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Receiving Clerk Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Receiving Clerk interview questions and answers.

  1. Do you have an experience in which you reorganized shipments in a storage area that made you proud and the job more efficient? See answer
  2. If you could dictate procedures, what would your process be for dealing with damaged items and invoice discrepancies? See answer
  3. What is your process for ensuring your safety and that of teammates while working in a warehouse? See answer
  4. Which receiving software and equipment have you used and what are your experiences with them?
  5. What is an experience you had dealing with a difficult vendor and how did you resolve the situation?
  6. Which types of warehouses have you received in and do you have experiences in other receiving environments, such as the hospitality industry?
  7. Do you have experience lifting and moving heavy objects? Can you operate a forklift?
  8. What processes do you use to improve the accuracy of the information in an inventory database?
  9. What would you do if you notice a colleague is not wearing their PPE?
  10. List five important skills for a receiving clerk.
  11. List things to check when inspecting a shipment.
  12. How would you inform a shipper about a quantity error in a shipment? What would you do immediately after discovering the error?
  13. Why should we hire you for this role?
  14. What would you do if you discover a shipment of contraband in the warehouse?
  15. If you found a colleague unlawfully taking a damaged item from the warehouse, what would you do?
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6 Receiving Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

Which receiving software and equipment have you used, and what are your experiences with them?

A:

Since software is often proprietary, the concepts learned are more important than the specific platforms used. An experienced receiving clerk can pick up new systems and different applications quickly. It is important to identify a candidate who appreciates the fundamental importance of logging. This is information others will have to base decisions on and may need to understand months or even years down the line. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with various receiving techniques
  • A detail-oriented and thorough approach
  • An appreciation for the importance of logging for a team
Example:

“I have used several commercial platforms and hand-held scanners, and I know how to create logs that make it easier on the next clerk.”

Q:

What is an experience you had dealing with a difficult vendor, and how did you resolve the situation?

A:

Receiving clerks often have to manage relationships with many different types of personalities. People skills are paramount, and a real eagerness to nurture associations is often the difference between being just another clerk and being a real asset for your company. The best candidates lay inroads with vendors that can pay real dividends for your organization. What to look for in an answer:

  • A true feel for dealing with people
  • Putting the objective above personal feelings
  • A vendor relationship that had improved post-incident
Example:

“I had trouble with a vendor who had a bad disposition due to experiences with a previous clerk, but I eventually won him over.”

Q:

Do you have an experience in which you reorganized shipments in a storage area that made you proud and the job more efficient?

A:

Organizational skills are very important for receiving clerk positions. Candidates must be able to adhere to organizing rules and guidelines as well as be able to make effective decisions on the fly. An appreciation for reorganizing to make better use of space is an important asset as well. What to look for in an answer:

  • Possesses strong organizational skills
  • Utilizes creative approaches to organization
  • Uses geometry and other skills to make better use of space
Example:

“I reorganized the damaged items area to reclaim 30 percent of the space, and the company later applied some of those concepts to storage overall.”

Q:

Which types of warehouses have you received in, and do you have experiences in other receiving environments, such as the hospitality industry?

A:

Efficient receiving is all about managing the unexpected. Challenges can often be unique, and effective receiving clerks are problem solvers who think quick on their feet and multitask. Some of that ability is natural inclination, but these are learnable skills. It helps to know if a candidate has experiences relevant to your company as well as diverse experience that can help them succeed. What to look for in an answer:

  • Expressing what differentiates various roles
  • Experience that is relevant to your organization
  • Diverse experiences that can benefit in other ways
Example:

“I have five years of experience working for a major online retailer. Before that, I received at a hotel where I placed all orders.”

Q:

If you could dictate procedures, what would your process be for dealing with damaged items and invoice discrepancies?

A:

Perhaps the greatest value receiving clerks provide an organization is how they manage damaged shipments, incorrect orders and even shipments that were never ordered. Procedures are often dictated by administrators not on the floor. The answer to this question can reveal how much the candidate understands logistics and whether he or she possesses insights that can make them particularly valuable to your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • An appreciation for receiving logistics
  • A detail-oriented and thorough approach
  • Interesting ideas on how to streamline orders, returns and replacements
Example:

“I would establish a preferred, single point of contact for each regular vendor so that the receiving team had immediate access to expedited resolutions.”

Q:

What is your process for ensuring your safety and that of teammates while working in a warehouse?

A:

Receiving clerks must know the safety procedures to follow while working in warehouses to prevent accidents and keep themselves and others safe. This question shows interviewers the candidate's understanding of health and safety procedures and regulations. A skilled receiving clerk should be able to coordinate warehouse operations to ensure that goods are received, arranged and dispatched safely. The candidate's answer should emphasize:

  • Knowledge of safety regulations
  • Ability to enforce safety procedures
  • Accident prevention and control
Example:

“When I'm working in a warehouse, safety is one of the most important considerations along with speed and efficiency. To keep myself and others safe, I ensure that we are wearing personal protective equipment, such as safety shoes, hard hats, goggles and gloves. I also ensure that every warning sign and signal works correctly and employees listen to them. We also have to be alert and report any breach of safety procedures immediately.”

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