What Does an Order Selector Do?
An order selector fills customer orders by selecting and packaging products. They must have a strong sense of accuracy and detail as their responsibilities include ensuring that orders are properly packaged for shipping, contain the selected product and the selected amount, and are shipped safely to their destination. Typically employed in a warehouse or stockroom, order selectors should be physically fit, able to lift heavy loads, and fill orders in a timely manner.
These individuals must be organized, able to operate various warehouse equipment and machinery, and have excellent knowledge of their environment to move items to the correct loading docks. Order selectors should also be safety conscious and adhere to warehouse safety procedures when operating equipment. They need to be able to manage inventory and ensure that stock levels don’t fall below demand, and possess good computer skills and excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
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National Average Salary
Order selector salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for an Order Selector is:
$30,000
Order Selector Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring an order selector. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
[Your Company Name] is looking for an experienced order selector to join our company. The ideal candidate would be able to work independently to fulfill orders, but can also be a team player when the warehouse crew needs to work together to clean the storage area and maintain inventory control. They need to be organized and follow guidelines to ensure the safety of themselves and others. While the job can become stressful at times due to several orders, it can also be fun as you pack orders in a fast-paced environment and get them to the truck for delivery.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Gather order information to fulfill deliveries
- Grab ordered items from storage using barcodes and serial numbers
- Perform everyday warehouse duties as needed
- Securely wrap items before putting them in envelopes or boxes
- Operate warehouse equipment complying with safety regulations
- Determine potential risks before using warehouse equipment
- Receive and follow directions given by a supervisor
- Review documentation and work procedures
- Put items in envelopes or boxes and seal them shut
- Update inventory after deliveries are sent out
- Label order shipments for quick identification
- Keep warehouse clean and organized
- Perform regular inspection of orders to ensure they are accurate and ready for shipment
- Communicate with colleagues to maximize work completion
- Load delivery trucks and other vehicles
Education and experience
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- 2+ years of experience in a similar role working in a warehouse
Required skills and qualifications
- Proficiency using a barcode scanner
- Independent to work independently
- Ability to stay motivated
- Understands industry safety regulations
- Good team player
- High physical strength and stamina
- Great oral communication skills
- Ability to work well under pressure while reaching quick deadlines
- Attention to detail
- Basic computer skills
- Can work in a fast-paced environment for long hours
- Good mechanical skills
- Able to lift up to 50 pounds
- Able to keep on your feet for hours without fail
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with inventory management
- Forklift license
- Solid mathematical skills
- Experience with handling warehouse equipment
Example 2
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Manages pick ticket orders
- Pulls warehouse items from the shelves based on the number, size, color, quantity, and quality requirements
- Ensures that orders are accurate
- Stages items correctly for delivery
- Operates walkie jack equipment and ensures safety regulations are followed
- Ensures warehouse goals are met
- Maintains a high level of health and safety standards
- Shrink wraps products to pallets
- Loads delivery vehicles
- Packs warehouse orders as necessary
- Works in varying temperature from -30F – 95F
- Operates scanners so that the proper order is picked, and inventory is managed accurately
- Cleans aisles of warehouse and dock
- Performs other general warehouse duties as needed
Qualifications
- Previous Experience Working in a Warehouse Preferred
- Experience Working with an RF Scanner Preferred
- Keen Attention to Detail
- Ability to Lift Heavy Objects
- Ability to Stay on Feet for Long Periods of Time, Positive Attitude, Self-Motivated, Active, etc.
- Safety Conscious: Ability to Work in a Fast-Paced, Busy Environment
- Ability to Work in a Chilled Area (For Refrigerated Warehouses)
- Good Communication Skills: Ability to Work Well on a Team but Be Self-Motivated and Independent at times
Example 3
Job requirements and basic qualifications
- Use voice-based order system to pull and palletize store orders
- Manually stacking product onto pallets, wrapping, and preparing product for shipment
- Respect all Good Organics compliances when stacking product
- Operating an electric/motorized ride on standing pallet jack (either single or double)
- Assist in cleaning the warehouse, maintaining a safe working environment
- Comply with all applicable health and safety codes
- Communicate and maintain employee safety and security standards
- Arrive to work on time, wear appropriate PPE, work all scheduled shifts, complete required trainings, and attend required meetings.
- Ability to read and speak basic English
- Must be 18 years of age
- Perform other duties as assigned by Team Leader, Associate Team Leader, Facility Leadership
Skills, requirements, and professional knowledge
- Experience working with an electric/motorized ride on standing pallet jack (either single or double)
- Experience with voice systems a plus
- Team-player with positive attitude
- Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Able to work well with others, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with little supervision
Working conditions and physical requirements
- Ability to stand or walk at least 10 hours, and be able to frequently push, pull, squat, bend, and reach with or without reasonable accommodation
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs., and occasionally lift up to 70 lbs. (team lift suggested for weights in excess of 70 lbs)
- Work in a cold/wet storage facility environment (ranging from -10 (freezer) to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). General warehouse temps 34-46 degrees, Freezer -10 degrees
- Regularly getting on and off powered equipment, stepping on and off throughout shift
- Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling
- Ability to use tools and equipment, including box cutters, electric pallet jacks, headset
Example 4
The Order Selector uses a pallet-jack to manually select cases of grocery products from the bin location, palletizing, and shrink wrapping the merchandise and delivering it to a staging area without damage. Product selection is guided by instructions from inventory selection software through hands-free headset.
Responsibilities
- Pick product from bin locations by following instructions through hands-free headsets and speaking into headset to confirm location, wrap product with shrink-wrap following established procedures, and deliver to staging area.
- Efficiently operate a battery-powered pallet-jack
- Build and transport a stable pallet of various food products up to seven feet high
- Order Selector must meet established minimum productivity standards cases per hour working in a fast-paced environment
- Ensure product integrity and the cold chain is maintained throughout the selection process
- Maintain a safe and clean working environment. May participate on company safety committee
- May participate in panel interviewing process, but does not have authority to make hiring decisions
- Adhere to company policies, standards and best practices, including safety and attendance standards
- Other duties as assigned by management (or designee)
About you
- Must be 18 years of age
- High School diploma or equivalent required
- Successful Completion of Powered Industrial Truck Operators Training (PITOT) certification required
- Six to twelve months experience safely operating industrial equipment and/or order selecting preferred
- Strong detail orientation is required
- Must be able to read, write and speak in English. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication, interpersonal skills. Language proficiency in Spanish or other languages are a plus in certain locations
- Proficiency in basic math skills required, including accurate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and basic computer skills
- Teamwork, self-motivated, problem-solving, and initiative to support the needs of a fast-paced environment
- Must be dependable and flexible, including a willingness to work in other areas of the warehouse, as needed with little or no advance notice, and willingness to work shifts on varying days of the week, including holidays and weekends
Physical requirements
- Must be able to bend, twist, kneel, squat, turn, reach, pull, push, balance, and lift objects up to 85 pounds, in a fast-paced environment for extended period of time
- Must be able to transport various objects weighing 20-85 lbs. repeatedly throughout the shift
- Must have the ability to stand, walk and move about for extended periods of time
- Must be able to stand and balance throughout the shift while operating industrial equipment
- Required to pass physical capacity test at 100%.
- Regularly works in warehouse environment with heat and cold, including freezers, coolers and refrigerators in temperatures as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- OSHA Forklift Certification & Online Training. Obtaining a forklift license will make competitive candidates. It is required by law to have a forklift license, so most companies require candidates to earn the certification before they start the job. During this training, they will learn how to safely operate a forklift by learning how to drive, lift, and transport items using the machine. Not only will their employer be thanking them for earning this certificate beforehand, but they will also thank themselves since forklifts allow them to quickly move items around the warehouse that would normally take hours to do themselves.
- Logistics and Distribution Certification. This certification is great for candidates interested in working in a warehouse but is especially useful for candidates looking to become an order selector. This course will teach them how to stock and store products, properly operate warehouse machines and equipment, and fulfill customer orders effectively. Earning the Logistics and Distribution Certification will get them the right head start in becoming a warehouse employee and help demonstrate to their future employers that they are interested in learning more about the position they’ll be starting.
- APICS Certification. The American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) offers a certification that focuses on supply chain operation and inventory management in a warehouse setting. This is perfect for candidates looking to be an order selector but don’t have the right experience with inventory management to succeed at the job. This will help them know how to manage inventory by learning the process of ordering, storing, tracking, and using inventory when they are fulfilling orders.
How to Hire an Order Selector
When hiring an order selector, first consider the following:
- Recruiting: Do you have the knowledge, tools, and resources to attract and screen candidates?
- Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid or junior-level skills and experience suffice?
- Duration: Is this a one-time project or an ongoing need?
- Management: Do you have the time and expertise to direct the work effectively?
- Urgency: How soon does the work need to be completed?
- Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?
Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, great options exist for every scenario. These are our recommendations:
1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)
The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
This is the best route to take when:
- You need to fill the position quickly
- You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
- Your position is suited for temporary hiring services, contract staffing, or contract-to-hire recruiting, and you intend to direct the work activity.
- You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff.
- You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
2. Advertise your opening on a top job board
Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.
We recommend using a job board when:
- Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
- You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort
- You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
- You are prepared to respond to all applicants
We recommend using CareerBuilder for order selector openings:
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.
3. Leverage your internal resources
You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.
A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.
We recommend these options when:
- Your brand has great name recognition
- You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
- You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
- You have an effective employee referral program in place
If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.
Sample Interview Questions
- How do you ensure accuracy and efficiency in your work as an order selector?
- What techniques do you use to double-check that you are selecting the correct products and quantities for each order?
- How do you handle tight deadlines or high-pressure situations when you have to work effectively and efficiently?
- Have you ever had to adapt to a new process or technology, and how did you integrate it effectively into your workflow?
- When dealing with a high volume of orders or changing priorities, how do you prioritize your workload?
- How do you ensure safety while operating equipment like pallet jacks and forklifts?
- In order to prevent product damage or spoilage, how do you track and organize inventory?
- Do you keep up with the best warehouse equipment and technologies, and how do you integrate them into your daily work?
- When it comes to order selection and warehouse operations, what measures do you take to ensure that you follow all company policies and procedures?
- Describe a time when you collaborated with other members of the team to complete a complicated order, and how you addressed any challenges that arose.