How to find a good warehouse associate

What is a warehouse associate?

Warehouse associates are responsible for managing the ins and outs of a warehouse. This includes receiving raw materials used to make products, organizing materials and product storage and coordinating the delivery of products to customers. These jobs are often more than manual labor: to ensure customers are satisfied with their purchases, quality control is a big part of warehouse management. This wide scope of responsibilities makes warehouse associates an essential part of any shipping and handling business.

Aren’t warehouse workers just for big companies?

Not necessarily. Warehouse associates help ease the workload for delivery businesses, no matter their size. You don’t have to own a huge warehouse with dozens of staff to hire a warehouse associate. You might find that hiring someone to work part-time organizing your product storage and helping to fulfill orders can give you the freedom you need to focus on other areas of the business.

What does an average workday look like?

Here are a few things most warehouse associates can expect to be responsible for:

●  Receiving and processing deliveries

●  Packing and shipping orders

●  Managing stock levels

●  Transferring stock between warehouses

●  Organizing stock storage

●  Updating stock databases

●  Documenting incoming and outgoing stock

●  Analyzing products for damages or irregularities

●  Operating forklifts and other equipment

●  Managing equipment maintenance and repairs

How has COVID-19 changed the job of warehouse associate?

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed a lot of retailers to expand their delivery operations to satisfy the increased demand for online shopping. In moving from brick-and-mortar to online, many businesses have struggled with managing their own stock and fulfilling their own deliveries. For those that have chosen to manage fulfillment themselves, warehouse associates have become an essential part of satisfying more and more customers and growing the business.

What key skills should I be looking for?

Here are some of the key skills a good warehouse worker should have:

●  Time management

●  Organization

●  Inventory management

●  Equipment maintenance

●  Communication skills

●  Technology skills

●  Teamwork

●  Attention to detail

Where can I hire a warehouse associate?

Hiring a warehouse associate has been easier than ever. In some cases, workers whose jobs have been disrupted by COVID-19 are looking to retrain in warehouse operations, making the applicant pool even wider. Register now to post your job and start hiring!