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A warehouse associate is hired to maintain operations in a warehouse and/or distribution center. Warehouses are busy facilities, and because of that, it’s all but guaranteed your job will be active and your day will feel fast.
What Does A Warehouse Associate Do?
Before we get into any specifics, we should tell you not to worry if you don’t have previous experience. Most companies don’t require experience for many warehouse associate positions. They will train you once you’re hired.
Warehouse associate jobs will typically include physical work as well as computer/paperwork. The tasks you’re trained to do also depend on the size of the facility.
Small to mid-sized facilities may view this as a general position, and train you for multiple responsibilities. In large warehouses, you’re much more likely to have one assigned role or station that you’d stick to throughout the whole shift.
Typical warehouse associate tasks include:
- Picking items, packing, and shipping orders
- Sorting and storing inventory items
- Loading and unloading trailers and containers
- Managing bill of ladings, packing slips, and invoices
Warehouse Associate Skills
To accomplish these duties, you may use a variety of equipment, including hand-held scanners, computers and printers, and dollies or pallet jacks. Once you’re trained on the job, you may use a forklift and/or cranes.
You might be given a daily quota to meet, but if so, your place of employment usually gives you about one month to get up to speed. Once you’re on the job, first focus on accuracy — managers are able to work with you on efficiency, but companies know they can lose customers and money due to wrong orders repeatedly being shipped or inventory mismanaged.
Warehouse Associate Job Requirements
The hiring qualification for many warehouse associate positions is extremely minimal: Do you have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent? Some companies will encourage you to have one of these, but even then, not all require it.
There are a few physical requirements you should expect to complete at work:
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Stand for the shift duration, if part of the role.
- Bend, reach, and climb stairs.
Warehouse Associate Safety Gear & Equipment
Once you’re hired, safety wear, like earplugs, closed toe/steel toe shoes, reflective vests, and glasses may be necessary for your role. Companies typically provide employees with this protective equipment, minus the shoes—you’ll be responsible for those.
Is a Warehouse Associate Job for Me?
Being a warehouse associate is a nice role if you like to be active at work, set and reach personal goals, and work somewhat independently. Many warehouses offer a multitude of benefits including healthcare and flexible scheduling.
If this all sounds good to you, you can find a warehouse job near you now!