What Do Hand Packers and Packagers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Hand Packers and Packagers pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials. They also record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.

Other tasks include:

• Examine and inspect containers, materials, and products to ensure that packing specifications are met.
• Measure, weigh, and count products and materials.
• Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.
• Load materials and products into package processing equipment.
• Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes.
• Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools.

We asked Hand Packers and Packagers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

50% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 34% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Hand Packers and Packagers clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas, using cleaning solutions and hand tools. They record product, packaging, and order information on specified forms and records.

A typical day for a Hand Packer and Packager will also include:

• Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.
• Examine and inspect containers, materials, and products to ensure that packing specifications are met.
• Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes.
• Obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.
• Transport packages to customers’ vehicles.

We asked some Hand Packers and Packagers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	55% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	84% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	38% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Hand Packers and Packagers also transport packages to customers’ vehicles. They may also obtain, move, and sort products, materials, containers, and orders, using hand tools.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Hand Packers and Packagers Place or pour products or materials into containers, using hand tools and equipment, or fill containers from spouts or chutes. They might also Mark and label containers, container tags, or products, using marking tools.

In addition, they Seal containers or materials, using glues, fasteners, nails, and hand tools.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Assemble, line, and pad cartons, crates, and containers, using hand tools.

To some Hand Packers and Packagers, it is also their responsibility to Remove completed or defective products or materials, placing them on moving equipment, such as conveyors, or in specified areas, such as loading docks.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Hand Packer and Packager, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/hand-laborers-and-material-movers.htm

http://www.mhi.org/

http://www.werc.org/