A shipping clerk is an entry-level position that processes orders for manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and other businesses. The minimum formal education required to work as a shipping clerk is usually a high school diploma. Many employers who hire shipping clerks look for people who can operate electronic equipment and have good computer skills. To prepare documentation and understand weights and measurements, employers frequently expect strong basic writing and math skills. If you want to work as a shipping clerk, you should be in good physical shape and able to lift a certain amount of weight.
Depending on the employer, the number of computerized and automated systems used for shipping will vary. It is necessary to be able to quickly learn a variety of computer programs and automated equipment. On the job, computers are frequently used to track shipments, create mailing labels, and calculate freight and postage rates. As a shipping clerk, you may be required to operate automated equipment such as conveyor belts, robots, and computer-directed vehicles that transport products from one location to another.
Some companies will train new employees on the job, while others will expect shipping clerks to have some prior experience. You can set yourself apart from the competition not only by demonstrating the fundamental skills required for the job, but also by learning some of the more advanced skills required of a shipping clerk. The ability to operate a forklift is one such skill.
Because this skill is frequently needed to retrieve products from warehouse storage and move products to loading docks for shipping, earning certification as a forklift operator can propel your resume to the top of the stack. If you want to work as a shipping clerk, you may need a driver’s license. Shipping clerks at some companies, particularly smaller ones, deliver packages themselves or deliver them to mailing facilities. At some businesses, passing a background check may be required.
Other qualities that will help you succeed as a shipping clerk include a detail-oriented, focused personality, which will come in handy when checking orders and ensuring that they were filled correctly. Because shipping clerks often perform the same routine tasks every day, being able to handle repetitive work is essential. Understanding spatial relationships can be useful for directing truck loading or even loading trucks yourself if necessary. In many companies, shipping clerks also perform receiving and other traffic duties, so being able to use your reading and detail skills to check incoming shipments against bills of lading and other documentation can be important if you want to work as a shipping clerk.