What Is A Stock Controller?

How disappointed would you be if you were invited to the VIP launch of a new store by your favourite brand… and when you turned up there was nothing on the shelves?

As a stock controller it’s your job to make sure stock is always topped up. You’d also be responsible for ordering more stock when supplies are low. What you do is considered VITAL to any large retailer, distribution centre or warehouse. Without you, people have nothing to buy.

DID YOU KNOW: Even though so many people shop online these days, the goods don’t magically appear. Stock controllers still need to help keep warehouses stocked for goods bought online to be delivered, so the rise of online shopping isn’t a problem for you.

What Does A Stock Controller Do?

A stock controller is generally in charge of processing orders, checking that stock levels are consistent and ordering new stock if needed. They also update computer systems with fresh stock info.

As a stock controller assistant, you could help the stock controller to receive deliveries and make sure they match up with what’s been ordered as well as carrying out spot checks and audits.

There is a strong customer facing aspect to this role. You might be handling questions from customers online, on the phone and in person. Depending on where you work, you could be serving these customers over the counter and handling any queries they may have, which will develop your communication skills.

Useful Skills To Put On Your CV:

• Being helpful and having a positive attitude (which is all part of self-belief skills)
• Having good time-management skills and a flexible approach to work hours
• Having good teamwork skills so that you can work well with others
• Physical fitness, as some roles may require some heavy lifting
• Feeling confident around equipment such as forklift trucks etc (you will always get health and safety training)
• Health and safety assured

• Showing the ability to use your initiative at times, andInitiative skills and showing you don’t always need to wait and be told what to do, you can get on with tasks
• Being trustworthy and always professional
• Basic digital skills as you may need to be trained in using a stock database system

How Do You Get These Skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

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School, College And Training

Entering at an assistant level doesn’t require any formal qualifications. However, employers could be on the lookout for strong numeracy and communication skills so having some GCSEs (especially in English and maths, which could help with getting to grips with stock lists) will help you get the job.

Diplomas in retail business will certainly help you progress at a quicker rate, especially if you’re looking for a management or head office role one day (although plenty of people in retail have worked their way up from the shop or warehouse floor).

Supply Chain Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship schemes are another way into a supply chain and logistics career. They are unlikely to include positions of management straight away, but that’s a good thing. An apprenticeship is a way to get trained and soak up on-the-job experience while getting paid for it, and never being given more responsibility than you can handle. You can build up to getting more responsibility (like a leadership role) when you feel ready for it.

Your employer of choice may be advertising apprenticeships on their career websites, or it’s always worth checking the Find An Apprenticeship website.

Work Experience Tips

As this role doesn’t require any formal qualifications you won’t need any specific work experience before you get a job as a stock controller assistant. However, you need to have some great personal attributes, which include being efficient, working well in a team and having strong communications skills. If you would like to try out a few days of work experience you could always find a local warehouse or distribution centre and ask to be shown around so you can speak to the people who work there about their day to day duties.

Getting Experience

Examples of relevant work experience include:

• Work shadowing (even if it’s just for a day)
• Work placements in a company
• Work placements on a degree course

To find jobs for young people in this role, search on jobs boards for early career roles with these words in the title:

• warehousing apprenticeships
• stock controller assistant jobs
• stock controller jobs
• supply chain and logistics apprenticeships
• warehouse operative jobs
• shelf filler jobs

When thinking about work experience, summer jobs for the CV or early roles to get your foot in the door, you could consider developing skills in the following areas:

• Packaging and goods
• Order picking
• Sorting
• Warehousing
• Admin

Apprenticeships and graduate schemes are another great way of getting started in logistics careers.

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.