Where do I start? Transport Management & Logistics

Transcription

1 Where do I start? Transport Management & Logistics The transport management and logistics sector includes transport planning, traffic management and freight logistics. Transport and logistics are the very infrastructures that bring our day together; from getting the bus in the morning to picking up a meal from the supermarket in the evening. It is only when the bus is late and our favourite meal is missing from the shelf that we realise something has gone wrong and thus how fundamental transport and logistics are to our society. Ultimately, working in transport and logistics is based on an understanding of the Five Rights: The right goods are available in the right place at the right time in the right quantity and quality and at the right price. Your department may be responsible for all of these, or they may be shared between different divisions. Transport and logistics offers a wide range of employment opportunities, including: Passenger transport management Transport planning (public sector and private sector) Supply chain management

2 Freight management Shipbroking (arranging the transport of goods and commodities by sea or buying and selling ships on behalf of clients) Humanitarian logistics (the acquisition and delivery of required supplies and services to those in poverty, affected by humanitarian crises or disasters) Roles also exist in HR, finance, IT, sales and marketing, communications and procurement The sector is about to experience significant expansion with thousands of vacancies expected to be created by 2020, particularly in transport planning and IT. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) recruit on an occasional basis, while it is the larger firms who are most likely to recruit graduates through structured training programmes. The current gender imbalance, with women being especially under-represented in logistics, is being addressed through organisations such as Women in Logistics and the strong presence of women in humanitarian logistics. The demand for graduates to work in transport and logistics outstrips current supply and all degree backgrounds are welcome. Considerations Working in transport and logistics may involve: a variety of working environments - Employees in transport and logistics can work in offices, but they may be located at sea ports, airports or distribution warehouses. The role may also involve a lot of travel, working away from home or even national or international relocation. long working hours - Employees often work shifts outside normal hours including weekends, early mornings and evenings, as transport and logistics is a 24/7 operation, so flexibility is essential. a wide range of starting salaries The range of salaries within each occupation varies quite significantly, depending on company, role and department. Entry level roles, such as Logistics, Transport or Supply Chain specialist/analyst, can start between 18,500 and 25,000 per annum, rising to 30,000+ for management roles. job satisfaction Projects may be long term and often being involved at the start can mean completion seems far off. However, once complete, the results of one s work are often clear to see and have a positive impact on people s daily lives.

3 Finding out more Websites The Careers Service website links to many useful transport and logistics websites, including some that list job vacancies. See the Transport and Logistics section at : Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) - Logitics Manager - Rail News - Information folders Green folders (P) - transport and Logistics Job Profiles, Transport Management, Transport Personnel and Logistics Reference books (Available at: C = Central office and KB = King s Buildings office) Careers in Airlines and Airports (C & KB) Ports Handbook (C & KB) The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Professional Development Directory (C) The Guide to Careers in Logistics and Transport for everyone! (C) The Modern Railway: All You Need To Know About UK Railways (C & KB) Working in Aviation (C & KB) Understanding the Freight Business (C) Work experience and Skills Development Here are some suggestions to build the key skills, experience and personal qualities required to succeed in the sector: Check MyCareerHub regularly for opportunities. It is also helpful to look at the expired opportunities and the employer search to find organisations who have advertised vacancies in the past and can be bookmarked for future opportunities or possibly contacted through a speculative application. Opportunities, particularly seasonal positions or work experience/ shadowing, may be available with local SMEs. Alternatively, internships and graduate programmes are increasingly available with the larger companies, such as Unilever and Morrisons.

4 Remember you do not need to do an internship. An entry level job within the industry, such as warehouse administrator, will still give you insight into the sector and the issues it faces. While completing any relevant experience try to seek advice from people in the organisation about working in the sector. Stay in contact with people you work with. This may uncover any hidden opportunities and keep you in the know for future opportunities. In doing so you will put into practice and prove your communication skills. Involvement in University societies can prove very useful experience. You may be in a position of responsibility or arrange transport for society events/trips. This can offer evidence of organisational, leadership, problem solving, teamwork, negotiation and decision making skills. Check the EUSA website for a list of University societies at Joining the City of Edinburgh University Officers Training Corps (UOTC) will be particularly good experience if you are interested in transport and logistics within the military. Social media sites, particularly LinkedIn, make it increasingly easy for you to make connections, either to gain more information on the industry and the roles available, keep up-to-date with developments and key issues in the sector or to find out about specific vacancies. Find information on successfully utilising social media on our website at Are you on Twitter? Subscribe to our Twitter List for Transport and Logistics to receive news, vacancies and advice updates from relevant professional bodies, employers and organisations. & logistics Networking with professionals about what they would recommend is a great way of getting really informative, up-to-date advice and demonstrates your commercial awareness and interest in the sector. Use the resources under Looking for work > Graduate jobs > Finding unadvertised jobs > Networking to get started. Our Connect.ed database is an informal and confidential opportunity for you to gather occupational knowledge from former University of Edinburgh students currently working in the area you are interested in. You can access Connect.ed from the Careers tab on your MyEd. During semester the Careers Service hosts visits from employers who offer roles in Transport and Logistics. Login to MyCareerHub

5 and view the Events tab for details of upcoming events. The Careers Service also holds an annual Careers Fair where there are often employers present who offer opportunities in the transport and logistics sector. Job Hunting In addition to the above suggestions for building skills and experience, the ideas below can also help you explore the sector and hopefully find work: Check MyCareerHub regularly for opportunities. Take notice of companies you travel with and the personnel you are engaging with; check the careers section of companies websites for contacts, internship or graduate programmes and other available opportunities. Find a list of agencies that specialise in transport and logistics by using the member directory on the Recruitment & Employment Confederation website at Prominent specialist recruitment agencies include: MVP Supply Chain Recruitment, Nigel Wright, Alchemy, BiS Henderson and The BJD Group. Meanwhile, for agencies in the Edinburgh area, use the recruitment agency survey on the Careers Service website under Looking for work > Graduate jobs > Finding advertised jobs > Recruitment agencies. Join and become an active member in your local professional institute or organisation (such as the CILT, CIHT or CIPS). Speculative applications can be an effective way of gaining experience. Smaller firms, in particular, may respond to speculative applications, as their online presence may be limited, however ensure you target your application to the right person in the organisation (not always HR). Use the resources under Looking for work > Finding unadvertised jobs on the Careers Service website for help with speculative applications. Specifically in Edinburgh, why not consider working as: A seasonal employee with Lothian Buses, First Group or Stagecoach or one of the many bus tour companies operating out of Edinburgh A Christmas postal worker with the Royal Mail A volunteer with the Red Cross or other similar organisations, especially if you are interested in humanitarian logistics; where relevant logistics and supply chain experience will be essential A customer sales representative at a car rental company

6 Employers & Graduate Programmes Graduate training programmes as a way into the industry are offered through many larger companies including those listed below. These programmes often involve early responsibility and quick progression; for example Gist s Operational Management Trainee Scheme progresses graduates to a Site Operations Manager in 2 years, with the aim of progression to General Manager/Account Director in 6-8 years. At the end of your programme it is likely that you will be able to take up a full-time position in your preferred area of work. Ultimately, you should demonstrate that you can lead and energise people in a fast paced and highly changeable environment. Transport Management AECOM, AkzoNobel, Arriva, Arup, Clarksons, First Group, Highways Agency, JMP Consultants, Mott Macdonald, Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL), Transport Scotland as well as consultancies, local councils/authorities and construction companies. Logistics Amazon, Boots, Diageo, DHL, GE, GIST, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Imperial Tobacco, John Lewis Partnership, Lidl, Maersk, Mondelēz International, Morrisons, Nestle, Norbert Dentressangle, Procter and Gamble, Rolls Royce, Royal Mail Group, Sainsbury s, Tesco, Unilever and Unipart. SMEs or independent companies, possibly open to speculative applications, can be found in company directories available on the following websites, among many others: The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) - org.uk Delivering Your Future - Freight Transport Association (FTA) - Postgraduate Study and Professional Qualifications In general, most roles in the transport management and logistics sector do not require a postgraduate qualification. However they can be beneficial in the areas of logistics, supply chain management, transport planning and transport economics, depending on the role. You can search for courses at and Many companies will support employees to study a postgraduate degree on a part-time basis. For example, Transport for London (TfL) have offered day release to study for an MSc in transport planning for

7 appropriate graduates in their second year of employment. Further training to gain an accredited professional qualification through a professional body, in some cases supported by your employer, may be an advantage to career progression or may be required for a specific role. Organisations offering such qualifications include the: Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Transport Planning Society (TPS), Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) and Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM). If you require any further information or advice please speak to a Careers Information Adviser at our Helpdesks; there is no need to make an appointment. If you require career guidance please make an appointment with a Careers Consultant through MyCareerHub. March 2015 The University of Edinburgh Careers Service The Careers Service aims to be accessible to all users. If you require support to access any of our events or facilities, please let us know. We are happy to make this publication available in an alternative format. Please phone or careers@ed.ac.uk to alert us to your needs. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336

8 job adverts insider information on employers and interviews exclusive information resources booking for appointments and events features you can personalise access anywhere, any time You can access MyCareerHub via the Careers Service website and log in using your EASE/MyEd username and password.