Inventory Clerk A Great Career Ahead
An inventory clerk is responsible for managing incoming and outgoing supplies and products within a business. Depending on the industry, this may involve tasks such as stocking showroom floors or ordering the necessary raw materials for a business. While most inventory clerks work indoors, some clerks may be responsible for receiving shipments on a loading dock. Typically, the majority of inventory clerks work regular business hours.
Training
As an entry-level position, most inventory clerk jobs require only a high school diploma. The clerk receives industry-specific, on-the-job training once he gets the job. Some businesses require that the inventory clerks they hire have a basic knowledge of the industry so the clerk will be familiar with the materials he is charge of inventorying. Familiarity with computer software word processing and database and spreadsheet programs is also essential to finding a job as an inventory clerk.
Skills
Inventory clerks must be detail-oriented. They need strong clerical skills to help them with their organizational and recording responsibilities. The clerk might work behind the scenes ordering supplies, or he might work with customers as part of his job. In either case, the clerk needs good communication skills. Not only does an inventory clerk count items on hand, but he also may be responsible for assigning a value to the property. His physical counts must match computer records. The clerk may prepare reports for his supervisor relating to the inventory balance, shortages, defective items and price lists. The inventory clerk may be responsible for attaching price labels to merchandise or recording barcode information in the computer. Some inventory clerks are responsible for removing obsolete equipment from service and preparing it for disposal or sale.
