Shipping Clerk Requirements

Shipping Clerk Requirements

This post provides exhaustive information of the requirements you will be expected to meet to become a shipping clerk and build a successful career.

It highlights the major requirements, including educational, job, and certification requirements you will have to complete if you are seeking a career as a shipping clerk.

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Shipping Clerk Requirements for Career Success

If you are seeking to start and build a successful shipping clerk career, the following are major requirements you might be expected to fulfill:

1. Shipping Clerk Educational Requirements

Since the shipping and receiving clerk position is an entry-level one, a High School diploma or GED is mostly the only educational prerequisite.

Most shipping clerks learn and undergo training on specific systems and processes for their role while on the job.

Below are the educational requirements of a shipping clerk:

• High School diploma or General Education Development (GED): Entry-level shipping clerks typically need a High School diploma.

Admission requirements for High School diploma:

The individual must have completed High School educational program and must have passed the required courses.

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree: If you want to remain in the field but you want to move to a supervisor or warehouse manager position, consider pursuing more advanced educational programs such as an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Warehouses and Logistics.

Admission requirements for Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree:

To enlist for this program, you must have graduated from a High School with a diploma and excelled in the required courses.

2. Shipping Clerk Job Requirements

These qualities or qualifications refer to those specific skills and experience that employers commonly expect from candidates applying for the shipping clerk position.

Depending on the size of the company and the scope of requirements for each position, requirements for shipping clerks may vary.

The various job requirements for shipping clerk role may include:

• A High School diploma qualification or equivalent
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, as many packages are large
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a busy dispatch environment
• Prior experience in business or a relevant field
• Flexible work hours
• Ability to operate forklifts and other necessary warehouse vehicles
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to maintain and endure a high level of physical activities for prolonged periods, and working primarily standing and lifting of heavy items
• Interpersonal skills are required as working as a team is important to maintaining an organized warehouse.

3. Shipping Clerk Certification Requirements

Certifications are beneficial as a way for employees to step up their value for a particular position and a way for an individual to demonstrate that they want to advance their careers.

Certifications can also be a way to qualify for and be able to opt for or apply for senior positions without advancing your educational qualification.

The three most common certifications in the shipping clerk field are:

• Certified Professional in Inventory Management (CPIM): To improve in your career as a shipping clerk, you need to apply for CPIM certification and consider getting a career in inventory management; the CPIM, created by APICS, is a helpful certification.

Requirements: It requires two years of work experience in the shipping industry and knowledge of terminology as well as common concepts that are valuable in this role.

• Certified Professional in Supply Management: This certification focuses on purchasing and procurement. This certification covers the study of procurement practices, financial management but not limited to contract management.

Requirements: It requires a Bachelor’s degree, or if you don’t have a degree, you must have five years of supply chain management experience.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional: This certificate is designated by Association for Operations Management. Certified Supply Chain Professional certification is ideal if you want a general overview of the supply chain management best practices. This certification equips you with high-level skills and knowledge.

Requirements: To be eligible for this certification, you must have a Bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant business experience. You must have another APICS or Institute of Supply Management certification as well as two years of relevant experience.

Shipping Clerk Responsibilities

Shipping clerks works effectively and efficiently in a warehouse environment to receive and schedule shipping and freight operations at a specified time.

They have a working knowledge of warehouse organization and ability to properly create, fill, and ship documents without complications.

The clerk works together with shipping and warehouse team and personnel form other related departments to ensure customer satisfaction.

Shipping clerks are responsible for ensuring that merchandise leaving a company’s warehouse reaches the designated location by creating shipping documents, such as invoices and purchase orders.

Once an order has been filled, the clerk will be responsible for monitoring each shipment to make sure that outgoing packages are packed correctly and accurately; he/she will ensure it is delivered to the correct destination.

Shown below are highlights of the shipping clerk’s functions:

• Ensure all shipments receive the proper labeling and postal charges with vital information, and are packaged to arrive safely
• Monitor inventory and keep management and supervisors aware of product shortages, and order more units as needed
• They organize stock, merchandise, and shipments in the warehouse by properly boxing and labeling of items to designated location
• Pack and unpack orders and items while maintaining department schedule
• Effectively use organizational systems and warehouse technology to locate and gather stock
• Record and input order details on the computer system for future reference
• Pack shipments into containers for shipping
• Keep the warehouse clean and neat
• Printing shipping documents such as sales receipts and cross-checking with the computer to ensure accuracy.

Conclusion

If you are seeking to become a shipping clerk and grow your career, this post shows you the educational, job, and certification requirements you should be prepared to fulfill.