01/07/2023
What you should know about a career in logistics:
Logistics and supply chain careers are often-overlooked by the public so let’s dig in to what you may have missed so far in your career search.
Logistics is a BIG business
Logistics is not a field that many people are regularly thinking of. But the fact of the matter is, it's an industry that plays a HUGE role in our economy. 18.1 billion tons of goods worth about $19.2 trillion moved on our nation’s transportation network in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.1 By 2045, total freight is projected to reach 27 billion tons while the value is expected to grow to $38 trillion, showing the sheer magnitude of this important, yet often overlooked, industry.
If an organization makes something, or sells something another organization makes, they need logistics professionals to ensure their operations keep on smoothly rolling along.
It can be a high-pressure career
As a logistician, so many other people in the supply chain will depend on you. It’s your diligence and planning that will allow everyone else to do their job, but you may encounter sticky situations when the unexpected occurs.
“Logistics itself is a very challenging area within the SCM domain as most of the points of failure occur during logistics functions.
For example, some days you may be on the hook for working out a back-up shipping plan that can have an enormous impact on an organization’s bottom line. That means you’ll need to keep calm under pressure and communicate effectively to stakeholders who are likely under pressure as well.
Education is an important first step
How can you qualify yourself to help fill the void? By getting educated! We used real-time job analysis software to examine over 70,000 logistics job postings from the past year and found that 70 percent were seeking candidates with a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.4 The BLS also states that while an associate’s degree will qualify you for some positions, bachelor’s degrees are becoming more desirable due to the increased complexity of the field.2
Motivation is another factor that helps logisticians catch the eye of their bosses, according to Sharma. “Managers are always looking for the next leader within the ranks who is motivated, knows the nuances of the spectrum and is willing to develop vertical knowledge.
