Warehouse FAQs

Your warehouse and temporary work questions answered.

What is a Warehouse Operative role?

A Warehouse Operative role is also known as 'Warehouse Worker', 'Warehouse Operator', 'Warehouse Picker' and 'Picker Packer'.

Year-round, and throughout the UK efficient and organised individuals who thrive in a fast-paced atmosphere are working in a Warehouse Operative role. Warehouse Operatives make up a large community of dedicated, hard-working and energised individuals who pride themselves on their commitment and work ethic. 

How much do warehouse jobs pay?

A warehouse job can pay between £7.82 - £9.97 per hour / £13,396- £22,337 per year for an entry level role such as a picker packer or warehouse operative. Shifts will include days, nights, weekends, split shifts.

It is important to make sure you are being paid a fair wage for the work you do. Find out how to check that you are being paid the right amount for warhouse work.

What job titles are there in a warehouse?

The most common job titles in a warehouse environment would include

• Forklift Truck driver
• Warehouse Operative
• Warehouse Administrator
• Quality Assurance Inspector
• Warehouse Team Leader
• Warehouse Manager

Find out more about the roles available in a warehouse.

For warehouse career advice, download our career prospects infographic. 

What is the job description of a warehouse worker?

As a warehouse operative you will be working both alone and as part of a team with efficiency and commitment to complete your work and strive to maintain the business performance targets.

This role best suits upbeat and self-motivated individuals who enjoy working systematically and productively. The fast paced and energised environment relies on organisation and efficiency and with so much ground to cover in the line of duty it is important to ensure that you have a moderate level of fitness to enable you to comfortably carry out your tasks. 

You can read the full warehouse workers job description here.

What are the duties of a warehouse worker?

A warehouse worker has a varied work day which may include a mix of the following:

• Deliveries - Assisting with the unloading of vehicles and the checking in of stock
• Product placement - Sort and place materials or items on to racks, and shelves. 
• Picking  - Collecting items from throughout the warehouse, preparing and completing warehouse orders for delivery or pickup according to a schedule
• Stock Control - Performing warehouse inventory controls via scanner and or through a computer. Stock counting and location checks.

What are the duties of a forklift driver?

A Forklift Driver in a warehouse will be carrying out tasks that include

• Moving delivered products from vehicles into the warehouse then stacking and palletising products. 
• Moving pallets of products to and between warehouse racks.
• Utilising many equipment types including hand trucks, counterbalance forklifts, sit down forklifts, stand up forklifts, cherry-pickers, clamp and reach forklifts, industrial lift trucks, and pallet jacks.
• Using automatic and manual packing machines, scales and printing devices, labelling and managing inventory

What skills are needed to work in a warehouse?

Each role requires specific attributes that will be detailed with the job description but there are a few key skills that are applicable to all warehouse jobs including:

• Good organisational skills 
• Reliability and dependability         
• Literacy & numeracy         
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the job         
• Self-motivated         
• Upbeat and energised
• Flexible and willing take on a variety of tasks
• Team player

Find out more information about the skills you would need for working in a warehouse.

The key skills that you would gain during your time working in a warehouse would include

• Familiarity of warehouse environments and practices
• Ability to use inventory software, databases and systems 
• Experience with hand-held scanners and tablets
• Health and safety, safe lifting training
• Machinery operation experience

What does it mean to be have a temporary job?

If you have a temporary job you are working in a role on a short term basis. This means that it is not a permanent ongoing position. It is a job that is only available for a fixed period of time before the placement ends or in some cases before you are offered a permanent position.

Temporary warehouse work can be a great way to get started with an employer. It provides you with the opportunity to learn on your feet and gain a great understanding of the role and how it varies between warehouse locations and types. 

If you are considering taking on a temporary job why not read through our pros and cons of temporary or seasonal work blog to help you make an informed decision?

How long are you allowed to be a temporary employee?

You can be a temporary employee indefinitely if you wish but after 12 weeks in a role you are entitled to the same rights as someone employed directly. This is known as 'equal treatment'.

Your rights include:

• 'equal pay' - the same pay as a permanent colleague doing the same job
• automatic pension enrolment   
• paid annual leave"

You can read more about your rights as a temporary warehouse worker.

If you want to move on from being a temporary worker and take on a permanent position in a warehouse be sure to read this post detailing our top tips for turning your temp job into a permanent position.

How do I get a temporary job?

The fastest way to get a temporary job is to register yourself with Blue Arrow.  

We specialise in recruiting both temp and perm roles across the UK in Admin & Secretarial, Transport & Logistics, Hospitality & Catering and Manufacturing & Production.

Is a summer job considered temporary?

Yes. A summer job is also known as a seasonal job or a fixed term role which means you only work for an agreed period of time such as over the summer months. While a temporary or summer job may seem like a stop gap on the face of it, it can quickly lead to permanent work if you know how to make the most of the opportunity. 

How long is a temporary job?

A temporary job can range from a few hours, a few weeks or even months. It is dependent on the needs of the organisation who are recruiting. Employers use temporary staff for many different reasons, but the main reasons tend to be, to increase staff levels during busy periods and to try out potential staff members with a view to selecting the best of the bunch to become permanent workers.