Warehouse Associate

What types of tasks do warehouse associates perform?

A warehouse associate works in a warehouse performing general labor as orders are shipped and received. Warehouse workers are responsible for a variety of tasks involved in preparing and receiving orders, as well as moving, stocking, scanning, and recording product inventories. 

When items are preparing to be shipped, warehouse workers will pull, prepare, and pack orders. When deliveries arrive, workers then accept the shipment, ensure it’s accurate, and unload stock. Once stock is unloaded, workers scan and process stock products and perform inventory controls. 

When they’re not actively transporting, loading, or unloading goods, workers check to make sure work areas are kept clean to ensure everyone’s safety. They also perform basic maintenance on warehouse equipment.

As a warehouse associate, you won’t be the only person working in a warehouse. You’ll be working alongside a warehouse manager, forklift operators, order pullers, logistics specialists, and any number of other positions to ensure that orders get out on time. 

The size of the warehouse and the size of the orders that are being shipped and received can dictate some of what a worker does; a warehouse associate in larger warehouses may need to be able to walk longer distances or operate machinery to help with loading, unloading, and transporting goods. 

What types of skills do warehouse associates need?

Because warehouse jobs are manual labor, warehouse workers must be able to stand and walk for eight to 10 hours at a time. They must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and be able to push, pull, squat, bend, and reach for different products throughout the day. In addition, products may be stocked on high shelving, so workers should  be comfortable working at different heights. 

Warehouse associates work on teams in fast-paced environments, so good interpersonal skills are critical. Being able to communicate clearly means you’ll help the team complete a day’s work efficiently, while good listening skills are important for following instructions from supervisors. 

Good organizational skills and attention to detail are also helpful to have as warehouse associates. You’ll need to pack orders accurately, check shipments for defects, and follow schedules for arriving and departing shipments.

Finally, basic math skills are beneficial for a warehouse associate. You’ll need to verify that incoming shipments match purchase orders, as well as count inventory. Occasionally, you may need to use basic computer skills to update inventory or print labels for a shipment. 

What is the career outlook for warehouse associates?

Overall employment for warehouse workers and other manual laborers is projected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate keeps pace with many other sectors and accounts for the workers who will soon retire or move out of a warehouse position and into a new role. That means that approximately 941,100 openings for warehouse workers are expected to open up within the next decade, making demand for warehouse workers stable. 

A warehouse associate position can be a great first step toward future positions like warehouse manager or logistics specialists. They are also valuable ways to gain experience and build connections within a company. Working as a warehouse associate for a company like Walmart may open doors for you in complementary departments, like sales, customer service or operations, down the road.

What is the best way to find a job as a warehouse associate?

Spherion has been connecting job seekers to light industrial opportunities for more than 70 years, so we know warehouse jobs inside and out. Wherever you’re based across the country, we can put you in contact with companies hiring for warehouse workers right now.