Have you seen advertisements for warehouse jobs and wondered if it would be a good fit for you? You're not alone. Warehouse and terminal work is actually among the most common occupations in northern Europe. In this article, you will get an overview of what it means to work in a warehouse through a career guide.

Is this you?

● Detail-oriented
● Independent
● Goal-oriented
● Enjoy physical work

What does a typical workday look like?

The structure of a workday depends on the type of warehouse one works in. However, many warehouses start the workday with a brief startup meeting, where the work team receives important information, such as the status of operations in relation to the plan. Afterwards, individuals proceed to their assigned tasks and begin the day's work. There are several breaks throughout the day, often taken simultaneously with other colleagues. Towards the end of the day, the work team sometimes regroups and concludes the day together.

Examples of how some tasks may look like:
● Picking: Here, you gather orders that are destined for customers. Often, you drive around the warehouse on a forklift with a picking cart. When starting your round in the warehouse, you receive orders and information about where the items are located in a digital system. You pick the orders on your cart and hand them over for packing once they are complete.
● Packing: At packing stations, you pack orders that have been picked by the pickers. It should be done in an environmentally friendly manner (using minimal packaging materials), ensuring that the products arrive undamaged, and presenting a neat package to the customer.
● Loading/Unloading: Throughout the day, trucks arrive at the warehouse with new deliveries that need to be unloaded. Pallets are lifted onto the warehouse using a forklift. Additionally, there are trucks ready to pick up deliveries for customers, where someone needs to load pre-packaged pallets into the truck.
● Other tasks: There are many more tasks in a warehouse, such as organizing incoming items, replenishing necessary materials for different stations, and more. Just like in other workplaces, you can also take on more responsibilities in a warehouse, such as working as a shift leader, team leader, or in various coaching roles.

What are the working hours like?

The working hours in warehouses vary depending on how each organization chooses to structure the work. However, it is common to have shift work in warehouses. This means that in your work team, you alternate your working hours in different periods. Shift work can, for example, involve working early in the morning until early afternoon one week and working from the afternoon until late evening the next week. People have different experiences working in this way, but it's worth mentioning that shift work often includes additional pay for the sometimes demanding working hours. Something to consider is how you will commute to work, as warehouses are often located on the outskirts of a town where public transportation might not be readily available. Having a driver's license and access to a car can often be seen as advantageous by employers, as it ensures that you can easily commute to work, even during inconvenient working hours.

What affects the salary I receive?

There are several factors that can affect it, for example:

• The employer you work for.
• Whether you work in the private sector or public sector.
• Your role in the warehouse.
• The amount of experience you have.

Are there any educational requirements?

There are usually no specific educational requirements for warehouse workers. However, some employers may require a high school diploma. It can also be advantageous to have completed specialized training in warehouse and logistics or to have a forklift license. Many employers provide necessary training on-site, such as forklift training and safety training. Depending on the location of the warehouse, a driver's license may also be required or considered advantageous.

What are the language requirements?

The language requirements can vary depending on the employer. It is often a requirement to have proficiency in the local language to be able to communicate with colleagues and follow instructions. However, for some positions, this may not be a requirement, and instead, English is used as the working language.

What opportunities can a warehouse job open up?

Many! With the experience you gain from a warehouse job, you can pursue a career in the logistics industry or explore other industries that value similar skills. Moreover, there are many warehouse jobs that offer opportunities for internal advancement within the company. Perhaps this is really your thing, and you can become a team leader or take on another leadership role in the future? 🌟

This sounds great! How can one get a job at a warehouse?

Warehouse positions are usually advertised online these days. Checkout the common job boards - where you should easily find a job and location that suits you well.

Or perhaps you feel that a warehouse job is not your thing after all?

No problem! Remember that your profile can fit into several different jobs. If you are an independent and goal-oriented person, maybe a job as a driver could be something to consider? Or if one of your strengths is attention to detail, you could excel as a cleaner? Try to think about your strengths and the competencies you possess. There might be a new and exciting profession that could be a good fit for you. At Hubert, we have several opportunities available, and our interviews are largely based on the competencies you have.

If you want to find more career guides for different professions or get tips for your professional life, feel free to check them out on our page!

Psst, we also have an article coming up soon on how to take care of your body when working in a warehouse job. Stay tuned.