3 Tips to Get Hired for Warehouse and Light Industrial Jobs in 2021

In 2020, there were over one million active warehouse workers in the U.S.

The light industrial and warehouse industry is growing rapidly, defying the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multiple industries have experienced tumultuous times over the past year, but the warehouse sector continues to remain a strong career choice for many. Although the strength of the warehouse industry is great news for job prospects, it means that competition for these warehouse positions is at an all time high.

With so many applying for warehouse jobs right now, it can seem difficult to find a position, particularly if you are lacking in experience.

PSI is a leader in light industrial warehouse staffing so we have assembled some quick tips that can help!

Here are 3 top tips to get hired for a warehouse job in 2021…

1. Emphasize Your Soft Skills

It may come as a surprise, but it turns out that soft skills are one of the most important things that recruiters look for when placing candidates in light industrial jobs.

Soft skills are defined as non-technical skills that impact your ability to communicate and cooperate with others in the workplace. In a warehouse setting, you will most likely be working on a team for long periods of time. This environment makes soft skills, particularly communication, extremely important for success.

If you are looking for a light industrial job, make sure to emphasize soft skills on your resume. They may seem unnecessary when compared to your technical skills, but be assured, they are extremely important to recruiters and hiring managers. Here is a list of possible soft skills to include on your resume.

Light Industrial Top Soft Skills

• Reliability- Reliability is the most wanted soft skill in the light industrial industry. A recruiter or hiring manager needs to know that you can be counted on if placed in a warehouse role. If you list reliability on your resume, be sure to have professional references that can attest to your abilities.

• Attention to Detail- Many warehouse jobs require a high attention to detail in order to succeed. Show that you have great attention to detail by mentioning it on your resume. Use real examples from your past jobs to really grab a recruiter’s attention!

• Leadership and Mentorship- Leadership and mentorship skills are great to include on your resume, even if you are looking for an entry level role. Many light industrial companies will promote candidates if they see leadership capability. If you had any jobs that include these skills, make sure to include them.

• Organization- Within a warehouse setting, organization is extremely important to keeping the production process going smoothly. Emphasize your organization skills to get the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.

Soft skills are often ignored by many light industrial candidates, however they can really help set you apart from other applicants . Make sure to include a few soft skills like these and tie them to your professional references. Having others explain exactly why you are a dependable leader will help you get the job!

2. Prepare for Interviews

If you are looking to get a job in the warehouse industry, remember to prepare ahead of time for any interviews that you may have scheduled! Some candidates assume that warehouse jobs will not have a traditional interview process like a typical position. Although the interview may be a bit different than an office job, you should still prepare and be extremely professional throughout the process. Here is a list to help you get started with preparing!

Interview Prep Checklist

1. Bring a few copies of your resume- Print out at least 5 copies of your resume to bring with you when interviewing. If you are not sure how to make a resume, there are many different sites online that can help. Check out resume.io for warehouse resume templates!

2. Dress nicely- Even though you will be dressing differently if you get the job, make sure to dress properly for your interview. No need to be super fancy, but show employers that you care enough to dress up.

3. Research the company beforehand- Take time to look on the website of any company that you are interviewing with. Learn more about what they are looking for in candidates and do your best to research their industry. Having a bit of knowledge can go a long way when impressing recruiters in an interview.

4. Prepare and notify your professional references- If your references are not included on your resume, be sure to include them on another sheet when going to an interview. Notifying your references ahead of time is also a good idea, as it looks bad if they are surprised when prospective employers call.

Remember that a warehouse interview may be a little bit more casual than an office interview, but professionalism and timeliness are still crucial! Set yourself apart from other candidates by arriving early, bringing extra copies of your resume, and researching the company beforehand.

3. Expand Your Network

When you are looking for a warehouse job, one of the best ways to search is through networking. If you have been applying to hundreds of jobs and not hearing back, don’t worry! This happens to everyone, it may just be time to modify your job search tactics.

These positions can be highly competitive, and you may be getting lost in the thousands of candidates that apply every day. One of the best things that you can do when searching for a warehouse job is to expand your professional network.

“70% – 85% of all jobs are found through professional networking”

– LinkedIn (Networking Job Survey)

Talk with previous co-workers, supervisors, and anyone else that knows how valuable you are as an employee. Let them know that you are looking for a new job and utilize their professional networks to help find leads.

In the warehouse industry specifically, word of mouth is extremely important. One networking option is to visit warehouses in-person that are currently hiring. Ask the supervisor or office staff what they are looking for in warehouse candidates, and drop off your resume for them to review. Even if they do not offer you a job right away, networking like this can greatly increase your chances of being hired.

Are you looking for a warehouse or light industrial job in 2021? PSI is here to help! We have multiple openings in the Greater Doylestown area. Call us today to get a new job!