What on earth is logistics and why should I care?

You might have seen the word "logistics" plastered across the side of a truck on the motorway and maybe you have some vague ideas about lorries and long journeys.

Actually, the logistics industry spans a whole host of job areas. Yes, there's driving, but there's also selling, looking after the vehicles, doing the finances and much more – plus it can take you all over the world.

Gordon Seery is the operations manager at OSE European. Today, he explains why he's so passionate about logistics and answers our questions on why a logistics job could be relevant for you.

How and why did you start a career in logistics?

The first time I entered the logistics profession was in 2003, after I had returned from travelling around the world. I decided to put the skills I had developed driving over many continents and terrains to good use by taking a job as a driver for OSE European. I soon found myself in the seat of a Sprinter van transporting parts to a Mercedes factory in Hamburg and really enjoying life on the road.

I returned to logistics again in 2014, after pursuing a teaching career. There was a real shortage of skilled driving staff at the time, but after speaking to OSE again, it became clear that they wanted to utilise my skillset in a different way. I was very happy to be offered the position of operations manager at the firm – a role I continue to enjoy to this day.

What’s great about the world of logistics?

I love working in the logistics sector because no day is the same, and you never know what is around the corner. You are faced with different challenges on a minute by minute basis which can be very mentally challenging, which I find incredibly satisfying.

You get to work with a huge variety of people in this industry, all with different skills and abilities. It is important to be adaptable, as you will be dealing with a great variety of clients, all of whom will have their own requirements and deadlines.

What advice would you give to someone considering a logistics job?

Looking back at my journey, my advice to anyone looking to get into a career in logistics would be to expand your skillset as much as you can, as the more strings to your bow you have, the more valuable you are in any workplace. Also, never burn any bridges! Stay on good terms and in touch with as many people as you can, as you never know where your next opportunity is going to come from.

I thought logistics was all about driving. Are there other logistics jobs I can do?

There are a huge variety of roles apart from driving: sales, marketing, accounting, warehouse management, inventory planning, stock control, vehicle maintenance, fleet and driver management, and machine operation (fork lift trucks, etc), just to name a few. There is so much more to the industry than just deliveries and driving – many people with varied skillsets are needed to make sure each part of a logistics company functions properly.

Who should pursue a career in logistics?

A career in logistics is definitely for someone who has an analytical mind and great problem-solving skills. If you are interested in driving and the delivery aspect of the industry, having a real love of travel is important, and you must be comfortable with being away from home for extended periods of time.

But I’m a girl and logistics jobs are for boys.

Unfortunately, this is a common assumption, and one that is very untrue! There are many women who pursue successful careers in the sector, ranging from female delivery drivers to others who work in management and executive positions in offices. Here at OSE, we have a roughly 50/50 based gender split of office staff involved in operational duties, sales, marketing functions and also accountancy.

Logistics is a great industry for intelligent people with a good work ethic to come into and flourish. There’s also huge variety of opportunities in the sector, ranging from apprenticeships to graduate opportunities involving both mental, physical and strategic skills. There are opportunities for everyone, both male and female, young and old, and I recommend anyone with even a passing interest in the sector to look further into it to see what it can offer them.

I like the idea of being a logistics driver, but I’m worried it might be a bit boring.

A career as a logistics driver gives you the opportunity to travel across the length and breadth of the UK and Europe, and sometimes even further afield. If you couple this with the ability to speak a foreign language then this can be an incredibly satisfying, often well-paid, career. If you are excited by the prospect of the open road, a role as a driver could be perfect for you.

I’m really interested in a logistics job but I’ve no idea how to get started.

What should I do next?

It’s probably worth getting in touch with a few of your local transport companies asking if you could come in to see what happens. The worst they can say is no! Try arranging a week’s work experience to get a real flavour of what goes on behind the scenes at a logistics firm.

Your route into the industry can be made easier if you have a friend or relative who already works for a logistics firm. Not only can they help you to find job opportunities, but they can also share their experience and advice to prepare you for your future career in the sector. If you want to start working straight away without many qualifications, you can look at an entry level job, such as a dispatcher, scheduler, or expeditor, though some of these may also require a degree.

There are usually plenty of opportunities to work your way upwards within the logistics industry if you apply yourself. Work hard and you will be rewarded.

So there's much more to logistics than you thought! Hopefully Gordon's tips have given you plenty of ideas, but if you want to learn more about where a logistics jobs could take you in your career, head over to our transport career zone.

Image credits

Lead image copyright John Carver: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1768671