You know all that stuff in a store or manufacturer’s warehouse? Well, do you ever wonder who takes care of it all?
Meet the inventory associate.
What is an Inventory Associate?
An inventory associate is responsible for keeping track of the goods and supplies of a company and managing product orders to facilitate production and sales. Think of them like the behind-the-scenes workers who help an export and import or retail company run. They usually work in a warehouse or storage facility, but wherever they work, their job comes down to this: maintaining and recording inventory.
What Does an Inventory Associate Do?
As mentioned, an inventory associate keeps track of the goods and supplies of a company. They keep records of inventory, monitor and manage shipments, coordinate with vendors, check stocks of items, and conduct data entry. They are responsible for making sure shipping transactions and inventory records are correct, and they are deeply involved with resolving any issues that arise. If they work in a warehouse, they may use forklifts and other equipment to move boxes and other items.
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Oftentimes, an inventory associate retrieves specific items and organizing them into certain areas for customers. As such, they need to be aware of the needs of clients. You can see why an inventory associate’s role is crucial to an organization earning revenue.
Inventory Associate Duties and Responsibilities
To make sure inventory is properly stocked and organized, inventory associates are responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
- Communicating with suppliers to determine product availability and pricing
- Receiving and unpacking incoming shipments of merchandise
- Checking stored inventory and discarding inventory that does not meet the company’s standards
- Assisting customers with locating items in the store using computer tracking systems
- Maintaining a database of all inventory items, including product codes and other details
- Rotating the stock so the store is up to date with the current requirements
- Researching and resolving any inaccuracies in inventory and internal processes
- Conducting data entry, scheduling, customer service, etc., and related duties
- Packing the boxes, stocking the shelves, loading trailers, shipping goods, etc.
- Making sure any issues have been resolved
To accomplish many of these duties, inventory associates must possess certain character traits. These include:
- Good communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Stamina
- Good customer service
- Organizational skills
- Ability to be flexible under pressure
Education Requirements for an Inventory Associate
Inventory associate positions typically require at least a high school diploma or GED certificate, but some employees prefer candidates who have completed an associate or bachelor’s degree. Excelsior’s Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies can prepare you for success in entry-level careers in office administration, recordkeeping, and data entry. It is an appropriate choice if you are interested in becoming an inventory specialist.
According to Salary.com, the average salary range of an inventory associate falls between $38,582 and $49,420. Salary varies depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years in the profession.
FAQs
What Does an Inventory Associate Do? As mentioned, an inventory associate keeps track of the goods and supplies of a company. They keep records of inventory, monitor and manage shipments, coordinate with vendors, check stocks of items, and conduct data entry.
What is the career progression for Inventory Clerk? ›
What is the career path of an inventory clerk? An inventory clerk can progress to roles such as material handler, technician, and eventually operations manager.
What does an inventory associate do at Aritzia? ›
As the Inventory Associate, you will: Efficiently and accurately process incoming and outgoing shipments to and from our distribution centres, from store to store, and to our clients.
What does an inventory job do? ›
An Inventory Clerk is responsible for tracking current production levels and recording purchases and products in a warehouse. They review purchase orders to ensure they're accurate before processing them with suppliers and checking stock status by performing physical counts on shelves or in trucks.
What is the qualification of inventory associate? ›
There are no formal education requirements to become an inventory associate, though most have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Warehouses and companies often do inventory at unusual hours, so you need to have a flexible schedule and the ability to work a variety of shifts.
How do you describe an inventory associate on a resume? ›
Good example: “ As an experienced Inventory Associate, I have successfully managed inventory levels and ensured accuracy of product counts for multiple companies. I have an aptitude for identifying discrepancies and resolving them quickly and efficiently, resulting in a decrease in inventory shrinkage.
Is Inventory Clerk a hard job? ›
Since the job involves counting objects and recording data, inventory clerks need to be comfortable with basic computations as well as with software that deals with numbers. Other factors critical to the position include: Organization skills - juggling multiple items and demands requires a systematic approach.
Is inventory work hard? ›
It's a fact. One of the worst jobs in retail is inventory counting and stock management. It's tedious and can take up large amounts of a store associate's day. Whether it's ensuring the right items have been received or manually counting or scanning items one by one.
Why should we hire you as an Inventory Clerk? ›
You should look for an inventory clerk who is organized and can develop plans to maximize space and help sort and store different items. The candidate's response should emphasize: Organizational skills. Experience implementing organizational strategies.
What is the highest paying job at Aritzia? ›
Aritzia pay FAQs
The highest-paying job at Aritzia is a Senior Director - Sales with a salary of $257,365 per year (estimate). The lowest-paying job at Aritzia is a Sales Advisor with a salary of $25,766 per year (estimate).
What is the dress code at Aritzia? Casual. Dress cool as it can get really warm inside the warehouse.
What skills do you need to work at Aritzia? ›
THE QUALIFICATIONS
- Passion for providing excellent service and outstanding customer experiences.
- A commitment to learn and apply Aritzia's Business and People Leadership principles.
- The ability to collaborate fluently with cross-functional partners.
Inventory Associates aren't just responsible for monitoring what's inside the warehouse - they're also responsible for taking care of the warehouse itself. Doing so can involve sweeping aisles, organizing shelves and cleaning floors and other surfaces as needed.
Is inventory control a good career? ›
Inventory control offers many opportunities for career advancement, both within and outside the retail sector. You can start as an inventory clerk, assistant, or specialist, and work your way up to higher-level positions, such as inventory analyst, coordinator, supervisor, or manager.
How do you say you did inventory on a resume? ›
Received and counted stock items.
- Recorded data manually and by using the computer.
- Packed and unpacked items to be stocked within the office areas.
- Verified inventory by comparing the items to the physical counts of stock.
- Investigated discrepancies and adjusted errors.
An Inventory Clerk, or Inventory Associate, keeps track of the goods and supplies in a store or warehouse and manages orders to facilitate sales or production. Their duties include signing off on shipments, counting the number of available products and placing orders for more inventory according to demand.
What are the duties and responsibilities of inventory assistant? ›
Inventory Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage Inventory. The primary duty of any inventory assistant is to help manage the inventory. ...
- Prepare Mailing Labels. ...
- Inspect Incoming Shipments. ...
- Help Load and Unload Inventory. ...
- Review Prices. ...
- Assist on the Sales Floor.
A few of the main functions of inventory in supply chain management:
- Initial purchase (raw material or products for resale)
- Storage, usually in warehouses until needed for production or to resell to customers.
An inventory warehouse employee is responsible for keeping track of inventory. They do this using warehouse management software to keep information and organize it to make sense.
