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1. Overview: Job Responsibilities, Salary, and Common Requirements
2. A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Logistician
3. What Does a Logistician Do?
4. Signs You Should Consider Becoming a Logistician
5. How Do You Become a Logistician
6. What are the Knowledge and Skills Needed to be a Logistician?
7. Popular Schools and Colleges in the U.S. for Aspiring Logisticians
8. How to Get a Job as a Logistician
9. Learn About Geographic and Location Pay Differentials
10. Make Your Resume Stand Out
Logisticians made a median salary of $74,750 in 2019. The best-paid 10 percent made $120,400 that year, while the lowest-paid 10 percent made $44,020.
Cost Estimators
Industrial Engineer Technicians
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Problem-solving
Project management
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Communication
Customer service
Critical thinking
Conflict management
If you are fascinated bb the life cycle of a product from its start in factories and how it ends up in stores, this career will surely excite you. The career is also financially rewarding, as proven by salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Logisticians work full time. They are the people behind the scenes, ensuring that products experience a safe and smooth transition from manufacturing to delivery. The next time you walk through a department store or a grocery aisle, take a moment to appreciate the logisticians that managed the entire supply chains to make sure that the products you see end up on those shelves.
Logisticians are responsible for coordinating an organization’s supply chain. Then decide on the allocation of material supplies and ensure that products move through manufacturing up until distribution. Logisticians work full time to analyze and coordinate this process and continuously find ways to improve it while keeping setbacks and errors at bay. Here are some of a logistician’s detailed obligations:
Some several traits and characteristics make a person the perfect candidate to become a logistician. If you think you have several or all of the following qualities, you might just be cut out for the job:
Logisticians analyze and coordinate a an organization’s supply chain and their product’s entire processes from beginning up until the end. It is, therefore, a great advantage if you can zoom out and see the whole process all at once. Being able to see the big picture puts processes into perspective and allows you to prepare for consecutive steps and possibly plan ahead for any setbacks.
Logisticians who have this valuable ability usually got it from experience on previous work, combined with critical thinking and the right amount of prudence. Through it, you can ensure a process flow that is as fluid as possible despite any hiccups—thanks to your foresight.
Many things can go wrong within the chain of logistics. Many things can hinder you as you make sure that operations stay on schedule. If you think about the process of production, packaging, and shipment, you can already tell that there are so many opportunities for things to go south. Pair the stress of the process by having to deal with people internally within the organization and externally with the client base—you have the perfect recipe for a stressful environment.
A good logistician doesn’t easily get fazed by all the stress. You should be able to embrace the contingencies and demands as part of the job. If you are someone who manages stress well, you might even enjoy the thrill and excitement that come with this job.
During the course of a logistician’s job, many circumstances may tempt a person to throw in a seemingly-harmless little white lie. However, utmost honesty and transparency is the only way you can genuinely succeed in this field of work. Small tweaks in information such as delivery delays, production schedules, and the likes to save face and promote the illusion of perfection and consistency will eventually bite you back in the future one way or another.
Knowing that even the smallest and most innocent-looking lie can spell future disaster in the job helps successful logisticians keep faith with the truth for the more significant and long-term good of their work. Besides, becoming known as someone who lies about the information on the job does not paint a pretty picture for just about any profession out there. It loses your employer’s confidence in you, but more importantly, your clients’ trust as well.
You need to have a love of learning and a sense of competition when it comes to becoming a good logistician. Although the work may seem repetitive and the process may be a bit predictable in practice, you must continuously be on the lookout for better ways that can speed up the process or create a flow that is more manageable, or cost-effective.
You need to understand that the role in this position is not limited to merely getting things up and running or that operations stay on schedule. You also have the responsibility of making assessments of the current logistics, to identify areas for improvement, and even devising improvement plans that you think might benefit your organization.
As explained above, the role will include a ton of stress, which not many are able to handle effectively. Dealing with the stresses of ensuring that operations stay on schedule and the possibility of set-backs of the job efficiently while being calm and composed is additionally important in this job. Exuding composure allows you to direct the flow of things more efficiently than bustling around in a state of panic. You should have a mind that is clear enough to make urgent decisions that could make or break a process.
Another reason why it is crucial to be calm under pressure as a logistician is because you are also dealing with co-workers and clients who might be put off with a lack of composure as such may be viewed as a lack of competence.
The quantity and magnitude of changes that logisticians encounter throughout their careers are simply too massive. The history of logistics dates back farther into the ancient era, and man of the foundations of what we know today has been set on those times. However, modernization and the process of learning from experiences introduced so many changes along the way. These changes continue to trickle into the concept even today, and most likely, as we progress further.
The reason for all of the changes is that there are always better systems being developed, and none of the new systems are immune to flaws. Therefore, to succeed in this career, a sense of adaptability and resilience is vital.
Becoming a logistician is quite a straightforward path. You complete an education, gain work experience, and get certified. Then you are free to apply to any logistics job that you want. Below are the steps you need to accomplish in detail:
Some companies that hire entry-level logisticians who have limited responsibility accept applicants that are graduates of associate degrees, not necessarily someone who has a bachelor’s degree. However, a bachelor’s degree might be more apt for roles that undertake more complicated logistics and bigger organizations’ supply chains. Typically, many logisticians finish a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, or systems engineering.
The programs mentioned above offer courses in database management, system dynamics, and operations management—all of which are essential in the work of a logistician. Additionally, you can also take up courses on specific technologies such as software commonly used in the job, such as RFID or Radio Frequency Identification.
Even without a bachelor’s degree, you can bag a job and advance in it as long as you have the right kind of work experience. Relevant work experience such as those in logistical support can be useful when aiming to apply as a logistician in the future. Examples of logistics supporting workers are clerks and dispatchers. You can also gain similar work experience in the military. Basically, any role or work experience that allows you to learn about the supply chain and the production process can count as relevant work experience.
Having relevant job experience works well to your advantage because not only will you have an idea of how the supply chain and production work, but you will have also developed the valuable skill of foresight, knowing the processes at hand, and an idea on how to make sure that operations stay on schedule.
Certifications are not required when applying for a job as a logistician. However, being certified by an accrediting body shows potential employers and clients how seriously you take the job. It also showcases competence in terms of knowledge and skills that are relevant to the role you are about to play. Below are some of the bodies you can apply for certification as a logistician:
If you want to work in the field of logistics and supply chain, here are the skills that you need to possess to succeed at the job:
Logisticians work full time to manage several projects simultaneously, mainly when employed in more giant corporations. They ensure that all operations stay on schedule when it pertains to production and beyond. They should, therefore, be efficient project managers who know how to keep detailed and concise records, handle people and processes, and work well despite having multiple tasks at hand. Being an efficient project manager also means that you can either multi-task comfortably or have an effective system in organizing functions that allows you to accomplish more.
Working as a logistician means being prepared for anything that could go wrong within the organization’s supply chain. Sometimes it is a challenge in itself to guarantee that operations stay on schedule. There is so much room for error that you should be able to foresee and, at the same time, know how to address accordingly. Your problem-solving skills must be top-notch and swift enough to swoop down on contingencies and address them before they do any serious damage to the whole process.
A person in this position will need to do a whole lot of collaboration and teamwork between colleagues, suppliers, and customers. Communication skills should be strong and versatile enough to address the communication needs of each group of people that you are dealing with to produce the best results.
Customer feedback is a valuable resource in the work of a logistician. Knowing the customers’ needs and concerns lets you know the right flow and other particulars involved in the movement of a product between suppliers and consumers. The innate knowledge that you have about the products and the systems in place, combined with consumer feedback, produces optimum advantage in terms of knowing what to improve in the organization’s supply chain. It can easily spell success and help you identify areas for improvement in your processes.
As a logistician, you are continually looking for ways to help identify areas for improvement in the flow of your work—whether it’s about increasing efficiency or saving on time and costs. Additionally, you are constantly devising, refining, and implementing logistical plans—which all involve a fair amount of critical thinking.
Below are some of the best schools that offer undergraduate studies in Supply Chain Management and Logistics:
For bachelor’s degrees in Systems Engineering, you can look for programs under these top schools:
Logisticians who work full time have a job outlook of a 5% growth rate until the year 2028. That is just about as fast as the average job outlook for all other professions in the US. Still, you might see that finding a job as a logistician is not too difficult if you look into the following platforms:
Jobs in Logistics is probably the top of mind site when searching for logistics jobs. It is the first and largest online job board that caters to the logistics field, including positions in an organization’s supply chain, distribution, manufacturing, warehousing, freight forwarding, inventory management, and purchasing. They have connections to tens of thousands of employers and aim to help with the placement of logistics professionals. They have affiliations with big names such as FedEx, Target, Nestlé, and American Shipping Company.
You can also find logistics careers in other job posting websites. In fact, there are thousands of relevant jobs for this field available in these sites:
If your dream is to work for the federal government, you can check out USAJobs. It is an official website of the United States government under the Office of Personnel Management that offers jobs for the general public within the federal government. It works just like any other online job platform that allows you to find and mark jobs that you like, upload your resume and credentials for potential employers to see, and apply for the jobs that you want. They also host career fairs which have schedules posted on the website.
What is unique about USA Jobs is that they segment applicant populations into hiring paths like veterans, senior executives, students, current and former federal employees, and individuals with disabilities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, logisticians have a median annual wage of $74,750. That is significantly above the US median average of roughly $50,000. Logisticians who work full time are well-compensated, and depending on location, they might earn more than the average American worker. If you want to know the best states to work and earn as a logistician, scan through the pay differentials table below:
| State | 2019 Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $ 93,950 |
| Delaware | $ 92,750 |
| Maryland | $ 92,090 |
| Washington | $ 89,300 |
| Alabama | $ 87,670 |
| Virginia | $86500 |
| Virginia | $ 86,970 |
| New Jersey | $ 86,660 |
| California | $ 84,690 |
| Hawaii | $ 84,580 |
| Texas | $ 84,370 |
| New Mexico | $ 80,800 |
| Montana | $ 80,260 |
| Michigan | $ 80,130 |
| Colorado | $ 79,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $ 79,520 |
| Louisiana | $ 79,170 |
| Massachusetts | $ 78,550 |
| Wyoming | $ 76,980 |
| Connecticut | $ 76,820 |
| Minnesota | $ 76,160 |
| Arizona | $ 76,030 |
| Ohio | $ 75,990 |
| New York | $ 75,960 |
| Oregon | $ 75,800 |
| State | 2019 Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $ 75,460 |
| North Carolina | $ 75,130 |
| Mississippi | $ 74,850 |
| Maine | $ 73,960 |
| Kansas | $ 73,930 |
| Oklahoma | $ 73,880 |
| Kentucky | $ 73,590 |
| Utah | $ 73,140 |
| Indiana | $ 73,060 |
| Idaho | $ 72,740 |
| Vermont | $ 72,620 |
| Arkansas | $ 72,380 |
| New Hampshire | $ 72,060 |
| South Dakota | $ 71,440 |
| South Carolina | $ 71,400 |
| Georgia | $ 70,050 |
| Nevada | $6 67,660 |
| Illinois | $ 67,290 |
| Florida | $ 66,670 |
| North Dakota | $ 66,580 |
| Iowa | $ 65,190 |
| Wisconsin | $ 64,620 |
| West Virginia | $ 64,490 |
| Tennessee | $ 64,180 |
| Nebraska | $ 57,820 |
Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
These are a few tips you can apply to make your resume is appealing to potential employers:
Before clicking the “apply to this job” button, ask yourself whether you’ve thoroughly reviewed the job requirements and applied what is needed to your resume. If you read through and review the job description in the job post, chances are, you will find some golden nuggets ready for picking. Find out exactly what the employer wants and give it to them. Do they want a detail-oriented, time-conscious, systematic implementer? Or a driven, intuitive, self-sufficient leader? Match up their requirements with the skills and traits that you have, and you’ll instantly make them feel like they are looking at the employee of their dreams when they read through your resume.
Did you know that keywords play an essential role in the modern-day hiring process? Employers have long been using scanning technology to look for keyword-specific items in their resume pool. There is a long list of more than 40 keywords related to supply chain and logistics, and many of them are along the lines of management, how to identify areas for improvement, negotiation, planning, and compliance.
Nobody wants to read through an eyesore resume—the boring, winding ones that you simply can’t stand. If you’re not careful about layout and visuals, that might hurt your chances of getting called for an interview. It might even result in your resume being entirely ignored. Research on the best modern resume formats and see which ones can accommodate your details perfectly. The use of breaks, bullets, and visuals make your resume more dynamic, engaging, and easy to scan.
A reverse chronological resume is often an instant crowd-pleaser. Most hiring managers, executives, and HR managers seem to be drawn to this type of format. It gives them a clear narrative of your career, and you can place your best foot forward right at the top of the page. However, be forewarned that this format might not be best if you are switching career fields, hopping into the workforce after a lengthy break, or just fresh out of college. But with the right educational background and relevant current work experience, beginning with the end can hook that employer to you.
Logistics is such a technical field that there are a full host of terminologies and systems that you have to be familiar with to be labeled as competent for the job. Your logistician interview will most likely include questions that test your knowledge of logistics and the supply chain with questions like the following:
It integrates planning, implementation, and control of the flow of raw materials, services, and information into finished goods for distribution to the consumers.
It is the weight of all the contents of a ship, not including the weight of the ship itself.
Either in a vertical or straight direction, piling containers over one another, or at an angle for instances where there is limited storage space for containers. The former is most commonly applied, while the latter is only done in instances where it is mostly applicable.
Sharpen your skills in Logistics by taking these top online courses
Logisticians are constantly keeping up with the changes in the field and continuously finding ways to improve not just their companies’ respective supply chains, but also themselves. To keep abreast with the updates and challenges that the job might bring, here are some courses that could help you out:
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