How to become a Storeperson
Storepersons receive, handle and dispatch goods coming into, or going out of, stores or warehouses.
Personal requirements for a Storeperson
- Enjoy practical work
- Good eyesight (may be corrected)
- Able to cope with the physical demands of the job
- Good memory and organisational skills
- Safety-conscious
Education & Training for a Storeperson
You can work as a storeperson without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job. You can also become a storeperson through a traineeship in Warehousing Operations. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10. For more details, see Section 2. Ask your career adviser about the possibility of starting some of this training in school.
Additional information
Storepersons are often required to operate a forklift, and may need to obtain a licence to Perform High Risk Work. For more information, refer to the separate entry for Forklift Operator.
Duties & Tasks of a Storeperson
Storepersons:
- Unload goods and check them against order forms
- Catalogue or label items with storage details
- Place goods in bins and on racks, or stack bulky items on floors
- Complete orders by selecting goods from shelves and checking them off appropriate lists
- Package and send out completed orders to customers
- Move heavy packages using forklift machinery
- Obtain details of the location and quantity of items in stock, using visual display units or computers
- Enter details of received delivery slips, requisitions and invoices into computers
- Count and record the number of items in store during stocktake
- Advise supervisor about stock and re-ordering levels
- Help keep the work area neat and tidy.
Tasks
- May use materials handling equipment, such as hydraulic pallet lifters and hand trucks, to move goods
- Labelling goods with details of storage location
- Operating specialised equipment, such as manually and electronically guided order pickers, and checking goods off picking list
- Packing and weighing goods and sealing boxes
- Unloading vehicles, opening packages and removing contents
- Operating computers to obtain details of location and quantity of items in stock
- Assisting with regular stocktakes
- Receiving incoming goods, checking for damage and for discrepancies between goods and invoices
- Operating machines to lift, place and remove goods on high levels
Working conditions for a Storeperson
Storepersons may also work as shelf-stackers who fill up shelves in stores and supermarkets. Storepersons may be required to lift or carry packages.
Employment Opportunities for a Storeperson
Demand for this occupation is widespread across most industries and in each state and territory. Major employers include manufacturers, container depots, food wholesalers and distributors, and resources companies. A move toward computerisation and automation has changed the nature of warehousing, storage and retrieval techniques, increasing the demand for workers with knowledge of appropriate operating systems and machinery.Smaller enterprises often require workers to be multiskilled. They may handle the stores function, but also deal with trade or retail sales. Promotion to senior storeperson, sales clerk, stock clerk, sales representative or warehouse manager is possible with experience and further training.
Specializations
Storeperson
Storepersons receive, handle and dispatch goods coming into, or going out of, stores or warehouses.
Average age
34
Future Growth
Positive
Gender Share
26% female
Average full-time
41 hours
Weekly Pay
$1,237
Skill level rating
Entry level
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
76%
Employment Size
169,200
Employment by state
ACT: 0.5%
NSW: 32.5%
NT: 0.8%
QLD: 19.5%
SA: 6.7%
TAS: 1.5%
VIC: 28.3%
WA: 10.3%
Age brackets
15-19: 4.9%
20-24: 13.4%
25-34: 23.7%
35-44: 20.6%
45-54: 20.8%
55-59: 8.7%
60-64: 5.5%
65 and Over: 2.4%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 6.8%
Bachelor degree: 6.8%
Below Year 10: 7.2%
Certificate III/IV: 19.4%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 2%
Year 10 and below: 24.2%
Year 11: 9.2%
Year 12: 31.6%
Years 11 & 10: 23.9%
