Useful Stocker Skills (Definition And Tips to Improve)

A stocker is a trained professional who stocks shelves at a store. This job requires many abilities, such as customer service and interpersonal and communication skills. If you are interested in becoming a stocker, you may want to know the skills required to be successful at this job. In this article, we discuss the skills of a stocker by defining them, list a few useful abilities for those in this role and provide some tips to improve your relevant skill set.

What Are Stocker Skills?

Stocker skills are the abilities that stockers use to complete their daily tasks. A stocker might use communication and interpersonal abilities to speak with customers or colleagues. They may also lift heavy items and organise shelves, both of which require relevant skills. The hard and soft skills that a stocker requires may vary depending on where they work. For example, a grocery store stocker may require different abilities than a stocker for a clothing store. However, they have many similar abilities and tasks, such as being able to check inventory and organise shelves.

Related: What Is A Merchandiser? Skills, Qualifications And Types Of Job Roles

Useful Skills For Stockers To Have

Here are a few different stocker abilities those in this profession may benefit from developing:

Interpersonal skills

Stockers use interpersonal skills when interacting with customers and other employees. They may use body language or active listening skills to show the speaker that they are listening intently and to gain a clear understanding of their message. A stocker might use interpersonal skills while talking to customers if they have a question or complaint to ensure a pleasant and effective interaction. While listening to a customer, the stocker might maintain eye contact to show that they are fully engaged in the conversation.

Communication

Communication encompasses how stockers speak to colleagues, managers and employees. They may also use communication skills to greet and attend to customers. If a customer has a question about a product, then a stocker uses communication to answer them fully and clearly. They may also explain complex details about a product to a customer or help them find an item. Depending on their role or level of management, some stockers might delegate tasks to other employees, which requires strong communication skills as well.

Organisation

Stockers use organisation when sorting, shelving and displaying products. They ensure they display products neatly and that the shelves are clean. They also ensure that the products are front-facing and that rows of items are straight. When they find misplaced products, they put the item back where it belongs. Stockers may also organise the inventory in the storage room so other stockers know where to find certain items.

Attention to detail

Attention to detail ensures that a stocker completes their task with accuracy and thoroughness. If a stocker pays close attention to detail, they can complete their duties quickly, efficiently and without errors. Attention to detail can also help them identify mistakes or inaccuracies in inventory. A stocker also uses attention to detail to look for damaged or expired goods.

Read more: Attention To Detail: Definition, Examples And Tips

Customer service

Stockers use customer service skills when assisting customers. If a customer requires help finding, reaching or picking up an item, the stocker may politely offer to help them. Stockers try to adapt to the customers' requirements and anticipate their needs. For instance, if a stocker is busy stocking shelves and a customer asks them for help, they prioritise the customer and provide them assistance.

Ability to lift heavy items

Being a stocker is a physically demanding job. Stockers may spend much of their days being active and they may lift up to 50 pounds. While physical fitness is not a requirement for being a stocker, it can be extremely helpful when lifting heavy packages that contain large products. Knowing how to lift heavy objects properly may be a part of a stocker's training to ensure safety.

Independence

Stockers are independent professionals because they typically work alone. There may be multiple stockers or employees working at the same time, but these professionals rarely work in teams. This means that stockers are generally comfortable working independently and can complete their tasks with little to no additional help. Stockers work independently, but they may also work under supervision as well.

Stocker Skills In The Workplace

Here are some ways that you can use stocker abilities in the workplace:

• Checking products for damage: As a stocker is stocking shelves, they scan items for damages or defects, which requires attention to detail. They look at the items that they are stocking and the items that are already on the shelves to ensure that all products are undamaged.

• Assisting a customer: While working, stockers encounter many customers who may require help, which requires communication, interpersonal and customer service skills.

• Stocking inventory: The primary duty of a stocker position is to stock inventory on shelves, which uses organisation skills. Stockers organise items in a way that is visually appealing and clean.

Related: What Does A Retail Manager Do? (With Duties And Skills)

Highlighting Stocker Skills

If you are interested in becoming a stocker, here are a few ways you can highlight these skills during the job application and interview process:

Stocker abilities during the interview

While interviewing, you can respond to the hiring manager's questions by incorporating your skills. For instance, if they ask you to tell them how you approach helping a customer, you can answer by explaining your customer service and communication skills. Prepare for your interview by researching common interview questions for a stocker position. When practising, try to incorporate your skills and abilities into your answers.

Related: Different Types Of Interviews And How To Prepare For Them

Stocker abilities for cover letter

You can write about your stocker abilities in your cover letter by using them to describe your experience. Cover letters allow you to elaborate on your work experience, so you can easily include some of your skills. For instance, you may write about how you often lifted 40-pound boxes and worked independently at your last job.

Stocker abilities for resume

On your resume, you can highlight your stocker proficiencies by adding a skills and abilities section. You can include a bulleted list of your hard and soft skills that relate to being a stocker. For instance, you may add communication, attention to detail and organisation in this section. Try to use keywords on your skills list as well.

Tips To Improve Stocker Skills

Here are some tips to improve your stocker abilities:

Use active listening

Active listening is showing whoever is speaking that you are paying attention to what they are saying. This may mean that you consider and evaluate what they are telling you, which can improve your communication skills. You might use body language, such as nodding your head, to show that you are listening. You can also use active listening by clarifying what the speaker said. If a customer asks a question, then you may repeat or rephrase the question to clarify that you understood them.

Related: Active Listening Skills: Definition And Examples

Practice organising shelves

Try to practice organising shelves to improve your organisation skills. You can ask your manager if you can practice in the backroom or you may even practice at home with your own shelves. Put the older products in the front so that customers can buy those items first. Practice stacking items and making sure that rows are neat. You can also practice organisation by cleaning and replacing misplaced items.

Maintain health

To improve your ability to lift, you can maintain your health. You can do this by exercising occasionally and by eating nutritious meals. Consider buying supportive shoes to make both walking and lifting easier. Subtle lifestyle changes like these may make it easier to lift heavy packages.

Learn about the products

You can improve your customer service skills by learning more about the products you are stocking. This can help prepare you if a customer has a question about an item. You can learn about the products by familiarising yourself with the store layout and researching products you may be unfamiliar with. For instance, if your store starts selling a new beauty product, you might research it to learn more about its benefits.