What does a warehouse worker do?
You receive goods, check them and put them in the right place on the racks. You keep track of stock with a scanner and get orders ready for dispatch.
No experience needed, but safety shoesFlexi-jobs & student jobs in a warehouse
Warehouse work in Flanders peaks between mid-November and the end of December, when web shops and retail chains process their orders for the holidays, and again at the start of the sales in January. Order picking, packing and stocktaking are then organised in extra teams, often in shifts from 06:00 to 14:00 and from 14:00 to 22:00. Warehouses post those peak shifts on AnyShift, where students and flexi-jobbers can view them per location.
A late shift in a warehouse
What does a late shift in a warehouse look like?
A webshop warehouse often runs two shifts. The late shift goes from 2 pm to 10 pm and makes sure the day's orders still go out. Click a moment to see what an order picker or packer does.
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You put on your safety shoes and grab a hi-vis vest and a handheld scanner. The team leader tells you how many orders are waiting and which zone you start in. On your first day you get a short tour of the racks.
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The scanner shows which item to fetch and which rack it is on. You walk the aisles with a trolley and fill one tote after another. You walk a lot during a shift, so comfortable safety shoes make all the difference.
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At the packing table you check that everything is in the tote. You pick a box that fits, fill the empty space and stick the label on. If something is missing, you tell the team leader instead of closing the box.
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Returned parcels go to a separate zone. You check that the item is undamaged and complete, scan it in and put it back in its place on the racks. After the holidays and when the sales start, this is a big part of the work.
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Before the courier collects the last load, all boxes are on pallets per carrier. Sometimes you then recount a rack for the inventory. At 10 pm your shift is done. If you are under 18, an early shift is the better choice, because late evening work is restricted for you.
Common roles: Order picker (november and december), Packer (year-end rush), Stocktaker (saturday), Forklift driver (morning and afternoon), Returns handler (january).
Which jobs can you do in a warehouse?
What does an order picker do?
You collect orders from the racks with a scanner or picking list and bring them to the packing area. You walk the aisles for the whole shift.
No experience neededWhat does a packer do?
At the packing table you check whether the order is complete, choose a box and stick on the label. You work in one fixed spot for the whole shift.
Work accurately, the rest you learn on siteWhat does a forklift driver do?
You unload lorries and move pallets to the high racks with a forklift or reach truck. Safety always comes before speed.
Forklift certificate and at least 18Why work in a warehouse?
Whatever you order online passes through someone's hands in a warehouse first. For a student job or flexi-job the work is quick to learn, and there is plenty of it.
No certificate needed
You learn picking, packing and counting on your first day. Only a forklift or reach truck requires a certificate.
Lots of work at year-end
From mid-November to the end of December webshops handle their busiest weeks. In January the wave of returns follows.
Walking or one spot
As an order picker you are on the move the whole shift. Prefer a fixed spot? Then choose the packing table or the returns zone.
Counting shifts on Saturday
During an inventory you count the stock rack by rack, often on a Saturday. Handy if your weekdays are already full.
What do you earn as a warehouse worker or order picker?
You won't find an amount here: it depends on the joint committee, your age and the yearly indexation. This is how your pay in a warehouse is set.
Which pay scale?
A warehouse follows the company's joint committee. For logistics service providers that is often joint committee 226, while the warehouse of a retail chain or factory follows that sector's committee. It is stated in your contract.
Your age counts
As a student worker your minimum can be lower the younger you are. As a flexi-jobber you get at least the pay scale of the joint committee plus flexi holiday pay.
Shifts and certificate
Many warehouses pay a premium for late or night shifts. Forklift drivers sometimes earn more than order pickers.
Know in advance
The hourly wage is shown with every shift in the app. That way you compare an early, late or Saturday shift before you respond.
Student worker or flexi-jobber in the warehouse?
| Student worker | Flexi-jobber | |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | You are studying. You can start from 16, or from 15 after the first two years of secondary school. | You have a job of at least 4/5 elsewhere, or you are retired. |
| Maximum | 650 hours a year at reduced contributions. | No hour limit. Your flexi income is tax-free up to 18,440 euros a year, no ceiling for pensioners. |
| Deduction | A 2.71 percent solidarity contribution. | No social security contributions for you. |
| Night shift | Only from 18. Under 18? Pick the early shift from 6 a.m. | Early, late and night shifts without extra restriction. |
| Forklift or reach truck | Only from 18 and with a certificate. | With a certificate, like any warehouse worker. |
All the rules for 2026Rules checked on 7 October 2026.
Warehousing close to home
- AntwerpDistribution centres in the port area need order pickers for the November and December rush.Warehousing in Antwerp
- BrugesWarehouses in the Zeebrugge inner port need extra hands when large shipments arrive.Warehousing in Bruges
- GhentWarehouses on the edge of town need packers for the year-end peak.Warehousing in Ghent
- LeuvenWarehouses on the edge of Leuven need packers during busy order periods.Warehousing in Leuven
- MechelenOn Mechelen-Noord, warehouses run extra hours in the run-up to the holidays.Warehousing in Mechelen
- HasseltOn business parks such as Ekkelgarden, warehouses need sorting help in peak weeks.Warehousing in Hasselt
- KortrijkCompanies in Kortrijk-Noord look for sorters when orders peak.Warehousing in Kortrijk
How to start
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Step 1
Apply
Pick a shift in the app and tap apply.
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Step 2
Get accepted
The business picks you and your contract is ready.
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Step 3
Clock in
Arrive on time and clock in through the app.
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Step 4
Work your shift
You work and break when it's allowed.
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Step 5
Get paid
Clock out, your pay follows within days.
For shifters
A student job in a warehouse at the racks or the packing table
- No certificate needed to pick or pack
- Saturday stocktaking shifts
- Under 18? Choose an early shift
For businesses
Extra pickers in the warehouse for year end or the returns?
- Post a shift with hours and task
- Picking, packing, returns or stocktaking
- State whether a forklift licence is needed
Frequently asked questions
Can you work in a warehouse on Saturdays or night shifts as a student?
On Saturdays, certainly: many warehouses run an extra shift or a stocktake, which fits next to your classes. A night shift runs between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and counts as night work, so it is only for those aged 18 or over. Under 18? Then choose the early shift from 6 a.m. or a Saturday during the day. As a flexi-jobber you can take weekend and night shifts without extra restriction. Every shift shows the start and end time.
Do you need a forklift certificate, and how do you get one?
For order picking, packing and counting you don't need a certificate. For a forklift or reach truck every warehouse asks for training with a certificate, and you must be at least 18. Such a course takes a few days and you can follow it at a recognised training centre or at VDAB. Sometimes the company trains you itself. Already have a certificate? Add it to your profile, so you also see the forklift shifts.
Can I work in a warehouse as a student?
Yes, warehouse work is one of the most sought-after student jobs, and since 2025 you may put up to 650 hours a year into it at reduced contributions. Driving a forklift or reach truck does require a certificate and a minimum age of 18. Without a certificate you stay with picking, packing and counting, which make up the majority of the shifts.
When do warehouses look for the most extra staff?
The biggest peak runs from mid-November to the last days of December, followed by the wave of returns in January. Shorter peaks follow promotions, the start of the school year and the change of seasonal collections in March and September. Many warehouses then work in two or three teams, with shifts starting at 06:00, 14:00 or 22:00.
What do I wear for a warehouse shift?
Safety shoes are compulsory in most warehouses, and some clients lend them out if you do not have any yourself. Beyond that a high-visibility vest, which you get on site, and clothing in which you can easily bend and lift are enough. Check the shift description for a cold zone, because then warm clothing is needed.
How quickly can I do a first warehouse shift?
After your registration and identity check you respond to the peak shifts that warehouses in your region post. Teams are usually scheduled a week ahead, but with an unexpectedly large wave of orders shifts appear for the next morning. A short safety briefing on arrival is standard, so allow a quarter of an hour extra your first time.
What is the difference between order picking and packing?
Order picking means you take the right items from the racks with a scanner or picking list and bring them to the packing area. Packing happens at a table or line: checking, packing, labelling and preparing for the courier. Those who like walking choose picking, and those who prefer a fixed spot choose the packing line.
Ready for your first shift in the warehouse?
Download the app as a shifter or register your business for free.