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Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Occupation Detailed Description

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

The main tasks and work activities of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks are to prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance, record shipping information, coordinate shipping activities with external parties, respond to customer problems or complaints. In general, for the Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks, speaking, active Listening, reading Comprehension, time Management and other 3 skills are required.
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks jobs. 74.91% of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.52% of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
74.91%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.52%
Some College Courses
1.88%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
11.94%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
10.75%

Tasks and Work Activities of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

  • Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
  • Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
  • Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
  • Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
  • Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
  • Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
  • Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
  • Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
  • Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
  • Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.
  • Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Training and Teaching OthersIdentifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
  • Record shipping information.
  • Coordinate shipping activities with external parties.
  • Respond to customer problems or complaints.
  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Store items.
  • Calculate shipping costs.
  • Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
  • Inspect shipments to ensure correct order fulfillment.
  • Package objects for shipping.
  • Deliver items.

Skills and Abilities for Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Bag tag printere.g. Barcode printers
  • Razor knivese.g. Box cutters
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Radio frequency identification devicese.g. Fixed radio frequency identification device RFID readers
  • Forkliftse.g. Forklifts
  • Hand trucks or accessoriese.g. Hand trucks
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. Handheld bar code scanners
  • Radio frequency identification devicese.g. Handheld scanners
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. High-speed/moving object scanning devices
  • Notebook computerse.g. Notebook computers
  • Electronic toploading balancese.g. Package scales
  • Form or fill or seal machinerye.g. Pillow packing machines
  • Staple gunse.g. Pneumatic box staplers
  • Franking or postage machinese.g. Postage meters
  • Radio frequency identification devicese.g. Radio frequency identification RFID devices
  • Box sealing tape dispenserse.g. Reinforced tape dispensers
  • Packaging vacuume.g. Shrink wrap packaging vacuums
  • Form or fill or seal machinerye.g. Taping machines
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.