What does a stock clerk do?

What is a Stock Clerk?

A stock clerk is someone who moves products from the warehouse to store shelves. They take new merchandise that has arrived in the warehouse, check for any damage or mislabeling, and get it to where it needs to be stocked. Often, stock clerks use handheld tracking scanners to make sure the right items are in the right place, and also update inventory records.

What does a Stock Clerk do?

Most employers receive their merchandise by truck, and stock clerks are usually the people responsible for unloading things once they arrive. This typically involves signing off on shipments, organizing the goods, and unwrapping and inspecting them for quality. The work often requires heavy lifting, and sometimes also the use of forklifts or other machinery designed to move pallets of goods from one place to another.

Stocking shelves takes more than just putting things away, as stock clerks must pay attention to how things are arranged and ordered. Clothing must be grouped by size, for example, and perishable foods are displayed by expiration date or by using a promotional display.

As warehouses increase their use of automation and computers, stock clerks are becoming more adept at using technology. Many use tablets or hand-held computers to keep track of inventory. New sensors and tags enable these computers to automatically detect when and where products are moved, making clerks’ jobs more efficient.

Stock clerks typically do the following:

• Keep records of items shipped, received, or transferred to another location
• Compile reports on various aspects of changes in production or inventory
• Find, sort, or move goods between different parts of the business
• Check records for accuracy

What is the workplace of a Stock Clerk like?

Stock clerks can work in a grocery store, electronics store, department store, factory, or warehouse. They typically have standard Monday-through-Friday shifts, although some work nights and weekends or holidays when large shipments arrive.