The overnight stock associate ensures that retail stores such as supermarkets have fully stocked shelves for customers during operating hours. Stock personnel can work during daylight hours, but the most common time to replenish shelves is during the hours when customers and other employees are not present. Overnight stocking requires a physically fit employee that can lift and bend during the course of the work shift.
Job Duties
The overnight stock associate may be responsible for receiving material into the store and preparing it for the store shelves. Some associates may enter merchandise into the store inventory system and code merchandise for inventory purposes. A stock associate may participate in an inventory of the warehouse, stock room and the store shelves in the overnight hours.
A store that has a quick turnover of merchandise during operating hours requires the stock associate to replenish the shelves. The stock associate may change store displays and remove some merchandise from the store shelves, which is replaced with new merchandise.
Function
The stock associate works behind the scenes to ensure that shelves in a store are filled with merchandise for sale to customers. Overnight stock associates make sure that the store is ready for business when the store opens. The stock associate that works overnight fills the shelves and prepares the store when customers are not present, which eliminates safety issues for customers such as tripping over empty boxes or the danger of forklifts in the store aisles.
Skills
Overnight stock associates may need computer skills to enter inventory into the store database and process inventory from the stockroom to the store shelves. An overnight associate must be able to lift heavy weight and bend for long periods. Record keeping requires overnight stock associates to be detail-oriented and enter data accurately into the inventory system.
Education
A high school diploma is usually all that is required for the position and, in some situations, it is not necessary. An overnight stock associate can progress to a management or inventory control position within the organization, but a higher degree may be necessary.
Salary
The average salary for an overnight stock associate is $26,000 as of May 2010, according to Indeed.com.
