Topic 1.2: Jobs inside a warehouse

Warehouses employ people in many roles. Here are the ones you’ll see most in job adverts:

• General worker / picker-packer — picks items for orders, packs and labels them

• Receiving clerk — checks deliveries against orders and captures what was received

• Dispatch clerk — checks outgoing orders, prepares delivery documents and makes sure the right goods go on the right vehicle

• Stock controller / stock clerk — keeps stock records accurate, runs counts and investigates differences

• Returns clerk — checks returned goods and processes credits

• Forklift operator — moves pallets using a forklift (needs special certified training)

• Team leader / supervisor — runs a shift or a section of the warehouse

Clerk roles

This course focuses on clerk roles — receiving, dispatch and stock control — because they combine physical warehouse work with paperwork and computer work, and they’re a strong step towards supervisor and stock controller jobs.

What it pays

Pnet’s job market report lists dispatch and receiving clerks at about R15,000 to R18,000 a month cost-to-company, as a role that needs little experience and no degree. Pay varies by company, city and shift.