U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration https://www.onetonline.org 9m 2,222 #insights
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers’ orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.
Sample of reported job titles:
Checker Stocker, Inventory Specialist, Marking Clerk, Order Filler, Order Picker, Order Puller, Stock Clerk, Stocker, Stockroom Clerk, Warehouse Clerk
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks
5 of 30 displayed
All 30 displayed- Complete order receipts.
- Obtain merchandise from bins or shelves.
- Read orders to ascertain catalog numbers, sizes, colors, and quantities of merchandise.
- Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves in stockrooms, warehouses, or storage yards.
- Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in warehouses, tool rooms, supply rooms, or other areas.
- Examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors.
- Answer customers’ questions about merchandise and advise customers on merchandise selection.
- Receive and count stock items, and record data manually or on computer.
- Stamp, attach, or change price tags on merchandise, referring to price list.
- Stock shelves, racks, cases, bins, and tables with new or transferred merchandise.
- Compare merchandise invoices to items actually received to ensure that shipments are correct.
- Itemize and total customer merchandise selection at checkout counter, using cash register, and accept cash or charge card for purchases.
- Transport packages to customers’ vehicles.
- Mark stock items, using identification tags, stamps, electric marking tools, or other labeling equipment.
- Take inventory or examine merchandise to identify items to be reordered or replenished.
- Issue or distribute materials, products, parts, and supplies to customers or coworkers, based on information from incoming requisitions.
- Provide assistance or direction to other stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard workers.
- Clean display cases, shelves, and aisles.
- Design and set up advertising signs and displays of merchandise on shelves, counters, or tables to attract customers and promote sales.
- Pack customer purchases in bags or cartons.
- Dispose of damaged or defective items, or return them to vendors.
- Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Recommend disposal of excess, defective, or obsolete stock.
- Keep records on the use or damage of stock or stock-handling equipment.
- Keep records of out-going orders.
- Compute prices of items or groups of items.
- Requisition merchandise from supplier, based on available space, merchandise on hand, customer demand, or advertised specials.
- Determine proper storage methods, identification, and stock location, based on turnover, environmental factors, and physical capabilities of facilities.
- Operate equipment such as forklifts.
- Receive, unload, open, unpack, or issue sales floor merchandise.
Technology Skills
Knowledge
All 1 displayed- Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Skills
All 2 displayed- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening — Giving 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.
Abilities
All 5 displayed- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Information Ordering — The 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).
- Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Work Activities
5 of 13 displayed All 13 displayed- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing 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.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Detailed Work Activities
5 of 26 displayed All 26 displayed- Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
- Package objects for shipping.
- Stock supplies or merchandise.
- Unload materials or equipment.
- Read work orders to determine material or setup requirements.
- Store items.
- Inspect items for damage or defects.
- Record shipping information.
- Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
- Receive shipments.
- Discuss goods or services information with customers or patrons.
- Inspect shipments to ensure correct order fulfillment.
- Calculate costs of goods or services.
- Collect deposits, payments or fees.
- Deliver items.
- Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
- Monitor inventories of products or materials.
- Distribute materials to employees or customers.
- Clean facilities or equipment.
- Set up merchandise displays.
- Store records or related materials.
- Remove debris or damaged materials.
- Send information, materials or documentation.
- Advise others on business or operational matters.
- Maintain operational records.
- Operate forklifts or other loaders.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context
5 of 23 displayed All 23 displayed- Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
- Work With Work Group or Team — How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Spend Time Standing — How much does this job require standing?
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
- Physical Proximity — To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
- Telephone — How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
- Time Pressure — How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
- Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
- Spend Time Walking and Running — How much does this job require walking and running?
- Frequency of Decision Making — How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Deal With External Customers — How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
- Coordinate or Lead Others — How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
- Frequency of Conflict Situations — How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
Job Zone
| Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
| Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma. |
| Related Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. |
| Job Training | Employees 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. |
| Job Zone Examples | These 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. |
| SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
Interests
All 3 displayedInterest code: CRE
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Styles
5 of 13 displayed All 13 displayed- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
- Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Work Values
All 3 displayed- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Wages & Employment Trends
| Median wages (2019) | $13.16 hourly, $27,380 annual |
| State wages | |
| Local wages | |
| Employment (2019) | 2,135,800 employees |
| Projected growth (2019-2029) |  Slower than average (1% to 2%) |
| Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 254,900 |
| State trends | |
| Top industries (2019) | |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections.
“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
All 3 displayedDisclaimer:
Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries.
Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
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