Warehouse Receiver
Job in about 50 words:
Can you lick stamps, stock shelves, count to 1,000 and bench press ottomans and donkey piñatas? Good. Can you do all four at once? Even better. As a receiver, you’ll be doing everything from unloading freight to shipping merchandise and a million other jobs we can’t think of here. Of course, you can’t be afraid of a little dust and some heavy lifting. Who thought combining work and your workout could be possible?
Job skills/requirements:
The good news is that your training will teach you everything you need to know to succeed on the job. But here are a few skills you should have from the get-go, as well as some requirements:
- Good with numbers: Not only will you probably have to do some data entry to track product inventory, but you’ll also be doing a lot of old school math. Think of “Sesame Street’s” Count character…only not as loud and without the fangs.
- Flexible schedules: Many receiver gigs require you to go nocturnal and work third shift. Hey, at least you’ll be able to catch “Jerry Springer” while everyone else is working boring 9-to-5 jobs.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds: You don’t need to grow a curly mustache and wear a tight one-piece like those funny-looking power lifters from years ago, but you should be sturdy enough to unload trucks and move merchandise without muttering “Ooops!” a lot.
- Urgency: The quick pace of stocking and deliveries – both shipping and receiving – means that quick turnarounds are the rule and not the exception.
Expected hours:
We’re not suggesting you buy a coffin to sleep in, but we are saying this gig will give you a bat’s eye view of the night shift. Many businesses receive overnight shipments, and need wide-eyed manpower to handle them. If you’re one of those people who don’t drink coffee, that won’t last long. (Don’t worry, there are plenty of day-time receiver shifts, too.)
Dress the part:
Wear comfortable, rugged clothes and durable footwear. Keep in mind the atmosphere could be a lot different in your work digs than in your typical office, especially if you’re hanging out in a walk-in cooler in July (like you’re job is a lame David Blaine stunt) or working in a hotbox of a warehouse and swimming in truck exhaust in the middle of winter.
Job myth:
Receiver jobs require all brawn, and no brains.
Not true! Sure, there will be some sweating and flexing in store aisles or back behind the scenes in the warehouse. But you’ll also be doing a fair amount of math and problem solving. For example, if wooden pallets are 3 feet wide and you have a 100-foot wall to stack them against –but you need about 6 inches in between each – how many can you fit in one row? Did that just blow your mind? (The answer is about 28 …we think.) Our heads hurt…
Career path:
- Warehouse Manager ($50,000 to $70,000/year)
- Order Fulfillment Manager ($60,000 to $85,000/year)