A Day in the Life of a Shipping Clerk

The role of a Shipping Clerk is important in a warehouse environment. While a job as a Shipping Clerk is an entry-level one, it also gives you room to develop and to progress in your supply chain career.

HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SHIPPING CLERK MAY ENTAIL:

HANDLING MERCHANDISE

A Shipping Clerk is responsible for handling merchandise. This entails monitoring the merchandise leaving and coming in to a company’s warehouse. If you work in this position, you would therefore work with parcels, as well as with shipping documents such as invoices, purchase orders, and inventory lists that record all the stock.

MONITORING SHIPMENTS

Once there is an order filled, it is the responsibility of the Shipping Clerk to make sure that the shipment is packed correctly and that it is accurate. The Shipping Clerk would have to print labels, schedule pick-ups and drop offs, and ensure that the package contains the correct information and that it has the proper postage.

MANAGING INVENTORY RECORDS AND TRACKING

When it comes to inventory and tracking of packages or orders, the Shipping Clerk has to ensure that they keep accurate records of all stock, all packages going out and all packages coming in.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The role of a Shipping Clerk is an entry-level position, with many employers requiring only 6 – 12 months of experience. Many companies are also willing to provide on-the-job training for this position.

The skills that you will need include basic computer skills, knowledge of invoices, communication skills, and basic math's skills. You will also need to learn how to use the specific software that is used within the company or warehouse.

While this is an entry-level position, there is room for growth through work experience and courses to help you progress in your career.

WORKING CONDITIONS

When working as a Shipping Clerk, you should be prepared to stand for long periods of time. Your other working conditions will depend on the warehouse you work at, the size of the company and the warehouse, and how busy that warehouse gets.

Sometimes, you may be required to work in a noisy environment with lots of distractions, have to wear protective gear, and have to work with heavy machinery like forklifts. You may also be required to use equipment such as scanners and scales.