Amazon is one of those companies that has changed the eCommerce landscape as we know it. So, it comes off as no surprise that there are a lot of work opportunities. You do not need to be a software engineer to work for Amazon. This guide will be all about what are the easiest Amazon Warehouse positions.
The types of jobs available in Amazon warehouses are diverse. So, it is somewhat difficult picking out the ‘easiest’ ones. Positions like the picker/packer do not need you to lift but have rates. Working at the docks has no rates but involves physical labor.
Of course, it is only a brief overview of some jobs you can do in the warehouse. But there is more to it that most people are not aware of. Did you know that these jobs are not even called warehouse jobs? Amazon calls them fulfillment center positions. Let’s dive into it in more detail.’
About The Amazon Job Structure
Let's get one thing out of the way first. Not all jobs in an Amazon warehouse are considered to be simple. While there are some jobs that are relatively easy, every job has its own set of challenges.
Let me break down the kind of jobs you can do in an Amazon warehouse and how easy they are. It really is a great way to start your career if you do not have a lot of high-paying skills. This can also be a job option for someone who is looking for something part-time.
There is an employee-level structure within Amazon. The eCommerce giant assigns levels of 1-10 depending on what they do. Levels 1 to 3 are basically support staff jobs. So, even FC workers and warehouse roles are Level 1.
The higher levels for engineering jobs are other SDE positions. A fresh graduate will start at Level 4 and an MBA will start at level 5 or 6. But that does not concern us in this article.
I'm going to give you a step-by-step guide on the Level 1 warehouse jobs available on Amazon. Now that you understand the level system, let’s get into it.
The Easiest Amazon Warehouse Jobs
The thing about Amazon warehouse jobs is that none of them are particularly "easy." The majority of them are simply repetitive. They are simple in the sense that they do not require a lot of expertise.
But of course, this is Amazon. So, there will be some level of competence required when working for them.
One thing to keep in mind: Amazon warehouse positions are officially referred to as Amazon fulfillment center jobs. Within the vast corporation, these are all warehouse jobs. Below is a list of some Amazon employment opportunities.
Inbound Docks
This position is one of the first in line. Have you ever seen those large Amazon trucks on the roads? That is what these guys mostly handle. When a truck like that arrives, it will come to an unloading dock.
The trucks will be loaded with a large number of products and goods. Get the package from the docks and trucks. When the 18-wheelers pull up on the docks of the fulfillment center, the inbound dock associates are in charge of unloading the items.
Workers will need to unload and put the boxes on a small conveyor belt. From there, another group of workers is in charge of stacking these boxes onto a pallet. A cool perk of this position is you will have the shortest walk to the bathroom.
When the pallet is full, the worker will need to tape all of it together so the items do not fall off. Now it is time to get it on the freight lift. This is also the word of inbound dock associates.
The freight lift moves slowly and is used to carry heavy loads, such as pallets of goods. And it is pretty huge. There is another place where these pallets are kept. In the large storage facilities.
This is done by other associates that drive forklifts. This, of course, makes it easier for them to carry the large and heavy pallets. In-demand items will not sit in this storage either. This was Phase-1.
Water Spiders
Image Source: Thestreet
When the pallets are put on the freight life, they will be transported by workers called water spiders. The job of water spiders is pretty straightforward. They transport the pallets brought up by the lift and give them to the Stowers.
Although this is a pretty easy job, it can get boring and you will need to transport a lot of these pallets during a workday.
Stowers
Let’s talk about the stowers. This position is more involved and also includes the use of other tools. The first thing stowers will do is cut off the tape that is wrapped around the pallets.
Then, the packages are put on robotic pods. These pods act sort of like inventory.
There will be thousands of these pods inside the warehouse. And each pod can hold a lot of items, too! They can hold hundreds of items waiting for a customer to purchase them from the Amazon website. The packages are then placed on robotic pods. These pods function similarly to inventories.
Problem Solvers
Just from the name you can tell, these people are put in place to make sure everything is scanned correctly. They may also need to deal with broken products or anything that cannot be placed on the pods I mentioned earlier.
The problem solver is in charge of all of this. This one is a little more difficult, but it's still doable. As you can see, every job in an Amazon warehouse is extremely specialized. This ensures productivity. Problem-solvers walk around with a computer and cart, and check if everything is in order.
Picker
When someone buys an item, the pod knows that it has just been bought from the website. The pods are smart enough to drive themselves to a ‘picking station’. This is where the picker’s job starts.
The picker will need to refer to a computer to know which item has been bought. They will then pick that item from the pod. The item is then put inside a yellow crate and put on a conveyor system.
These conveyor systems are actually huge and quite impressive. It is quite a spectacle. This ends phase 2. From this point, the packers need to do their jobs.
Packers
Okay, I need to mention something here. The packer’s job is not relatively easy. But I feel like you need to know about it since it still is a part of the process. It will help you get a better idea.
And besides, even if something might not be objectively easier, it might be something you enjoy doing and that aligns with your goals. The packers will have a dedicated section in the warehouse (fulfillment centers).
The packer’s job is to pack up the ordered item and send it off. They will need to put the item in the correct size package and tape it well and send it off. The sealed fully-packaged final products are put on the conveyor belt to take them to their final destination.
Before I move on to the next section of the outbound docks, I first need to reiterate something: Most of the warehouse jobs at Amazon are picker/packer jobs. You can actually say these are the hardest jobs in the fulfillment center. But I decided to include them to help you get the full picture.
Outbound Docks
Moving onto the outbound dock. What do they do? Their job is the opposite of inbound docks. Instead of taking the packages from the trucks/trailers, they are responsible for taking the packages from the trailers—pretty self-explanatory.
This is one of the easiest jobs in the warehouse. There are no rates you need to hit, unlike stowing, picking, or packaging. So, it is relatively stress-free.
However, there is more physical labor. Basically, it just comes down to what you consider as ’easy’. While inbound and outbound docks do not have rates or targets, you do not have to deal with that mental stress. But the physical demands are a bit higher.
These boxes can be very heavy, though. And you need to go back and forth from the trailer to the dock, which can become strenuous. Working on the docks has its perks. The walks to the break room and car will be much shorter since you will be working on the first floor.
That is all there is for the warehouse (fulfillment center) jobs. From here, the products are taken to the sortation center and delivery station. Then the final product reaches the customers.
Things You Need To Know About Level 1 Warehouse Jobs
When you first enroll as a Level 1 Amazon fulfillment center employee, you cannot choose your role. This applies to everyone that works there. However, it only applies to your first role.
After you have spent at least a couple of weeks or two, you can ask your manager to transfer you to a different role. This is completely based on you. If you want to check out a new role, you can do it.
Of course, you need to do good in your current role before you can ask to be shifted. Amazon’s Level 1 workers ensure efficiency and make one of the core components of the business function. So, there are a lot of varied roles. Each has its pros and cons.
It is quite hard to pick a couple and say these are the ‘easiest’ just because of the variety of roles. In summary, roles in the docks do not have rates or targets. That means low stress. But you will need to do physical labor a bit more.
Stowers, pickers, and packers, on the other hand, must meet specified rates, which might be stressful for some. However, you may not always need to lift hefty weights. Nevertheless, you will need to walk a lot.
When applying to any warehouse jobs on Amazon, make sure you properly read the job descriptions. Also, carefully check out which role you are applying to. Sites like Indeed have a lot of openings for Level 1 warehouse workers. Happy job hunting.
Is It Easy to Get A Job In An Amazon Warehouse?
Working at Amazon is a dream job for many. So, getting a job is somewhat competitive. However, warehouse jobs are sort of less competitive. However, you will have to pass some basic tests such as drug and physical tests.
All the other usual qualifications also apply. You will need to be above the age of 18 and need to communicate clearly in English. Educational requirements can vary depending on the job and role you apply for. They might ask for a high school diploma, a GED, or any diploma that is equivalent.
You can check Indeed.com for more specific information on the jobs. The postings there will have more detailed requirements for each role laid out clearly. There are full-time and part-time positions for most of the roles.
Tips For Getting Ahead of Other Candidates
Before wrapping up, I want to leave you with some tips for nailing the interview. These tips will actually help you with almost all sorts of interviews.
Preparing For Behavioral Based Questions Is Important
This one is very important. Since the technical and educational qualifications are relatively low for warehouse jobs, it is a good opportunity for part-time students and also for full-time workers as well.
But nailing the behavioral questions is crucial. This will create a long-lasting impression on your interview. What you need to display is a sense of collaboration, intuitiveness, and self-confidence.
If you have any personal stories that are related to the requirements of the job, feel free to share them.
Sell Yourself: Say ‘I’ Not ‘We’
An interview is a perfect place to sell yourself. You need to if you want to land a job. So make sure to use "I" and sell what you actually did in previous positions. Interviewers want to know the specific impact you had on the team.
So, do not be shy about selling yourself when you sit down for the interview. You can also refer back to the previous tip. If there is a related story from your personal life that fits the job description, share it! And say how you dealt with it or what you did.
Have Your Answer Ready For Why You Want To Work At Amazon
Have your reasons and answers to why you applied to this specific job with Amazon ready to go. Maybe because you want a career in the eCommerce sector, or maybe because you are a user of Amazon yourself and want to be a part of the organization.
Whatever your unique reason is, make sure you have that at the tip of your tongue. Being able to answer this well shows you have put some thought into this.
Talk About Failures Proudly
It’s completely okay to fail. Everybody fails at some point in their life. What matters is how you bounce back from it. Taking risks carries the possibility of failure. It's fine to discuss failures and demonstrate how you've developed as a person and a professional as a result of your failures.
So, do not be too worried about having a couple of failures in the past. You can learn from these past experiences and how they have helped you. Also, failing shows that you took risks.
Dive Deep And Give Details
Make sure that you give meaningful, detailed answers to the questions asked. Going into specifics provides your answers more value. Not giving enough details is actually a very common mistake a lot of candidates make.
However, you must strike a balance between providing details and rambling aimlessly. Don't waste your time talking about something that isn't worth mentioning.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. Hopefully, now you know all about what are the easiest Amazon warehouse job positions. While none are objectively easy per se, you can pick the one that you want to do.
Some need a little more effort but are less stressful. Others, on the other hand, require more ability to focus and efficiency. Thank you for stopping by and good luck for your future!
