Looking for a career that’s going places?
Have you ever wanted to pursue a career on the open road? Or perhaps you have great organisational skills, and want to put your penchant for planning to good use? Do you really like logistics? OK, you get the idea.
To help inspire you, here are some roles in the transport and logistics industry you could consider, and our top tips to help you get from A to B:
Courier
What they do: Collect and deliver a variety of goods, usually to a strict deadline. This could range from delivering mail and personal messages locally through to transporting bulky goods, or even moving urgently needed medical supplies cross-country, and everything in-between.
What you need: No formal qualifications are required to become a courier, although general English and maths skills will be useful, as will a good grasp of geographical locations. In terms of attributes, reliability, the ability to hit deadlines, and excellent driving/motorcycling/cycling skills are definitely desirable to potential employers.
What you can earn: Around £14,000 as an entry-level salary (depending on hours and location), progressing to £20,000 or so once proven.
Perfect for: People who like to deliver (this is not a metaphor).
Driver
What they do: The clue is pretty much in the name with this one. However, what you’ll be driving could range from Large or Heavy Goods Vehicles (LGV & HGV), to cars, vans, busses, coaches and more. If you love driving and like the idea of doing it for a living, it’s pretty much a no-brainer.
What you need: First and foremost, excellent driving skills (not to mention a relevant licence and clean record). You will also be working alone for long periods of time, so people that work well individually and enjoy their own company would be ideal. Patience will similarly be a virtue, especially important to bear in mind for anyone who has ever spent more than an hour sitting sedentary on the M25.
What you can earn: Around £24,000 on average, although this can rise relatively quickly for those willing to put the hours in.
Perfect for: People who like driving in their cars (see also: lorries).
Supply Chain staff
What they do: Plan and organise the production, handling and distribution of products and materials, from manufacturers and suppliers through to customers. You could work as a planner, co-ordinator, manager and a number of other roles in this profession.
What you need: To be successful in this role, excellent planning and organisation skills are absolutely essential. You should also enjoy problem-solving, and have confidence in your convictions.
What you can earn: Income will start at around £20,000 for the year, but for managers in this sector salaries can rise to £40,000+.
Perfect for: People who like to organise other people and processes.
Train Driver
What they do: Drive passenger or freight trains, either locally or on a national scale. Train drivers may also work on the driving for engineering projects.
What you need: Concentration, patience and excellent customer service skills are essential in this role. The ability to react quickly and calmly in unforeseen circumstances is similarly vital. Finally, you must be over 21 years of age to become a Train Driver.
What you can earn: The starting salary during training is around £18,000, although this will rise to £40,000 once fully qualified and experienced. Typically, you will also benefit from subsidised or free travel, if you like that kind of thing.
Perfect for: People who think cars are overrated.
Warehouse staff
What they do: Work in warehouses taking deliveries, moving and organising stock, loading and monitoring goods, and picking and packing goods. You could work as a Warehouse Assistant or Warehouse Operative, Warehouse Supervisor, and there is also the opportunity to move into management. You may also use a hoist, forklift, or other specific machinery.
What you need: To be successful working in a warehouse position, you will need to be a practical person, who enjoys physical work. Good spatial awareness and the ability to work quickly and efficiently will also be extremely important. There aren’t any pre-requisites in terms of qualifications, and many companies offer on-the-job training.
What you can earn: Salaries start from around £12,000, with more experienced staff earning somewhere above the £20,000 mark. Bonuses and other incentives are also fairly common.
Perfect for: People who want a physical career.
How to become a Warehouse Operative
Other jobs in transport and logistics roles to consider: Logistics, Shipping, Import/Export Clerk, Stock Control, Depot Manager.
Top tips
Here are some of our top tips for finding a job in the transport & logistics industry:
- Get hands-on – Experience can be vital to break into the transport and logistics industry. If you’re just starting out, internships or work placements are a great way to begin your journey.
- Demonstrate your skills – Pick out the most relevant attributes from the job description and tailor your CV to emphasise them. If you’re looking for a job in Supply Chain Management for example, majoring on planning and organisation within your CV could be vital in demonstrating to the employer that you’re the right candidate for the job.
- Put the hours in – Long hours are generally synonymous with the transport and logistics industry, so make sure to major on flexibility within your CV and make sure you apply the same rule when it comes to the interview.
- Don’t get caught out with qualifications – If you need specific qualifications for the job, be pro-active and start learning. Whether it’s a HGV license, a certificate to demonstrate you can drive a forklift truck, or even a supply chain management qualification, it will instantly make your CV start to stand out.
- Keep on truckin’ – We’re not 100% sure why. We just really wanted to use this line.
Ready to find your ideal route? View all transport & logistics jobs now.
