Hot Tip -- by Teresa Nelson

Who would have thought that the warehouse industry has so many jobs!

Usually when a person thinks about warehousing, they think of large buildings with shelves and shelves of product waiting to be shipped to the final customers or to the distributors. But based on research of two Calgary warehouses, Supply Chain Management and Hostess Frito Lay, there is much more.

The industry is on the rise and new job opportunities are emerging. Farrah Khoja, Hostess Frito Lay's distribution centre manager, says: "The warehouse industry is growing, especially with companies like Supply Chain Management expanding to over a million square feet. Customer needs are growing and therefore a new need for warehouses arises."

With growth comes new jobs and new opportunities within existing companies. Most companies have seasonal growth periods when it comes to hiring. For example, Hostess Frito Lay hires most of their additional warehouse staff over the summer months, but also hires warehouse technicians throughout the year.

Within a warehouse there are many job opportunities and chances for people to move into different positions. Often a person will start out as a warehouse technician, and can move from there up to a team leader and then to a distribution or warehouse manager. The great thing about this industry is there are many opportunities for someone to work his or her way up the chain. "Supply Chain Management (Wal Mart's warehouse) encourages employees to work their way up and promotes learning from within," states Kim Berrns, operations manager.

Below is an expanded description of some warehouse opportunities:

Warehouse technicians - No experience is needed for becoming a technician. The main role is to oversee the movement of materials. Some skills employers look for are physical strength, a willingness to learn and someone who enjoys doing some paper work. Some duties will involve shipping, receiving, and loading and unloading stock. Technicians will also work with co-ordinators, team leaders and truck drivers to communicate what is coming in and going out. Khoja states that registering for the warehouse apprenticeship can be an asset and assist in getting promotions for technicians. For more information see this month's Jump Start.

Team leaders - Route and product co-ordinators are two specific types of team leaders Hostess Frito Lay employs. Experience as a warehouse technician is helpful before becoming a team leader. A technician can be promoted to this position through experience working in the warehouse and learning from other team leads. Their roles include scheduling technicians, receiving orders from managers, working with computers to input orders, overseeing drivers, technicians, and docks. Some companies offer internal training programs for employees wanting to move to this position. Hostess Frito Lay offers "improvement courses" for employees and Supply Chain Management offers a "management in training" program.

Managers - Often, becoming a manager requires a combination of education and on the-job training. This will depend on the company and the amount of experience a person may have. Management and supervisory skills are an asset. Having a university degree in management can be helpful. This role includes overseeing the entire warehouse, auditing work and working with other departments such as sales, IT (information technology), HR (human resources) and quality assurance.

If you're not already surprised by all the opportunities in warehousing, there are other related industries. Berrns says: "Logistics is a growing industry. The logistics industry is in demand, looking for people with educational backgrounds or (who) come up through the ranks. "Logistics concentrates on how to "move the goods" as well as looking for the most cost effective and efficient ways to get the goods to the final customer. Others who work closely with the warehouse industry are sales people and the truck drivers who deliver the goods.

With so many choices and opportunities in the warehouse industry, take some time to do some research and check them out. Visit the Youth Employment Centre for additional assistance from a counsellor or a job developer, who can help connect you with an employer for an information interview, a job shadow or a work experience in this industry to help you with your decision and your research.

(Teresa Nelson is a job developer at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)