What does a Stock Clerk do?
Stock clerks are store employees who handle the display of goods. They ensure that store shelves are well-stocked at all times. They manage the inventory of stocks by providing that records are always updated. They work the display of supplies and log the number of products they will be removing from the warehouse to display these in the store. Store clerks are responsible for managing stocks' inventory and ensuring that all products shown are in good condition. Stock clerks should have good organizational skills, be trustworthy, and have great decision-making skills.
Stock clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real stock clerk resumes:
- Assist customers unloading and reloading trucks scanning customers groceries and customer service
- Perform essential duties such as customer service, restocking merchandise, inventory management and maintaining store cleanliness.
- Gain respect of peers and management through commitment to upholding company policies and maintaining cleanliness of facility and following safety regulations.
- Stock shelves and run the cash register.
- Assist in activity management, help with reading and math skills.
- Quoted markets and place orders with floor brokers for arbitrage trade.
- Act as a security interface between the NYSE live trading floor and the institutional trading desk.
- Provide service to local traders including position tracking, placing orders in other futures markets, and working spreads.
- Hire, train and supervise the performance of junior and senior equity traders and clerks on the NYSE floor.
- Learned how to operate the store's POS system, assist customers over the phone, and properly balance the cash register
- Open and close shop, reconcile sales via POS system, process refunds and exchanges, report errors and other discrepancies.
- Configure parity spreads on convertible bonds and maintain conversion parity for arbitrage issues
- Execute grain futures orders for special accounts that require extraordinary attention to detail as well as personalized service.
- Stock and maintain grocery inventory of Safeway storefront.
Stock clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Stock Clerks are proficient in Stock Shelves, Customer Service, and Basic Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Stock Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Stock Shelves, 12%
Order inventory/supplies when needed and stock shelves/storeroom according to predetermined sequence.
- Customer Service, 10%
Processed financial transactions Customer service representative
- Basic Math, 9%
Used basic mathematical principles to achieve daily goals.
- Math, 8%
Distributed inventory with accuracy -Provided customer service -Cleaned store-Analyzed inventory and used math skills to report deficiencies
- Cleanliness, 7%
Gained respect of peers and management through commitment to upholding company policies and maintaining cleanliness of facility and following safety regulations.
- Customer Satisfaction, 7%
Managed several students in a retail environment* Managed inventory while on shift* Verified customer satisfaction also, up sold products
Common skills that a stock clerk uses to do their job include "stock shelves," "customer service," and "basic math." You can find details on the most important stock clerk responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a stock clerk to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what stock clerks do because "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Additionally, a stock clerk resume shows how stock clerks use communication skills: "stay in contact with mod and loss prevention using good communication with walkie-talkie. "
Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling stock clerk duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom." According to a stock clerk resume, here's how stock clerks can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "performed stock, pricing, customer service, sales and loss prevention for national women and children's discount clothing chain. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of stock clerks is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday stock clerk duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted in loss prevention through awareness, attention to detail and honesty. "
Math skills. A big part of what stock clerks do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to stock clerk responsibilities because "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical stock clerk tasks: "performed basic customer service skills, cleaning skills, and math skills. "
The three companies that hire the most stock clerks are:
- Ingles Markets338 stock clerks jobs
- Dollar General184 stock clerks jobs
- Town Pump83 stock clerks jobs
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Compare different stock clerks
Stock clerk vs. Overnight stock associate
An overnight stock associate is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of store merchandise after normal operating hours. Overnight stock associates load the shelves and arrange product displays as per the store's requirements during off-hours when there are no other employees and customers around. They also receive items from distribution centers, verify the order details, inspect the package for any defects, process replacements, and update inventory records. An overnight stock associate checks the validity of the items upon stocking, eliminating expired products, and notify the management for order requests.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, stock clerk responsibilities require skills like "stock shelves," "basic math," "math," and "cleanliness." Meanwhile a typical overnight stock associate has skills in areas such as "excellent organizational," "sales floor," "electric pallet jack," and "stock deliveries." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that overnight stock associates earn slightly differ from stock clerks. In particular, overnight stock associates are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a stock clerk. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Stock clerk vs. General merchandise clerk
This individual works in the GM section of a store. They interact with customers and assist them as they purchase merchandise. In this role, they are expected to place all special orders and to take stock of all products annually. Other responsibilities of this position include developing merchandise plans and ensuring they are compliant with quality standards. They may also have to evaluate merchandise and ensure credit payments are accurate.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that stock clerk responsibilities requires skills like "cleanliness," "cash handling," "shovels," and "perishables." But a general merchandise clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sales floor," "strong customer service," "meijer," and "product damages."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. General merchandise clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than stock clerks. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Stock clerk vs. Sales/stock associate
Sales/stock associates or stock clerks receive shipments or goods to a store and prepare them for marketing. Their job involves checking the accuracy of the shipment, stocking items in the warehouse, and maintaining the store inventory. They are the ones who locate the misplaced stocks or relocate them anywhere. Among their minor duties are shelve arrangement, facility cleanup, and correspondence handling. Also, they help assist the unloading of the shipments to factor, warehouse, or store.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from stock clerk resumes include skills like "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "customer satisfaction," whereas a sales/stock associate is more likely to list skills in "kids," "store locations," "sales associates," and "inventory control. "
Most sales/stock associates achieve a similar degree level compared to stock clerks. For example, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Stock clerk vs. Merchandise stocker
A merchandise stocker is an employee who ensures that shelves and aisles are stocked with the merchandise in retail stores or warehouses. Merchandise stockers must receive the goods, unload or unpack them, mark them with codes to be identified, and stock them on shelves. They help customers to fill orders through mail, web, or phone while preparing the customers' merchandise for shipment. They must also operate a forklift so that they can lift or place merchandise at the assigned shelves.
Types of stock clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
