Stocker or Shelf Stocker Job Description: Qualifications and Outlook

The stocker job description, or shelf stocker, mostly involves organizing, stocking, and restocking shelves with goods. Depending on the type of stocker job, somebody in the profession can end up with any number of tasks. You won’t find them all in the same workplace, but all of them are part of the stocker job description. Most of these involve physical work, such as lifting and carrying. Read our job description below to learn more about what this position entails.

Job Overview: What Does a Stocker Professional Do?

The stocker job description, or shelf stocker, can take many forms. From the standard grocery stocker job description to the less prevalent overnight shelf stocker job description, these jobs might have the same responsibilities. However, some of these may vary from one workplace to another. Also, most positions usually include managing display areas and space, as well as organizing products.

Stocker Job Duties

• Accepting delivered packages and unpacking items from boxes
• Ensuring that the proper number or amount of items is in each package
• Unloading merchandise and stocking shelves with items
• Marking items with individual ID codes (prices, stock numbers, barcodes, inventory control codes, etc.)
• Completing mail, phone, and internet orders and ensuring that customers receive their orders
• Keeping records of sales and computing merchandise prices, also replacing missing and damaged products
• Getting merchandise ready for shipping and replenishing store inventory, also determining the origin of inventory issues
• Organizing advertising campaigns inside the store and helping customers with merchandise questions
• Attracting customers to different aisles and assisting customers to fill orders
• Sorting products and placing excess products in storage rooms
• Making sure that no expired or damaged items are on the shelf
• Reporting damages to carts, shelves, baskets, and other store property
• Collaborating with suppliers, shippers, and vendors
• Performing routine warehouse and shelf maintenance checks
• Carrying out the occasional repairs, also dusting and cleaning shelves

Stocker Job Essential Skills

Organizational Skills. Stockers need to have excellent organizational skills in order to arrange merchandise and coordinate their daily activities efficiently. They need to be able to work both independently and under supervision, and to follow instructions and take directions without comment. Also, it is vital to have self-motivation as a skill set.

Interpersonal Skills. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for stockers as well, since they work with people and need to be able to cater to the customers’ needs adequately. They also need to maintain a good working relationship with colleagues and superiors alike.

Computer Skills. Being able to work on the computer in a fast manner is also highly relevant, as is knowing basic mathematics. Also, it is imperative to have attention to details and be able to learn a place’s schematics quickly.

Physical Strength. It is essential for a stocker to have enough physical strength to raise and carry around 40 pounds at a time. Also, it is crucial to be a very hard worker and have the ability to stand up for many hours, since the shifts can be during the night, during the day, or both. The stocker must be willing and able to climb ladders, stoop, bend, and perform physical labor all day long. Moreover, it is necessary for this professional not to be afraid of heights.

Becoming a Stocker Professional

Following store procedures and guidelines, keeping work spaces clean, and categorizing and storing goods also pertain to the stocker job description. The job description of a stocker can often be divided among different employees. Some employers prefer to have different employees for different stocker jobs. Almost three-quarters of all stockers were reported to be men in 2015. Most people in the occupation report moderate to high satisfaction levels when it comes to their jobs.

Qualifications & Training

The most common requirement for getting the stocker job is to be at least 18 years old. Having a high school diploma, or an equivalent, is also one of the most common requirements. While not mandatory, skills like word processing, bookkeeping, and taking computer courses can help one’s chances of getting the job.

Most employers do provide some degree of on-the-job training, particularly when it comes to inventories. Company representatives often teach Employer-dependent policies and regulations. Stocking duties, meanwhile, are usually explained by older employees, as is the layout of the workplace.

Work Experience

While employers often prefer work experience, it’s not always mandatory. Of course, most employers want their future stockers to know some things before they start working. Working the warehouse or shelves, performing inventory, and occasionally filling in for a cashier go much smoother with some experience.

The salary for someone with the stocker job description can grow by as much as $10,000 throughout a career longer than twenty years. Whether working for a department store, grocery store, or some other locale, stockers stand to benefit from the experience.

Working Hours

Stockers have a flexible schedule, be it working for a grocery store, department store, Walmart, or some other locale. They work shifts during the night or the day. Sometimes with the option of having schedule choices, though, they might need to stay overtime or come in for extra hours.

Job Outlook & Advancement Opportunities

Speaking of job opportunities, large department stores can lead to plenty of prospects. Other than a vast number of management position openings, there are also supervisor positions to be earned. From shift supervisor to inventory manager, and eventually general manager, stockers can move up in the company.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of employment for the profession will go up 7% by 2026. That is as fast as the national average for all occupations. Also, due to the increased rate of quitting caused by overexertion and work-related injuries, there are plenty of job openings, about 271,700 until 2026.

According to Payscale.com, a stocker earns anywhere between $7.92 and $14.14 per hour, getting around $25,003 per year. The pay depends on several factors, such as the employer, the experience of each employee, and the job description. For example, the salary for the retail stocker job description will be less than the pay for the warehouse stocker job description.

Traditional Hierarchy/Promotion Opportunities for a Stocker

Traditionally, this is the order in which you may be promoted when becoming a stocker:

• Stocker
• Team leader/mentor
• Stock manager
• Inventory manager (this would require a college degree)

Grocery Stocker Job Description

A lot of people interested in becoming a stocker will start out at a grocery store. So, we’re going to tell you a bit about a grocery stocker, specifically.

What is a grocery stocker?

A grocery stocker’s primary responsibility is to fill stock into the shelves of the grocery store. They don’t generally interact with customers, but occasionally may be asked questions by customers while they are stocking during working hours.

Grocery Stocker Duties

Mainly, a grocery stocker is tasked with organizing, labeling, and stocking products, as well as keeping the grocery store shelves neat and tidy. They also take down and put up displays, and will remove or relocate old products to make room for new ones.

An important part of a grocery stocker’s job is to stay updated on expiration dates so that they can be removed and replaced with fresh products. Some grocery store stocker’s may also have some light cleaning duties.

Here are all of the primary responsibilities associated with a grocery stocker:

• Sort grocery products and assign them with labels and price tags
• Stack product in an organized manner
• Maintain inventory counts
• Keep track of product life/expiration dates
• Keep record of grocery inventory
• Maintain inventory counts
• Coordinate with sales team and other departments
• Maintain order and cleanliness in store
• Store perishable goods
• Report damage in products to supervisor

Conclusion

The stocker job description may come with a salary below the minimum wage, but it’s still quite stress-free. Since most workers have flexible schedules and work unsupervised, they are happy with their positions. Most stockers work in warehouses, grocery stores, or huge department stores. The ability to perform physical labor for extended periods is a must-have for the position.