My current job is being a supply specialist and I have been doing this for over 10 years: This week, please share your experiences in logistics job. If you are currently in a military logistics billet

My current job is being a supply specialist and I have been doing this for over 10 years:

This week, please share your experiences in logistics job. If you are currently in a military logistics billet, share your experiences with the class. How did your logistics work center bring the new member up to speed, and how long did it take? If in business or logistics, what special training classes or on-the-job training have prepared you for the future?

Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 300 words.

Reading Materials:

Advancing Your Career

Lesson Topics

· Difference Between Logistics and Supply Chain

· Getting a Doctorate in Supply Chain/Logistics Management

· Overview of Transportation and Logistics Management Career Field

· Recommended Professional Organizations and Certifications

· Developing a Job Search Strategy

· How to Land a Job in Logistics or Supply Chain

· Why Choose a Career in Logistics?

Introduction

In this lesson, we discuss what might come next for you, the soon-to-be graduate with a Master of Arts in Transportation and Logistics Management. The lesson is separated into the topics listed to help you meet Learning Objective #2: Conduct a career search for a position of choice or search other post-graduate choices to share in the forum.

The objective of this lesson, therefore, is to help you clarify your future career goals and objectives. Taking the next step armed with this information is entirely yours to make.

Difference Between Logistics and Supply Chain

Logistics is a subset of the supply chain. It is the generic capability that treats most customers the same. It concerns storing and moving a product. Wallace A. Burns, Jr., Ed.D., Consulting Manager and Associate Professor in the School of Business, Transportation and Logistics Management Program at the American Public University explains the terms this way:

Think of the supply chain and logistics as simply this: Logistics is comprised of storage and distribution, which is a subset of the supply chain, which deals with additional customer-tailored components such as schedules, procurement, inventory control, product lifecycle management, pricing, demand management, forecasts, and partnerships with strategic and tactical enablers (Burns, Inbound Logistics, 2015,para. 12).

The supply chain, therefore, is everything (plan, source, build, deliver, and return) required to source and deliver/return a product from/to origination to/from final destination and—here is the key—it is tailored to meet each customer’s specific needs. The combination of generic capability (logistics) coupled with tailoring by the customer produces the efficiencies that most customers demand. Areas within the supply chain include inventory control, packaging, manufacturing, quality, receiving, and warehousing. So, when searching for a career, know these differences to fine-tune your search.

Getting a Doctorate in Supply Chain/Logistics Management

Getting a doctorate in supply chain/logistics management is designed for students interested in the research of individualized, student-tailored supply chain/logistics (including transportation) management interdisciplinary programs of study. Schools such as MIT and Penn State, among others, offer well-respected, in-resident programs for the academic minded. Obtaining a research doctorate is primarily beneficial for careers in research, whether for a university, government, or private industry.

Overview of Transportation and Logistics Management Career Field

The logistics business is booming. Over fifty million tons of freight are moved every year, valued at well over $50 billion, with logistics costs accounting for approximately $1.5 trillion (Xu, 2015). From all reports, there are not enough candidates to fill the logistics positions, possibly because of the nature of the job (often high-pressure and demanding) and because it requires specific education (which you now possess!).

Rasmussen College identified three representative career fields in the supply chain/logistics management areas, presented here for your consideration.

Industrial Production Managers

Logisticians

Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents

Recommended Professional Organizations and Certifications

Far and away, the best professional organization you should consider joining is APICS. APICS offers certifications in all of the career specialties within the broader production spectrum. APUS offers a student-led organization – AMU & APU APICS – that will expose students to the benefits of joining a professional society.

Considered a must for professionals in the field, certifications offered include the following:

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· CPIM – APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management

Internal business subjects such as materials management, master scheduling, forecasting and production planning.

For more information on reasons to join APICS and APICS certifications and certification processes, go to APICS’ websites for individual memberships and credentialing.

For more information on reasons to join the Reverse Logistics Association and RLA certifications and certification processes, visit RLA’s website.

Developing a Job Search Strategy

Searching for any job in today’s employment environment is tricky business. Many new graduates are finding it hard to land in their chosen field. As a Master’s graduate “in the field”, most students should find it a welcoming process. The best way to advance in our profession is to land a position with a strong logistics or supply chain organization, do well, and work your way up.

Most supply chain/logistics positions of leadership require direct knowledge of the job to be done. Seldom are leadership positions filled with on-the-job training in mind. So, seek out a Wal-Mart, or FedEx, or any 3PL, land the job, and soar within the job. For those with military logistics or direct experience backgrounds, the search should be easier still.

Best of luck! Seek and ye shall find!

Key Elements of a Job Search Strategy

Consider the following actions when developing and executing your job search strategy. Your list may include some or all of these elements. Are there others you would add?

· Write down specific career goals.

· Identify and build a network of contacts.

· Assess your skills and education, and form-fit them to your objectives.

· Obtain both formal education (done!) and OJT (whatever position is available).

· Make sure your skills with communication and computers are on par with the expectations of the job.

· When in a position, seek the biggest challenges and a role on large-team projects.

· Make sure you do your research on the company you are considering joining. Are they profitable, industry leaders, etc.?

· Use the myriad job boards, placing your resume and cover letter so that your availability and desire to work is known.

· Cold-call logistics operations. Talk to supervisors and managers (the people you would be working for) in addition to HR managers.

· Make sure your skills are well presented in a tight, professional resume.

· Ace the interview by being prepared and confident.

· Keep your eye on the ball: You want to land a great logistics job! (Logisticsdegree.net, 2017, para. 2-12)

How to Land a Job in Logistics or Supply Chain

Three words: network, network, and network.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor has compiled a large amount information on logistics jobs by state. Their web page is a must-see for a snapshot of the logistics employment market in your state or prospective state. Take some time to look at the data on the Occupational Employment and Wages for Logisticians page.

Why Choose a Career in Logistics?

A contributor to the Logical Logistics online blog had an interesting set of reasons for why she enjoyed her job in logistics (and this fully applies to reverse logistics and supply chain management as well).

1. It’s Never Boring: Logistics is a constantly changing environment that requires puzzle-solving skills.

2. It’s a Small World: Even the smallest supply chain likely reaches into national and global partnerships.

3. There’s No “I” in Team: Supply chain logistics is a team game, with technology experts through warehouse pickers working together to optimize efforts.

4. The Possibilities are Endless: Companies large and small have the need for supply chain positions. Want to join the ranks of a giant like Nike? Want to help optimize the reach of a custom t-shirt seller? Whatever size organization you prefer, there is a business out there that needs supply chain help (Buxton, 2015, para. 1).

We could not describe it any better.

Conclusion

This week we focused on better understanding the field we'll be working in, the key elements of a job search strategy, and how to land a job in logistics or the supply chain. In the forums for this lesson, we shared experiences in landing (or attempting to land) a logistics or supply chain job.

References

APICS. (2017, February 16). APICS. Retrieved from APICS: http://www.apics.org/apics

Burns, W. A. (2015, November 1). What is the Difference Between Logistics and Supply Chain? Retrieved from Inbound Logistics http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/good-question/

Buxton, W. (2015, December 15). What I Love About My Job in Logistics. Retrieved from Logical Logistics Blog https://www.lynnco-scs.com/logical-logistics/logical-logistics/2015/12/15/what-i-love-about-my-job-in-logistics

Logisticsdegree.net. (2017, February 16). How to Land a Job in Logistics. Retrieved from Logisticsdegree.net https://logisticsdegree.net/how-to-land-a-job-in-logistics/

Xu, E. (2015, May 5). What Can You Do with a Supply Chain Management Degree? Retrieved from Rasmussen College http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/business/blog/what-can-you-do-with-supply-chain-management-degree/