How to Find a Warehouse Job

If you're trying to find a warehouse job, don't listen to pessimists who claim warehouses will soon be run by robots. Automation and computerized systems may have slowed growth in this field, but technology can't control everything and experienced humans will still be needed. An increase in economic and global trade activity will help keep warehouse work relevant, but employees will need to be more multi-skilled than ever before.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Keep a positive outlook. The best thing about trying to find a warehouse job is that most cities have manufacturing companies that have warehouses. If you can operate a computer, have a fork lift license and experience with automatic data storage and retrieval systems, hand-held scanners and assembly and packaging processes, you'll be ahead of the job search game.

2. Determine whether you are willing to endure shift work and extreme temperatures. You'll also need the ability to comprehend safety and hazmat issues and lift up to 70 pounds.

3. Begin your job search with your area's Sunday newspaper classifieds, then branch out to your local temporary help services. According to The American Staffing Association, companies employed an average of 2.8 million temporary and contract workers per day during the first quarter of 2007. With a good temp services counselor, you could be employed in one or two days. Temporary services let both the employer and employee shop around a bit and are a great way to find a job and company you like if you're not ready for a long-term commitment.

4. Go exploring online where there are plenty of warehouse jobs advertised. Use your favorite search engine and type in "warehouse jobs" and browse away. There's no need to pay a fee to look at the jobs because the employer usually pays to list them. If they ask for a fee upfront, move on to another Web site.

5. Stay ready. Prepare or have someone else prepare a professional-looking resume and keep several hard copies as well as a copy on disk. Type up a form cover letter, save it in your computer and then fill in the details of each company that receives a resume. Get a packet of plain thank you notes as you will need to send one after each of your interviews.

Tips & Warnings

• According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the average salary for a warehouse worker as of May 2006 was $12.35 per hour or $25,680 a year, higher for workers with more than three years experience.