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So, isn’t warehousing just another job, I know you can advance anywhere with any job but it’s just a paycheck when it’s all said and done? Hi, I’m Marty with Warehouse and Operations as a Career. If you’ve listened to any of our episodes you know we here at WAOC throw a little more passion into warehousing than that. Of course, a warehouse job can be, and for many people, it is just a paycheck. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with looking at it that way. On out Oct 10th show we looked into the new Gig or app work available to us now, and on the 3rd we spoke to the advantages of part-time warehouse positions. Both are great avenues for us when we’re looking for seasonal monies or supplemental income, or maybe our personal responsibilities will only allow us to work when we want or we can! Again, there’s, or I feel that there’s, a position that’ll fit anyone’s needs in our industry. I’ve mentioned many of my old-time friends and their positions before. Many of them have been selectors or forklift drivers for 15 or 20 years, I have a great friend that’s been in warehouse sanitation for 30 years. They never wanted more responsibility; they loved their jobs and I’ve got to say there all really good at what they do! So yes, if we’re looking at it that way, warehousing is just another job and it’s a paycheck when it’s all said and done. Saying that just made me think about general labor positions, well not really G/L tasks, more like general warehouse jobs. That’s another thing about warehousing, it encompasses so many different industries and one-off tasks that there’s literally something every one of us can do. So, I went on-line and looked at all the different open positions out there in warehousing, and I found a ton. Let’s look at some good paycheck jobs real quick. Now when I say paycheck jobs, I’m not saying there’s no advancement opportunities with’em, we’re just going to talk about the task itself.
Here is a good ad. 50 people are needed for packing candy & nuts. I’d assume these would be shipping for the holiday season coming up. It states no experience needed, must be able to stand for long periods of time and work in a cool environment. Although this is 12-week project permanent employees may be hired on full time.
I saw another ad for the storage and selection of phone/computer parts. Pretty much the same qualifications, applicant needs to be comfortable with standing for an 8-hour shift and able to lift up to #20lbs throughout the shift. They called this position picker and shipping.
Here’s one that sounded pretty good, it was titled a packer position. You’d be packing paper and plastic cups that came off a production line, checking quality or controlling quality coming off the line and placing the sleeved product into the shipping boxes. This one was at a production facility that also stored and distributed the products. A pretty big outfit.
Personally, I think some of the best warehouse jobs are in our production and manufacturing arenas. Things like: Packers, Sorters, and Shipping, you know like the parcel lines and services. Warehouse sanitation, that’s a great field. Forklift driving, especially with positions where your hauling freight on the larger docks can be another great long term and career position. Any kind of machine operation is great and can be long term. I know a lady that’s been operating a pinto bean machine for many years, she’s bagging 25 and 50 lb bags off of a production line, she loves it! Building maintenance is a great choice too. There’s a pallet jack mechanic here in Texas that’s been with the same company for over 9 years. At that same building there’s a facilities guy that’s been changing light bulbs and light building maintenance forever. I’ve known both of them several years, their great guys and you’ll never meet a happier employee. Assembly is another long-term position, oh and pallet sorting, I know of a pallet sorter out east that’s been doing it for over 20 years. These are all great positions, Careers if you will that will provide us with great paychecks, and they’ll take care of our families. Again, if a job and a paycheck is what were after warehousing can certainly provide it.
And your distribution facilities have those positions available too. It’s a little different as in distribution we interact with each other much more. I don’t mean us as individuals really, but as departments. Unloaders are working very closely with receivers who work closely with runners and forklift drivers and they’re attached to inventory control, putaway and replenishment forks and order selectors. And those guys are bringing freight out to the loaders and transportation. None of our distribution tasks are independent of the others really. With all that being said, any of those jobs can be long term for us. I just find that human nature sometimes pushes us to think that the grass is greener over in the next pasture. For me anyway, although I always loved every position, I ever had it seemed I always wanted to do what that next department was doing! I think forklift driving and sanitation positions are probably the best jobs to have as long term jobs to keep in a distribution facility. Or those are the positions that I know the most people enjoying them.
So yes, Warehousing can be just a job, some great jobs actually. But no, I wouldn’t call them just a paycheck though. We stuck with them because we loved the work, enjoyed the team and the company, I’d like to call those jobs our careers! I like to think of jobs as something to pay our bills with and careers as what we enjoy, something that pays for our life, our families and our homes! I hope all that answers your question.
Well, there’s only 7 more weeks of 2019 ladies and gentlemen! Have we all accomplished what we wanted too? I’m right in line with all my personal goals for the year and I’m doing pretty good with my professional one’s too. I’m starting to believe I may wrap up the year just like I expected too! One of my opportunities this year was I got a little overzealous in my goals. I think that’s something all of us planners do. But that’s ok, we can always adjust as we go. Remember, although we’ve written down our goals, and hopefully have someone helping hold us accountable for them, we can always change things up as needed.
So, what about journaling, have you gotten on board with recording the events of the day yet? Are you doing a little planning for tomorrow or for the week? Maybe the next month, quarter or year? See how I slid some planning in there! Seriously though, and honestly. If you want to earn more money, journaling will get you there. I dare you to try it. https://mellowed.com/journaling-for-beginners/ has a great article for beginners. I’ve used the Franklin Day Timers before, there great. That’s the method I started with actually. I’m using Michael Hyatts Full Focus Planner right now, a bit complex, but maybe something you’d like to look into once you develop the habit!
Speaking of habits, how are we doing with our self-education this year? This is one area I feel I got out front of in 2019. I wanted to learn much more about Safety, particularly in the light industrial field and I’m feeling good about that goal. There’s so much free info out there about our fields, I hope we all take advantage of it.
So, 2020, what’s sup? To be truthful I haven’t sat down and put anything to paper yet. I need to set aside some time in a quiet place and get busy though. I haven’t given next year’s goals much thought even. I hope each of you are ahead of me there! Share some of your ideas with me. Send some thoughts to host@warehouseandoperationsasacareer.com, maybe that’ll get me started! Over the next few weeks maybe we can get a discussion on goals and planning started on Facebook and Twitter? If you haven’t followed or liked us yet, use that @whseandops and join in each week! I learned something about Chep pallets this week from the Warehouse Equipment Operators Community on Facebook, join that group to learn a little about the differences between PECO and CHEP pallets. Chad, one of them members there explained his thoughts very well, almost changed my personal opinion!
I have a lot of bullet points written we just didn’t get to today. I got side tracked on planning and goals. Well, we’ll pick up next week where I left off, I guess. If you do have any thoughts on goals, seriously, send me an email. I’m always looking for some fresh thoughts. Maybe we can help each other out!
Well, until next week, be productive, prosperous, and above all Be safe out there!