Laborers perform a variety of tasks that are primarily manual in nature. Laborers help businesses operate smoothly and efficiently by ensuring that materials and supplies are moved to the correct location as needed. Laborers may also be responsible for packing materials for transfer from one location to another, cleaning up working areas and cleaning vehicles. They may also be responsible for feeding material into and removing material from machines.
When composing the skills section of your laborer job description, you may want to emphasize physical stamina and hand-eye coordination. If the job requires the ability to lift heavy objects, be sure to specify the minimum weight-lifting requirement.
In addition, laborers should also have good listening skills and be able to follow instructions from supervisors. Depending on the industry, laborers may also be in contact with customers on a regular basis and should have good customer service skills. For a better understanding of what goes into a great laborer job description, reference the below example.
Laborer Job Summary
Are you the type of person who would be bored by a sedentary office job? If you are a hard-working professional who loves to work with your hands and learn valuable skills, you could be the perfect fit for our laborer job opening. You will love our fast-paced environment and will feel right at home with our team of friendly, motivated professionals. We will give you plenty of opportunities to stretch and challenge your abilities as you complete a wide variety of tasks and projects. Become a valued member of our team and take advantage of our top-quality training, advancement opportunities and
competitive pay rates.
Job Responsibilities
- Sort and arrange cargo prior to unloading or loading on a daily basis
- Move materials such as stock, freight and supplies into and out of production and storage areas, containers, delivery vehicles or loading docks manually or with the use of tractors, trucks, lifts or other equipment
- Follow oral instructions and written work orders with preciseness to make sure assignments are completed exactly as directed and on time
- Mark containers with identifying information, including tags, labels and other identifiers
- Clear out and thoroughly clean work areas on a daily or weekly basis, making sure all hazardous materials are promptly and properly removed from work areas
- Assemble material-handling equipment or gear, including packaging, rigging or temporary material-handling structures
- Secure cargo to ensure that it arrives at its destination safely and in good condition
- Inspect equipment, materials and structures regularly and monitor cargo area conditions to ensure they are safe and in compliance with regulations
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Strong communication skills
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Ability to lift and handle heavy objects and machinery
Preferred:
- High school diploma or equivalent
Laborer Job Responsibilities
When creating your laborer job description, pay special attention to the job responsibilities section. This is where jobseekers picture the day-to-day activities of the position and decide if they are qualified enough to perform the necessary duties, so use clear and concise language to paint an accurate picture of the role. Begin every line with a strong action verb to draw potential candidates in.
While it is often the largest part of your laborer job description, your job responsibilities section should not be a novel. Many job postings mistakenly use this section to feature a long laundry list of the position’s every last duty, overwhelming jobseekers and scaring away qualified candidates. Instead of doing this, use between 6-8 bullet points to point out the most important responsibilities associated with the position.
Consider these examples of laborer job responsibilities as you construct this section:
- Perform work at various heights with the proper utilization of safety gear, clothing and restraints
- Execute set up and take down duties within the work zone on a daily basis
- Lift, load and transport tools, equipment and materials weighing up to 75 pounds
- Operate forklifts, cranes and other heavy machinery as needed
- Assist specialty crews with carpentry, masonry and welding tasks in addition to general labor
Laborer Job Specifications
Do not underestimate the importance of your skills and qualifications section, as it can serve as an excellent filtering tool in the beginning of your search for suitable candidates. Jobseekers look at this section of your laborer job description to figure out if they meet the minimum requirements to qualify for the position. Convey prerequisites clearly and meticulously so your hiring manager is not bombarded with unqualified and irrelevant applications in the future.
Before you finalize this section of your laborer job description, talk to your hiring manager or team to determine exactly what candidates need to qualify for this position. Figure out the educational background, amount of relevant experience and the specific skillsets they should have, and separate “necessary” qualifications from “preferred” specifications so jobseekers better understand if they should submit applications.
The following examples of laborer job specifications can help you decide what to include in your own skills and qualifications section:
- High school diploma or GED with at least two years of experience in general labor
- Superb hand-eye coordination and physical strength
- Advanced knowledge of safety codes and construction operations
- Willingness to stand and work in all types of weather for eight hours per day
- Valid driver’s license and the ability to operate manual transmissions