The moving industry offers a variety of roles for practical, problem solving or organisational individuals. Whether you are leaving education, looking for a change of career or have previously worked in another industry, there are a variety of entry points for you to consider.
Understand the Different Types of Moving Work
Moving companies support customers with different requirements. Some specialise in local household moves, while others manage international removals, office moves or specialist items that require additional care.
Domestic moving involves helping customers move their belongings between homes within the same country. International moving adds further stages, such as shipping arrangements, creating and sending out documentation and liaising with overseas partners and moving companies.
Commercial moving focuses on businesses, including offices and other workplaces. This type of move needs careful planning to ensure that the business is operating normally whilst the move is taking place.
Knowing about the different areas of work will help you find the correct career path and also help you find the correct employers for your skills.
Explore the Roles Available
Most jobs within the removals industry involve more than just a physical role of lifting and moving. Administration, operational, commercial skills and more are often needed within the industry to succeed in a career.
Porters & packers form part of a removals team helping to pack and then move customers’ goods between properties. The majority of the work involves safe movement and stacking of customers’ furniture and other items onto removals vehicles, as well as ensuring proper protective wrapping of delicate and fragile items.
Office-based opportunities include customer service and administrative roles, where responsibilities may involve answering enquiries, updating records and supporting the operations team.
A move coordinator would typically arrange the various stages of a move, contact customers to provide updates and ensure that the move is completed effectively.
Field sales executives would typically assess a customer’s requirements and produce a written quotation for a move. A move manager would then manage the successful delivery of moving services to customers. Warehousing, storemen and management positions are also available within the industry.
Recognise the Skills You Already Have
Previous experience within the moving industry can be useful, but there are also many skills which are used within the industry that have been gained in other careers.
Customers can be placed under stress while moving. Your ability to listen, explain the arrangements you have made and to deal with any problems or concerns in a calm and professional manner makes a difference.
You may need to demonstrate reliability, be able to work as part of a team and to learn methods and processes in a safe environment. People working in administrative roles in the moving industry will need to have confidence using computer systems, strong written communication skills and attention to detail.
Remember to come up with examples of how you have used your previous skills to show that you are organised. This will help to demonstrate that you are suitable for the role and will be able to manage dealing with customers who become aggravated or irritated during their move.
Find an Entry Point That Suits You
Jobs within the moving industry can often be advertised under many different job titles. For example, removals porter, packer, customer service assistant, operations assistant or trainee move coordinator are all jobs that could be of interest when searching for moving industry jobs.
Make sure you read the job description carefully for each job posting. Some jobs may provide training and support to help you learn the skills to become a move coordinator, whereas other roles may require immediate application of previous experience and skills.
Build Your Knowledge and Experience
Once you enter the industry, take time to understand how your work connects with the wider moving process.
Ask plenty of questions, look to learn as much as possible from your colleagues and where possible look for training that is relevant to you and your role. As your knowledge grows, you may find opportunities to take on more responsibility or move into a specialist area.
Prepare Your CV and Start Applying
Highlight on your CV any relevant experience you have, and use this to show any clear achievements you have made. Also highlight any instances where you have shown reliability, organisation and customer care.
Alchemy Global Talent Solutions is a specialist recruitment agency that provides jobs in the moving industry for positions in moving coordination, moving operations, moving sales and moving management jobs. Look at our current moving jobs or send your CV to discuss your job experience, job requirements and career goals with our moving industry specialist recruitment team.
