Fast-Paced Environment Is Well Received

Cheryl Johnson works in shipping and receiving at Home Depot, where she helps keep track of every battery, bolt and brick delivered.

The job, receiving administrator, requires diligent attention to detail, she said, no matter how tedious the paperwork gets after a long day.

“We take deliveries from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and every driver is supposed to have an appointment,” Johnson said. “But sometimes they don’t, and I have to find out what they’re bringing in and where it’s supposed to go. After I check their purchase orders, a crew starts unloading the truck. I cost out the purchase order and make sure everything is there.”

Sometimes as many as 20 trucks a day unload at the store on Golden West Street in Huntington Beach, Johnson said, and she likes that fast pace. “I never know what time it is,” said Johnson, who has been with the company for nine years. “I get to work in the morning, and sometimes I look up and see that it’s one o’clock and I haven’t been to lunch. The day goes by very quickly.”

She started as a cashier and has worked on the price-change team and in the computer room.

“I ask a lot of questions,” she said, “and I make it a point to learn the routine of every department I’m assigned to. It really helps to know a little bit about how this huge place works.”

OCCUPATION: Shipping and Receiving Clerk

* What’s involved: Maintaining delivery schedules, checking in merchandise and arranging for proper shipment of goods at warehouses, stores and other businesses.

* Qualifications: High school diploma and ability to use a personal computer. Most employers provide on-the-job training.

* Outlook: By 1998, the number of shipping and receiving clerks in Orange County is expected to increase 3.5% to 13,340.

* Salary range: $20,000 to $35,000

* Pros: Fast-paced work environment

* Cons: Large volume of paperwork

* Advancement: Clerks may advance to administrative positions like department supervisor.

* Quote: “Everything sold in the store comes through this department, and it’s our job to keep it moving and make sure it gets where it’s supposed to.”--Cheryl Johnson, Home Depot

Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times