No matter if you are looking for your first job or thinking about making a career change, logistics is a field worth considering. There’s a role for everyone, no matter what your skills, as the supply chain requires people who can drive, pack, lift, manage, communicate, or compute. A job in logistics can provide good pay, flexibility, growth, security, and fulfilment. That’s a lot of positive elements that aren’t often found together in one career!
What is logistics?
Logistics involves the movement and management of goods and raw materials from their point of origin to their final destination (usually where the customer is). The process includes the acquisition, storage, and transportation of these resources.
What roles are available in logistics?
There are many areas of logistics that require people to fill certain roles, including warehouses, transportation, and control.
Warehouse
Firstly there is the warehouse where people are required to handle the resources so that they can be stored. Some of the job titles in this area include:
- Warehouse Associate;
- Forklift Driver;
- Warehouse Manager;
- Inventory Assistant;
- Picker and Packer.
Transport
Transportation is needed to move the products and materials to the warehouse and then to the customer. Some roles involved in transportation are:
- Dispatcher;
- Lorry Driver;
- Freight Agent;
- Transport Analyst.
Control
Roles involving information and control aim to create systems that handle operational processes. A career in this area could be:
- Supply-chain Manager;
- Customer Service Representative;
- Operations Executive;
- Head of Materials;
- Business Analyst.
What are the benefits of working in this industry?
There are many benefits to getting a job in logistics. It’s an easy industry to enter, and you could have a job for life that is well-paid and that offers you flexibility, variety, and opportunities to grow or to move.
Easy entry
With so many different roles, it’s easy to find one that doesn’t require a degree, an apprenticeship, or previous experience. Also, once you’ve got your foot in the door, with on-the-job training, you can move upwards if you want to pursue further challenges.
Job security
Multichannel ecommerce fulfilment is a booming sector, putting the need for warehouse storage and logistics in high demand. To keep up, the supply chain continuously employs new workers, which means you should be able to get a job quickly. You are also likely to have job security since companies in this field tend to survive longer than others.
Reasonable pay
The average hourly rate for someone working in logistics is currently £14.98, which is £29,215 per annum. An entry-level salary starts from £23,814, and top-level rates are up to £50,000 yearly. Furthermore, since the logistics industry is always busy trying to meet next-day delivery deadlines, there are often opportunities to work overtime. So, if you need extra income quickly, you should easily be able to pick up extra shifts.
Flexibility
Logistics tends to operate 24/7, so it’s usually easy to find a shift pattern that suits your needs, whether it’s days, nights, weekends, or a varying schedule. This range is attractive if you need to work around childcare or another job. A warehouse or delivery role is also great if you just want a temporary job, particularly during the academic holidays or the Christmas and New Year rush.
Variety
Logistics offers a variety of work, from manual handling to pick and pack services, operations to distribution, and finance to customer service. You may find yourself carrying out different tasks in a small company. Or, if you prefer repetition, a larger business might suit you better.
Opportunity to grow
As the supply chain has so many roles and different levels of responsibility, it’s possible to start out in the warehouse and work your way up to an office. This industry is always keen to promote from within, and training that develops a specific skill often comes with a pay increase.
Easy to relocate
Although large logistics companies tend to be found near motorways or seaports, goods are inevitably forwarded to smaller distributors. This means there are likely to be openings wherever you are, and if you need to move, you will probably find a similar role in the area you want to relocate to.
The takeaway
Logistics offers an array of roles, from entry-level to upper management, and no matter your skills and interests, there are always openings within warehouses, hauliers, or control centres. The need for logistics will not disappear soon, so a career in this industry could see you through to retirement. Even if you start at a low rate, there are plenty of opportunities to take on more responsibility and aim for promotion.
Shiftwork makes it possible to choose the best hours for you, and logistics companies can be found all over the UK. If you are thinking about taking a position in this industry, it’s definitely worth giving it a try. Even if you decide not to progress upwards, you can always move sideways to another role.