Find and Hire Local, Qualified Warehouse Stockers for Your Business

4 Key Skills Every Warehouse Stocker Must Have

Whether your new warehouse worker will be employed by your company for a few days or weeks to help with a seasonal rush or they’re a candidate for a long-term position, keep in mind these essential skills that warehouse stockers need to have. Warehouse workers have a number of duties and responsibilities that will be difficult if they have not developed (or can’t develop) these proficiencies.

Physical Strength and Stamina

Stockers will likely be on their feet all day. They may have to lift heavy boxes (depending on what kind of goods your company sells), they may need to use warehouse equipment to move inventory around, and they will almost definitely have to walk long distances every day. If a candidate does not have the capacity to perform physical work on a daily basis, they are not going to last very long in a warehouse stocker role.

Tech-Savviness

Most warehouse stockers will need to use digital systems to keep track of materials and products throughout the warehouse. These systems may change from employer to employer, so warehouse workers should be able to learn quickly and adapt to new systems. Oftentimes, the ability to use inventory software is crucial from day one, so this is not an aspect of the job you’ll want to have to invest significant time in training, especially if this is a temporary role.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Warehouses can be stressful work environments for those who do not have the ability to go with the flow and problem solve. Sometimes things go wrong in a warehouse; inventory does not match up or there may be issues on the manufacturing or shipping side. And, while it’s possible to predict some seasonal changes in orders and sales, there are sometimes unpredictable surges in demand. Keeping a cool head in a stressful or changing situation is important in a warehouse environment.

Communication Skills

Stock workers need to be able to work with other people in your facility in order to do a good job. When something goes wrong (maybe a product breaks or gets lost), a stocker needs to be able to communicate this with their team members or manager and devise a solution. You need to be able to rely on your whole team – stockers and managers alike – to work together to ensure the day-to-day functions of the warehouse are running smoothly.

Of course, there is other information you may want to check for as you’re screening warehouse stocker candidates, like a high school diploma or background check. But, if you look for these skills in each applicant, you will get a better picture of whether or not they can excel in the job beyond the minimum qualifications.