Very often, the way you will choose the best warehouse employment is by figuring out which jobs you qualify for. Most jobs in a warehouse setting do not require you to have any specific level of education, though some will necessitate basic math and communications skills, as well as experience working with computers. You will also need to find out if there are any age requirements for gaining warehouse employment. It is best to then research as much as possible about the various positions available to you; you should expect to start with an entry-level position, particularly if you have no previous experience.
If you have no previous experience, you should expect to start as a picker. This type of warehouse employment is labor-intensive and you will be likely to work alone for much of your shift, but it is an engaging job and one that will allow you to get the necessary work experience to advance quickly within a company. Pickers basically fulfill orders, which means you will read a manifest, gather the items listed, and prepare them for shipping or transport. The job is not exceptionally difficult, but it can be strenuous physically.
You can also take part in some training that will open up different types of warehouse employment opportunities. You can, for example, get forklift training, which will qualify you to operate various types of forklifts within the factory setting. This training can take several weeks or months to complete, and your employer may even pay for you to attend training. If you are not currently employed, you will need to pay for such training on your own, but you will also be more attractive as a job candidate if you already hold forklift operation certification.
After working in a warehouse for an extended period of time, you may become eligible for other types of warehouse employment that pay better and offer more responsibility. As a picker, you can advance quickly if you work hard and exhibit a strong work ethic, and if you steadily increase your productivity. You may be chosen to take part in managerial training, forklift training, or training for other jobs within this setting. Becoming a loading and unloading operative is a slight step up from a picker job; in this position, you will physically load and unload goods onto delivery vehicles or into a warehouse. This job is physically demanding and sometimes dangerous, but it often pays better than picker jobs.
