5 Soft Skills to Look for in Warehouse Employees

Hiring for a warehouse involves finding candidates who can perform the technical aspects of the job. However, like any other recruitment process, you also need to look at the total package. Discovering the right fit involves looking for the essential soft skills that will allow your new employee to thrive in your organization. 

But what should you look for? What specific soft skills are most important for success in a warehouse setting?

Here are five key competencies to identify in your next warehouse hire: 

Organization  

Your warehouse is a busy place, with lots of moving parts. In many ways, it’s the heart of your business. However, the hectic pace of everyday operations makes it hard to keep it clean and well-ordered. 

The process becomes much easier when your warehouse employees have the right mindset. An organized worker will help you keep operations flowing, without creating clutter or safety hazards. You’ll be able to track inventory better while maintaining a more orderly workplace. 

Problem Solving 

Small inconveniences come up every day in operation. They are routine, even in the most well–organized warehouses. Inventory gets misplaced, machines breakdown, or an absence of a team member forces people to take on unfamiliar roles.  

Who solves these problems when they come up? You don’t want to have to step in every time, especially for the small, mundane issues. You have larger responsibilities to take care of. As such, your job becomes significantly easier when your warehouse employees have problem-solving skills of their own. They can take care of the small day-to-day challenges, so you can concentrate on longer-term projects. 

Flexibility  

The modern workforce is all about flexibility. Workers need to move around to various parts of the warehouse, performing different tasks as needed. Doing so gives you the ability to react to changes in conditions and maintain productivity even during challenging times.  

To maximize your ability to respond to events, seek out warehouse employees who can perform multiple tasks. Someone who only has one set of skills, even if they are highly qualified, can become a liability in an emergency situation. 

Adaptability 

Flexibility allows your workers to change tasks in the moment. However, you also want this talent to apply over the long term as well. You need workers who can learn new skills and evolve with a changing economy. In other words, you need employees who can adapt. 

Look for people with a willingness to change. Test new workers on the latest technology and see how they respond. Once you have this information, give preference to the people who can change over time. This individual adaptability will help your business evolve as well. 

Team Focus 

Like every aspect of your business, the warehouse operates as a team. You need someone who fits into this concept. Look for people who can communicate well with others, and operate effectively in a group situation. It will aid productivity and feed into strong morale. 

Finding the right workers can pose a major challenge. You need people with the right technical skills, as well as the right mix of underlying talents. Working with a strong recruiting partner, like SmartTalent, can streamline the process. You can find the right team members to maximize your warehouse operations.  

Contact SmartTalent today to start finding the perfect fit for your organization.