Shipping and Receiving Clerk

List makers, take note! If you want to turn your penchant for making lists into a profession, you could become a Shipping and Receiving Clerk. Responsible for tracking all goods that arrive at or leave your company, the Shipping and Receiving Clerk is the expert check-off-the-list person.

When working as a Shipping and Receiving Clerk for a company with computerized shipping and receiving systems, you’re responsible for overseeing those systems. Rather than relying solely on the computer, however, you also conduct hand-count audits to ensure accuracy. Using scanners and computer systems, you track the number of widgets sold and the number of gizmos purchased.

Smaller companies that cannot afford automated systems rely on you to maintain the records manually. You log the flow of all goods (bought or sold), and prepare shipping labels and mailing documents. Your duties may cross into quality control as well, as you monitor all orders to ensure that goods are properly packaged for shipping. You may be asked to fill orders yourself, and maintain inventory for future shipments.

Your receiving duties include identifying quantity and price discrepancies upon receipt of the shipments from the vendor, and ultimately delivering them to the appropriate department. If discrepancies are found, you’re responsible for rectifying the situation with the vendor, and negotiating replacement of lost or damaged goods.

Large companies rely on you to act as the overall Shipping Coordinator, scheduling deliveries both to your customers and from your vendors.

Frequently working outside or in warehouses, you may not be thrilled with the temperatures at your environment, which are less than ideal at times. If that kind of thing bothers you, keep looking for a job that suits you better.