Job overview
Warehouse Operatives, sometimes called Warehouse Assistants, Production Operatives, or Picker/Packers, are responsible for sorting and organising products in a warehouse until they’re ready to be distributed to shops, stores, supermarkets, and for online deliveries.
Experience: Often no formal qualification or training required.
Work hours: Typically 1-40 hours per week. There can be varied shift patterns including night shifts.
Salary: £18,000-£22,000
We've helped many Beam members start work as a warehouse operative, see their stories here.
Day to day
Unloading vehicles and bringing delivered stock into the warehouse
Sorting specific products and placing them on shelves
“Picking”: collecting items, preparing and completing warehouse orders for delivery
Stock control: stock counting via a scanner or computer
Packing goods carefully into boxes
Occasionally operating machinery such as a Forklift
Pros and cons of a warehouse role
Pros:
✅ Working in a team
✅ Flexible shift patterns
✅ Often no formal training or qualification requirements
✅ Rewarding if you enjoy meeting targets and being on your feet
Cons:
❌ May involve antisocial hours such as night shifts and weekend work
❌ Can be intensive, physically demanding work involving heavy lifting and being on your feet for extended periods
❌ Warehouses may be very cold
❌ Warehouses may often be in remote areas with poor transport connections
Where to look for a role
There are many employers currently hiring and use search terms such as "warehouse operative" or "production operative" on jobs boards.
Some companies to get you started: