what is a warehouse associate?
As a warehouse associate, you work in a company warehouse. Your duties typically involve organizing and preparing items, merchandise or company supplies for shipping. You also take delivery of incoming supplies or goods and arrange them in the storage facilities. The work is physically demanding since you lift various items to and from delivery trucks. Organizing the warehouse and logging entries to keep the company's inventory information up to date is also part of your duties.
As a warehouse associate, your day-to-day activities include receiving and processing company goods or materials. Depending on the industry, this may include organizing and retrieving stock, checking, packing and shipping orders or managing other employees.
Warehouse associates are essential in any industry dealing with shipping and receiving goods. Companies that ship clothing or construction equipment employ warehouse associates to manage inventory. You also work in retail warehouses or manufacturing industries. Your job always involves assisting with shipping, receiving and handling heavy loads in all industries.
Would working as a warehouse associate suit your interest in working in a fast-paced environment? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a warehouse associate role.
view rolesaverage warehouse associate salary
According to Job Bank, the average salary of a warehouse associate in Canada is $35,100 per year, which translates to an hourly rate of $18. You earn $31,200 annually in an entry-level position, while most experienced workers take home over $44,850 annually.
what factors affect your salary as a warehouse associate?
The earnings of a warehouse associate vary depending on various factors. Your experience and qualifications determine your starting salary. In an entry-level position, you require minimal experience, and your earnings are lower than warehouse associates with years of experience. While you don't require educational qualifications to work in the role, they improve your salary prospects.
Where you work also influences your earnings. For instance, a warehouse associate in New Brunswick receives a higher salary of $37,830 per year, Quebec salaries average $36,075 annually, and Ontario pays $34,068 yearly. Locations with a high demand for warehouse associates pay more than areas with lower demand. The size of your employer also influences your earnings. Working for a large company guarantees a higher salary due to the unlimited resources available.
types of warehouse associates
Some of the types of warehouse associates include:
- warehouse loaders: as a warehouse loader, you pack goods in a warehouse into shipping containers and delivery trucks. You ensure the items are safe during transit by packing them in sturdy packaging. You also track the shipments from dispatch to delivery at the destination.
- warehouse clerks: warehouse associates record orders and supervise processing to ensure customers receive their orders. The role involves receiving phone calls and preparing shipping invoices for customers.
- forklift operators: your job is to move inventory around the warehouse using a forklift. Sometimes, you load and offload goods from containers or delivery trucks.
working as a warehouse associate
Warehouse associates coordinate with manufacturers to ensure products reach customers. If you are interested in the role, explore warehouse associates' daily activities, work environments and schedules.
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what does a warehouse associate do?
Some of the daily activities of a warehouse associate include:
- organizing stock in the warehouse: as a warehouse associate, your job involves unpacking the goods you receive and storing them at designated locations in the warehouse. You ensure the warehouse has sufficient goods to fulfil customer orders. That means you coordinate the replenishment of stock and organize the movement of products in the storage facilities.
- maintaining inventory records: as a warehouse associate, you document the products or supplies on the shelves. You record goods leaving the warehouse and provide a daily inventory report to the supervisor. You also report any missing or damaged items.
- verifying incoming shipment: your job involves verifying shipments against invoices to ensure you receive accurate goods from couriers. You verify the items against the order details to ensure accurate quantities when loading delivery trucks. You work with vendors and customers to ensure they receive correct deliveries.
- packaging and labelling: as a warehouse associate, you package products according to the company standards. For instance, the boxes should have the company’s brand image and appropriate details of the firm. It is also important to ensure the packaging keeps the items in excellent condition in transit.
- performing clerical tasks: as a warehouse associate, sometimes you work as a clerk and liaise between warehouse associates and customers. You log and process orders and record the company's sales in the computer systems. Once a customer orders, you ensure the packing team packages the right goods.
- operating machinery: in the warehouse, some loads require lifting or moving and operating machinery to move them. You also operate warehouse machines to pack and ship items. Operating some warehouse machinery like forklifts may require a licence or specific training.
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work environment of a warehouse associate
As a warehouse associate, your work environment is inside a climate-controlled storage facility where you assist with handling merchandise and company inventory. Typically, warehouse work is blue-collar and includes physical labour and equipment operation. Some warehouse associates can expect fieldwork, like driving company vehicles to deliver goods to customers. You also perform various office duties, such as logging to keep inventory information up to date.
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who are your colleagues?
As a warehouse associate, your work colleagues will vary, depending on your employer and the industry you work in. In a warehouse environment, you are likely to work with warehouse managers, supervisors and crane operators. You also work alongside specialists like machine operators and logistics managers. Other professionals you may interact with include operations managers, project managers and inventory specialists.
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warehouse associate work schedule
Like most industries, warehouse work requires 40 hours per week, and you can get overtime. Warehouse associate schedules may vary, particularly since storage, manufacturing and logistics industries work around the clock. Warehouses that operate 24 hours have shifts scattered throughout the day. For example, you may start late at night, while others clock in as early as 6 am. There are also many overtime opportunities, and you can work 10 to 12-hour shifts. In some industries, Saturday shifts are mandatory. Unless you accompany the delivery crew to assist with offloading, travelling as a warehouse associate is kept to a minimum.
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career opportunities as a warehouse associate
While warehouse associate is a blue-collar job, you'll find many growth opportunities. That includes starting from the role of production worker up to production manager or supervisor. Online shopping has significantly increased the demand for warehouse associates, and the qualifications aren't hard to acquire. Besides helping you become familiar with the skeleton force of different industries, warehouse work also helps teach relevant skills like logistics, best practices and productivity.
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advantages of finding a job as a warehouse associate through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
warehouse associate skills and education
Some of the employment requirements to become a warehouse associate include:
- high school diploma: the minimum educational qualification for becoming a warehouse associate is a high school diploma. Ensure you get good grades and take relevant classes — like physical education and English — to develop the skills necessary for the role.
- experience: a warehouse associate role is an entry-level position, but job experience gives you an advantage. Consider volunteer opportunities in retail and warehouse environments. Most employers offer on-the-job training to help you become familiar with the warehouse equipment and company policies.
competencies and characteristics of warehouse associates
For warehouse work, you need the skills outlined below to succeed:
- interpersonal skills: people skills determine how well you work alongside a team. To collaborate with your co-workers, you require good communication skills. Possessing active listening skills also helps you follow instructions to avoid mistakes.
- organizational skills: your organizational skills determine how well you use your time, strength and mental energy to accomplish the tasks at hand. It also refers to how organized you are with your physical space. Organizational skills determine how you leverage your space to make it ideal for productivity, letting you focus on the quality of your output.
- technical skills: working in a warehouse requires maths and computer-centric skills. As a warehouse associate, you use basic maths to count inventory and track shipments. Computer skills are also useful when updating the log and inventory records. Proficiency in various programs, like Microsoft Excel or customer relationship management (CRM) systems, also proves useful in this line of work.
- time management: warehouses are fast-paced and operate on strict schedules as shipments proceed daily. You should keep up with the fast environment without lowering the quality of your work.
- mechanical skills: basic mechanical skills in operating equipment and vehicles are useful when applying for a warehouse associate job. The skills help in equipment maintenance, reducing the need for repairs.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a warehouse associate.
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what does a warehouse associate do?
As a warehouse associate, you work in a warehouse environment assisting with the loading and unloading of goods. You prepare the goods for shipping by packing and labelling them. You also receive orders from manufacturers and monitor incoming and outgoing orders. It is important to communicate with customers to ensure they receive their goods on time.
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how much does a warehouse associate job pay in Canada?
Warehouse work has diverse responsibilities, and your earnings depend on your duties. As a warehouse associate, you earn an average salary of $35,100 per year. In entry-level roles, you earn a lower salary of $31,200 annually, while experienced warehouse associates take home over $44,850 annually.
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what is the qualification for a warehouse associate?
You don't require academic qualifications, but most employers require a high school diploma. You will receive on-the-job training on warehouse activities and how to operate the equipment. Prior experience in a warehouse or retail environment improves your career prospects.
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what makes a good warehouse associate?
A good warehouse associate requires communication skills since they spend significant time interacting with customers and colleagues. Solid communication skills enhance collaboration and customer service. As a warehouse associate, you require proficiency in using technology. Warehouse activities are managed using computer programs, and familiarity with using a computer makes your work easier. You also require attention to detail to ensure the products meet the company's quality standards.
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what are the daily duties of a warehouse associate?
As a warehouse associate, your daily duties include offloading incoming shipments, organizing them on shelves, and packaging outgoing items. You operate machinery to move the items around the warehouse or load them onto trucks.
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how do I find a job as a warehouse associate?
Finding a job near you as a warehouse associate is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the 'Apply' button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume, and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
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