can choose from to highlight your credentials.
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Job duties of warehouse workers
Warehouse workers are accountable for many duties, including receiving and processing incoming packages and managing shipments through software systems. The most important task is to ensure all the orders are packed and dispatched on schedule.
Here is a list of the duties you may have to perform:
Preparing warehouse stock for pickup by packing and labeling it appropriately for delivery.
Packing boxes in delivery trucks.
Filling orders.
Receiving incoming stock, verifying shipping labels as they come in, counting and double-checking orders and recording them properly in the inventory software.
Maintaining logistics data with high precision in internal databases for audit purposes.
Identifying lost, damaged, or missing merchandise and reporting it to supervisors.
Lifting heavy objects by hand, usually up to 50-75 lbs., or with a forklift.
Keeping the workplace clean and optimizing space.
Managing your time well in order to complete all your daily tasks on schedule.
Training new employees if required.
Adhering to all safety regulations.
Warehouse Worker Median Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of hand laborers and material movers, including warehouse workers, was $30,010 in 2020. The job outlook is projected to grow by 7% from 2020-2030.
Top Skills for Warehouse Workers
- Seriousness: The job of warehouse workers demands precision and vigilance. You can’t fool around on the clock because you may put the safety of others and yourself at risk. A mistake may lead to boxes falling on you, hurting your arms or legs, and may even lead to death.
- Shipping and receiving: Material handling and maintenance is at the core of a warehouse worker’s job. After all, on a daily basis you’ll be managing shipments, including packing, labeling, dispatching, storing orders, and completing deliveries indoors using pickers and forklifts or outdoors using trucks and vans. Being a warehouse worker also means you have to be careful while loading and unloading the packages to avoid any damages to the goods. Another responsibility of the role is being accountable for “reverse logistics,” which is when goods return to the warehouse. Workers need to know whether the returned items need to be refurbished, returned to the seller, or thrown out.
- Inventory knowledge: Warehouse workers must do their best to memorize the various sectors of a warehouse and the items within each of these to save time. In some cases, it may be necessary to learn standard warehousing inventory software, like Odoo, which speeds up inventory records management. Warehouse workers also need to be attentive to inventory control, keeping track of parts and products in stock to stay ahead of supply and demand, avoiding shortages, overstocking,and other costly problems.
- Understand warehousing logistics: Warehouse workers keep all shipments in sequence based on order and importance, like sending out packages from people paying extra for express service and being unbiased toward types of loads, locations or customers. Learning the logistics system at the warehouse you work at is essential to successfully doing your job.
- Physical endurance and maneuverability: Physical fitness is essential because the job includes lifting heavy boxes, sometimes for hours at a time. Working at a warehouse also demands working on your feet, so having good stamina is necessary. You may also handle delicate items that require careful manual dexterity. Reaching into overhead racks, bending quickly to reach low-lying shelves and having to climb on and off equipment may also be necessary, which is why some employers require employees to pass a physical test.
- Critical thinking: Warehouse workers encounter challenging situations throughout the day, such as figuring out how to organize boxes in a way that avoids over stacking. Developing a solution to an unforeseen situation quickly and calmly is a must, as well as knowing when to ask for assistance.
- Machine handling expertise: Workers should know how to manage machinery, especially during high-volume delivery periods like holidays. There are many different types of machines in warehouses, some of which require a special license or certification. Since machinery varies from warehouse to warehouse, though, most employers offer on-the-job training.
- Team player: Good productivity and streamlined work is dependent upon effective team work. Knowing when to act as a leader and when to follow is a very useful skill to avoid delays in workflow. Because warehouse workers share duties with other employees, it is essential to exercise a team player attitude to best help your company achieve their goals. Warehouse workers are most helpful when they keep an open disposition to coordinate with many people and are ready to lend a hand.
Educational Requirements for Warehouse Workers
Degree
Warehouse workers require at least a high school diploma or a General Educational Diploma (GED).
Many educational institutions in the U.S. offer GED programs such as the Alameda Adult School, Wallace State College and Daytona State College.Certification
To be a successful warehouse worker, you should be trained in different warehouse skills like logistics and operating heavy equipment. Some roles also require operating forklifts and pickers, which requires training and a certification, plus being at least 18 years of age.
While many employers will offer on the job training, below are certification programs that may give you a competitive edge by equipping you with the necessary skills and helping you stay up-to-date with the technological advancements being implemented at warehouses:- Educational institutions: Graduate School USA is a private school that offers a warehouse operations and disposal certification. This certificate course trains participants in the primary storage and warehousing of materials, supplies, furnishings and equipment. Institutions like Community College of Baltimore County also offer quality courses in warehousing that will give a significant boost to your warehouse worker profile. Another valuable option to consider is comprehensive forklift training, such as the one offered by Forklift University California to get certified as a forklift operator. After completing their certificate course, you will get an OSHA professional license that is valid all over the country for three years. You can get recertified every three years.
- Online education: Some institutions like Forklift Academy offer affordable forklift certification in compliance with OSHA laws. They provide online and on-site training, and if you already have a certificate and are looking to renew, it only takes one to two hours to complete the online training. Another option is OSHAcademy which has a 10-hour General Industry: Warehouse Safety program. While you can take this type of training on your own, it is usually provided by the employer and includes six hours of general industry lessons and four hours of materials handling safety, protective equipment and hazardous energy control.
Alternatively, the Online Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) training has courses on Good Warehouse Practice, Warehousing and Distribution and Good Distribution Practice, ranging from one to eight hours to complete. These classes are designed to give students a competitive advantage and understand the importance of complying with international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Another option is the Warehousing Process and Design Consideration course by Udemy which can also help you learn about warehouse functions and business needs. You will learn how to plan out the tasks of a warehouse depending on the type of business. The course is designed for students of supply chain and warehouse workers. - Member associations: Organizations like the Industrial Truck Association provide empirical knowledge of forklift safety, regulations, and operating standards. The National Safety Council also provides comprehensive forklift training.
- Industry companies: As warehouse workers have to use different types of machines, they should get proper training and certificates to use those machines. Leavitt Machinery bestows training to use all its equipment, providing on-site training as well.
Warehouse Worker Resume-Writing Tips
There are numerous ways of writing a resume for a warehouse worker job depending on your relevant experiences and skills. To make your resume shine, consider these tips:
- Detail your relevant experience and skills: Make sure you give a comprehensive insight into your relevant jobs only. If you worked as a painter, for example, that is not relevant to working as a warehouse worker and shouldn’t be included. If you’ve never worked as a warehouse worker, focus instead on the skills you have that the employer is looking for and put together a functional format resume. Identify the keywords listed in the job post that relate to the skills and experience they’re looking for and make sure to include them in your resume and cover letter.
- Specify individual accomplishments: Support your accomplishments with facts that highlight how you can add value to the employer’s organization. For every job you’ve had, list at least one achievement using quantifiable metrics such as percentages, exact numbers and frequency whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “kept accurate count of all unloaded cartons” try being more specific and say “kept accurate count of the 300-450 cartons unloaded daily.”
- Attach a cover letter: You should attach a formal cover letter with your warehouse worker’s resume to stand out. A cover letter is the place to include supporting details not mentioned in the resume and give a glimpse of your personality. For example, you can detail accomplishments that weren’t mentioned under your work history, explain why you’re the right fit for the role and how you can help the employer by performing the duties listed in the job post.The closing paragraph should include a call to action, such as inviting them to contact you to schedule an interview to discuss your candidacy further.
FAQ
What are the perks of being a warehouse worker?
Full-time jobs as a warehouse worker tend to include a 401(k) with employer match, a referral program, product discounts, incentives, paid time off and paid tuition or tuition reimbursement. You may also get health benefits and access to training and skill upgrading programs.
What are the different types of job positions in a warehouse?
A warehouse requires a lot of people in different positions. Depending upon your qualifications, interests and other requirements, you can be an inspector, a stocker, an entry-level laborer, a forklift operator, or a truck loader. Positions that are further up include supply chain management and warehouse logistics manager, among others.Reach out to a current warehouse manager or supervisor to discuss career opportunities in their company in detail.