Warehouse Worker: What is the cost of hiring?
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Warehouse Worker: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of job seekers per warehouse worker job in Australia is 35.
a warehouse worker: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of job seekers per warehouse worker job in Australia is 35.
Why hire a warehouse worker?
If your business is dealing with physical products, hiring a warehouse worker for your fulfilment centre is usually indispensable. Products will always need to be picked, packed and shipped, and this is where warehouse workers come in. A good warehouse worker is reliable and hard-working and doesn’t mind being on their feet all day.
Contributions of a great warehouse worker:
- can work an entire shift on their feet and perform physical labour
- communicates efficiently with team members and superiors
- keeps accurate records of product movements as required.
Deciding between a full-time vs freelance warehouse worker
When it comes to warehouse workers, you can either hire your own in-house team or opt for contractors. Both are excellent options and will get your items shifted and distributed. Full-time warehouse workers are, of course, entitled to the standard Australian employee benefits such as superannuation, and you need to arrange sufficient insurance to cover for potential workplace mishaps. Given the increased amount of e-commerce and online shopping in recent years and the resulting increased workload in distribution and fulfilment centres, having a full-time in-house team of warehouse workers might be a necessity.
For many companies, contractors are a popular choice when it comes to warehouse workers due to the flexible hours and shift work they are able to perform. You can also decide to have full-time warehouse workers and additionally hire contractors during busy times such as the holiday period. Temporary seasonal workers are always a good option if you need extra workforce.
What are the different types of warehouse worker?
When hiring a warehouse worker, it’s important that you know exactly what duties they will need to perform and what corresponding experience or qualifications you need them to have. Here are some examples of roles you’ll find in a warehouse:
- Forklift operator: Loads, unloads and transports goods using a forklift, and stacks tall racks; a forklift licence is a must.
- Material handler: Processes and records incoming goods, works with inventory managers to check for missing items and ensures purchase orders match deliveries.
- Warehouse picker: Physically locates ordered items in the warehouse, then collects and organises them for further processing.
- Inventory manager: Organises and improves inventory recording, implements inventory control systems and contributes to improving
workplace
efficiency.
- Warehouse manager: Oversees most activities in the warehouse, manages other warehouse staff and implements management strategies to make the
workplace
more efficient.
Where to find a warehouse worker
To find the right warehouse worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Vehicle advertising: Post signs on your company cars or trucks to let the public know you’re looking for additional staff. In this way, you can reach a large number of people with minimal effort or expense.
- Get recommendations: Ask your current employees and even family members if they know someone who might fit the bill. A team member’s cousin or childhood friend could be just the person you’re looking for!
- School and TAFEs: Attend school and TAFE open days to attract young workers and school-leavers who may be looking for an entry-level opportunity in warehousing or logistics.
Post your job online: Try posting your warehouse worker job on Indeed to find and attract quality warehouse worker candidates.
Skills to look for in a great warehouse worker
A great warehouse worker candidate will have the following skills and attributes, as well as work experience that reflects:
- an ability to perform physical work and carry weights of up to 35kg
- great organisation and teamwork skills
- some knowledge of data entry and inventory control
- a keen eye for detail and an ability to follow instructions
- possession of a high school certificate (preferably)
- possession of a forklift licence (a plus).
Writing a warehouse worker job description
A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified warehouse worker candidates. A warehouse worker job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.
When writing your job description for a warehouse worker, consider including some or all of the following keywords to strengthen the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on warehouse worker jobs, according to Indeed data:
- warehouse
- warehouse worker
- pick packer
- forklift operator
- packer
- picking packing
- forklift
- labourer.
Interviewing warehouse worker candidates
Strong candidates for warehouse worker positions will be confident answering questions regarding:
- a meticulous approach, eye for detail and strategies for avoiding mistakes and customer dissatisfaction
- careful handling and safekeeping of inventory to prevent financial losses
- certifications and licences, such as a forklift licence
- experience with item tracking systems and methods
- awareness of
workplace
health and safety; any previous accidents
Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of warehouse worker interview questions for examples (with sample answers).
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
