Receiving clerk jobs aren’t particularly difficult, but they serve an important purpose for some businesses. Receiving clerks keep track of incoming shipments so that businesses can keep running. The job’s specific responsibilities vary depending on the company’s size and scope, how the position is defined, and how much automation is used. Because small businesses do not have as many employees as large businesses, receiving clerk jobs in smaller businesses tend to have more diversified responsibilities. Checking shipments as they arrive, checking invoices for those shipments, and coordinating the distribution of the items received are all jobs that a receiving clerk can do.
When a shipment arrives, a receiving clerk’s job includes documenting information about it. This includes double-checking that the shipment is complete and undamaged. Receiving clerks in smaller businesses may manually enter product information into a computer. To receive and track shipments, larger companies may use scanning devices or radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.
Checking invoices to ensure the number of items received and their prices are correct is a common task for receiving clerks. A receiving clerk may also check to see if any credits or discounts were applied to the order. If items are lost or damaged during shipping, the receiving clerk may work with shippers to make adjustments if an order is incorrect or damaged.
Some receiving clerks are responsible for coordinating or routing shipments to their final destination within the organization. Shipments, for example, could be delivered to a warehouse and then routed to a specific department. Receiving clerks may be expected to deliver shipments to the correct location in smaller businesses. Large shipments may be processed using forklifts or conveyor belts.
Receiving clerk jobs may also include responsibilities similar to those of traffic clerks. These responsibilities include verifying the weight and charges for all incoming and outgoing shipments. Any legal requirements for shipping specific products or materials must also be followed.
People who are good at clerk jobs enjoy doing physical labor and doing repetitive tasks. Advancement to supervisor or manager positions is possible in some cases. Entry-level jobs often only require a high school diploma, while supervisory jobs may require a two- or four-year college diploma.
Most employers do not require prior experience, and the majority of training takes place on the job. Learning how to count stock, take inventory, and keep records are all examples of training. Some knowledge of electronic inventory equipment and computers may be advantageous or necessary. Receiving clerk jobs can be found in a variety of settings, including factories, retail stores, and educational institutions.