021 1100 200
info@oxbridgeacademy.edu.za
How To Find A Job In The Transport And Logistics Industry
Studying a course to broaden your skills is one of the best and quickest ways to prepare for a career in the transport and logistics industry.
What Does A Job In Transport And Logistics Involve?
The transport and logistics industry is about planning, implementing, and controlling procedures relating to the movement and storage of goods. Professionals in this industry have to make sure that:
- Goods are packaged correctly
- All the relevant documents are in order
- Goods are properly stored
- Importing and exporting regulations are followed
In short, this industry is about making sure that goods are effectively transported and stored.
Some Tips For Landing A Job In Transport And Logistics:
Even though the transport and logistics industry is growing at a rapid pace, it doesn’t mean that finding a job will be a breeze. You have to go out there and make an effort to get the job you want.
Here are a few tips on how you can land your job in the transport and logistics industry:
- Determine your goals
The first step in achieving your career goals is to determine what they are. Write out a career plan detailing what you want to achieve, and then work toward getting there. If your current goal is to secure a job, write down a description of the type of job that you are looking for. The more clearly defined your goal is, the more likely it is that you will achieve it. - Network, job shadow, and learn from the best
Find people who are currently working in the field, and find out what they are able to tell you about the industry. Ask them to introduce you to other professionals in the field, or to introduce you to one or two companies that you’re interested in working for.
- Determine what you are qualified for right now
Whether you start out as a warehouse assistant or a dispatcher in a logistics company, entry-level jobs are a great place to start if you don’t have much experience and you’d like to land a job in this industry. Before you start applying, though, consider how your skills and qualifications measure up to the requirements listed for the jobs you want. Remember that it’s okay to apply for a job if you have a bit less experience than what’s required, but that you will be wasting your time if you don’t have the minimum skills and qualifications needed to do the job.
- Gain extra knowledge and skills by enrolling for a course
Once you know what skills and qualifications are required for the types of transport and logistics jobs that you’d like to apply for, you can decide whether it is necessary to study an additional course to boost your CV (and improve your chances of finding a job).
Useful tip 1: The transport and logistics industry is so diverse that there is always something new for you to learn. The more you know about the many different aspects of transport and logistics, the more valuable you will be to your prospective employers.
Useful tip 2: Good communication skills are vital in this industry. Don Firth, president of JobsInLogistics.com, says that good transport and logistics professionals “must be able to address executives at a boardroom level just as well as they talk to truck drivers and warehouse workers”.
What Skills Do You Need To Work In The Transport And Logistics Industry?
There are certain general skills that you need if you want to work in this industry, such as:
- Problem-solving skills
- Decision-making skills
- The ability to manage a team
- Analytical skills
- Strategic planning skills
- Effective communication skills (you need to be able to communicate with staff members at all levels)
There are different technical skills that are required for the different job roles within this industry, for example: if you are a transport manager, your duties will mainly include verifying costs, tracking shipments, co-ordinating travel schedules, and maintaining good relationships with clients. If you are a logistics analyst, however, you will be responsible for duties like: making sure that all logistics-related data is captured into databases, monitoring the industry to look for trends, and compiling operating procedures.
Where Can You Study To Gain These Skills?
You can study at Oxbridge Academy, a distance learning college that offers a range of supply chain and logistics courses via distance learning. Distance learning means that you can study your course without having to attend any classes or lectures. You study at your own pace from home, without having to worry about neglecting any of your other responsibilities.
YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
Short Learning Programmes
These non-accredited skills courses equip you with fundamental knowledge and skills in the field of logistics and supply chain management.
Short Learning Programme endorsed by The Independent Institute of Education (IIE)
This course is also non-accredited, but is endorsed by The Independent Institute of Education (IIE).