Finding the right shipping and receiving workers is crucial for any warehouse. PeopleReady is here to help you hire shipping and receiving workers, hire production workers or hire warehouse workers for other key roles who can get the job done. In this article, we’ll share:
- Skills and qualities to look for in shipping and receiving workers
- Warehouse recruiting tips to help you attract shipping and receiving workers
- Ways to ensure a smooth warehouse staffing process
Skills and qualities to look for in shipping and receiving workers
As you begin the hiring process, your first step should be determining the duties and responsibilities for each of your open roles. Our warehouse staffing experts have put together a list of essential skills and qualities that all shipping and receiving workers need to succeed:
Attention to detail
Attention to detail is important for all workers in your warehouse, especially those in shipping and receiving roles. Whether they’re tracking shipments, updating inventory databases or inspecting products for damage, even the smallest mistake can have serious consequences.
Warehouse safety awareness
Following safety rules and regulations is crucial for everyone in your warehouse. From the presence of heavy machinery to moving equipment and stacked inventory, safety hazards are an everyday concern. The right shipping and receiving workers will have a safety-first mindset and report any defects or potential concerns that could lead to issues.
Time management skills
For shipping and receiving workers, effective time management means ensuring the timely handling of incoming and outgoing shipments. Workers must also be able to handle changes in shipment volumes and delivery schedules, all while maintaining safe and seamless operations.
Problem-solving ability
Even with the best of intentions, errors can occur on your warehouse floor. Whether it’s price discrepancies and delivery delays or incorrect orders and damaged shipments, it’s essential for your workers to have good problem-solving skills so they can address these challenges as they occur.
Communication skills
Shipping and receiving workers must have solid communication skills to collaborate with their managers, coworkers and other personnel. This ensures seamless workflow and quick resolution of any issues that arise, contributing to overall productivity and customer satisfaction.
Physical strength and stamina
Shipping and receiving roles generally require physical labor, like lifting and unloading materials. As such, candidates for these roles should possess the physical strength and stamina to perform these duties effectively throughout their shifts.
Warehouse recruiting tips to help you attract shipping and receiving workers
To ensure that you have the warehouse staffing solutions you need, here are some helpful tips for sourcing candidates:
Create a detailed job description
Kick off your search for the best shipping and receiving workers with a carefully crafted job description. Be sure to include a full list of duties and responsibilities along with the expected shift hours and the preferred level of experience. You should also include any necessary licenses or certifications for the role.
The more detailed your job description, the more likely you are to encourage only the right candidates to apply. This puts you in the best position to hire shipping and receiving workers with the right qualifications and achieve your business goals.
Use social media and other effective recruiting methods
According to a Yahoo Finance study, most hiring managers use social media platforms to promote their open roles. This strategy is particularly effective as younger individuals enter the job market.
Once you’ve finalized your job description, you can post your open roles on popular job sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn and CareerBuilder. You can also explore posting on job boards specific to the warehousing or manufacturing industries.
Network with warehousing industry contacts
Networking with industry contacts in your area can provide valuable insights into the local hiring pool and simplify your hiring process by introducing you to qualified candidates. Your industry contacts are familiar with the skills and experiences you require, which means they can recommend candidates who are a great fit for your team.
As part of your warehouse recruiting efforts, reach out to your connections to inquire about job seekers who may be interested in new opportunities.
Attend job fairs and networking events
Local job fairs and networking events can provide a huge boost in your search for warehouse workers to hire. These in-person opportunities allow you to meet with candidates face-to-face. What better way to assess their interpersonal skills and determine if they’d fit in well with your team?
These events also help build awareness of your company and allow you to create relationships with local businesses, schools and community groups, which can become a strong pipeline for potential candidates. Building a list of contacts can make it much easier to hire shipping and receiving workers in the future.
Ask for employee referrals
Requesting referrals from your current team is another great way to recruit warehouse workers. They understand the skills and qualities a potential candidate needs to succeed just as well as you do, and the workers they refer could become valuable members of your team.
As an added bonus, asking for employee referrals will make your team members feel valued and more likely to remain with your company. According to Forbes, 45% of referred hires stay with companies longer when compared to workers hired from job boards or social media.
Consider offering flexible staffing arrangements
Flexible staffing arrangements are a great way to attract shipping and receiving workers while also being able to adapt to future changes. Staffing flexibility helps your company quickly scale your workforce up or down based on project demands or peak seasons, ensuring you have the right workers when and where you need them.
Want access to workers without the commitment of full-time hires? This staffing approach could be perfect for you. In the end, you can ensure you always have the right-sized workforce as your needs change.
Ways to ensure a smooth warehouse staffing process
As part of our warehouse staffing services, we take careful steps to evaluate and hire the right candidates for warehouses of all types. For example:
Assess applicants for relevant skills and experience
The best candidates are typically those with previous warehouse experience. However, we recognize that some candidates may bring relevant skills from other fields. For instance, those with a background in customer service likely have great communication skills while those who have a background in retail know how to stay organized in a fast-paced environment.
Structure interviews to ask the right questions
After narrowing down the list of applicants, the interview process gives us a better idea of their ability to do the job. Asking open-ended questions helps assess their problem-solving and communication skills, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of their potential fit within your team.
Complete a thorough vetting process of all applicants
In some cases, shipping and receiving workers may require certain experience or specific licenses or certifications to operate heavy equipment and handle sensitive materials. To help ensure safety, our warehouse staffing services include a thorough screening of each candidate. This process can confirm they have the skills and qualifications to get the job done safely and effectively.
Develop a solid onboarding plan
A great onboarding experience helps new workers settle into their roles and get to know their team. By having a solid onboarding plan in place, we can help new workers become productive more quickly and improve retention rates in the long term.
Provide relevant warehouse safety training and education
Safety is paramount in warehouses due to the inherent risks of the working environment. Early introduction of safety protocols is essential, as well as providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Creating a culture of safety can enhance productivity and overall satisfaction for your team.
PeopleReady offers warehouse staffing solutions for any warehouse
Finding warehouse and manufacturing staffing solutions and warehouse staffing solutions will always be key to continued success. However, labor shortages, busy seasons and high competition for workers can prolong the hiring process. With PeopleReady, you have fast access to warehouse staffing solutions, whether you need to hire manufacturing workers or hire warehouse workers.
Thanks to an extensive network of active job seekers, our dedicated support team can meet your specific staffing needs. Our warehouse staffing services also include our app, JobStack, which lets you place orders for workers even outside regular business hours. Some of the manufacturing and warehouse jobs we fill include:
- Shipping and receiving workers
- Forklift operators
- Machine operators
- Assembly and production workers
- Pickers and packers
- Loaders and unloaders
- And more!
So, if you’re wondering, “Is there a warehouse staffing agency near me?” check out our locations page to get started.
