Are you hoping to eventually be considered for a management position after you are done with your forklift training? Maybe you are wondering if you have what it takes to run a warehouse. Alternately, perhaps you are trying to choose between two positions being offered and you need to determine who would be the better boss to work under. Whatever the case is, this list of traits should help, whether you are evaluating yourself or someone else.
Some people feel that the best approach to take in an interview for a forklift position is to simply answer the questions being asked, and not contribute anything extra to the conversation. Unfortunately, this really does not show the potential employer that you are interested in the position. Not to mention, an interview is a two-way street. You won’t know if the company is a good fit for you unless you ask questions. Interviewers generally ask candidates if they have any questions. Take advantage of this opportunity. Even if they don’t ask if you have questions, you should ask them anyway. They will appreciate your interest, and it may help you stand out from other people being interviewed. Below are a few good questions to ask.
Earning your forklift license is only the beginning of the learning process. Sure, you get educated on the basics during training, so you can become certified, but this does not begin to cover everything there is to learn. Every day will be a new learning experience, but it sure is a lot easier, if you have helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind to get you started. This list should help.
Check Equipment Before Every Shift – Just because you oversleep, get stopped by every red light, and can’t find a parking space does not give you the excuse to skip your pre-shift inspection. Your forklift is your responsibility. Don’t assume the person who used the equipment before you did a thorough inspection after their shift. Forklifts can be very dangerous. Take control of your safety with a pre-shift inspection. Get your FREE Inspection sheet
Getting your forklift license is the easy part, and starting your new career is exciting. It is the process in-between that makes most people cringe. If your current employer is having you get certified, so you can be promoted to a forklift operator then you have it made and get to skip all the less fun steps. Otherwise, like most other careers, you are going to need a resume. If you have never written a resume before then just the thought of the process is probably intimidating. Even if you have created one for a different line of work, you need a completely new one to apply for forklift positions.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), forklift operator careers should expand by more than 12 percent between 2015 and 2020. The conservative BLS estimates does not factor in the impact of the recent dramatic decline in energy prices. Lower energy prices increase consumer demand, as well as provide transportation companies with significant savings. The BLS outlook for forklift operators includes an average annual salary of $30,220 for the 496,570 forklift specialists employed as of 2014.
Since forklifts are used today in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor environments, you can expect there to be a significant number of differences in the job description from one employer to the next. Despite the varied environments, there are a few basic responsibilities that tend to remain constant regardless of employer. If you are thinking about enrolling to get your forklift certification this list will give you a general idea of what to expect. Just keep in mind that depending on where you work, you could have significantly more or less responsibilities.
