A career in the logistics industry can entail a vast number of different specialties, including transportation, warehousing and storage, freighting, delivery and distribution and even customer service. Logistics job listings for smaller businesses may be looking for an individual to oversee all of these areas, while larger corporations may hire an individual for each division.

Whether you want to have skills in a broad range of logistical areas or specialize in one category, you will need logistics jobs education and training. Additionally, people who hold logistics positions must be well versed in the current trends and consumer necessities for their company’s specific product. The following resources will help you to obtain the necessary education for a job in logistics:

1. Gain a degree through online or classroom courses to pad your resume when seeking a business logistics job.

2. Read articles and publications that will provide up-to-date knowledge of trends.

3. Further your logistics employment by attending seminars for the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain a degree for jobs in logistics

As with any industry, you will need a degree in logistics in order to have a successful career in that field. Even after your have a logistics degree, it won't hurt your resume to attend additional courses throughout your career to further your education.

I recommend: Choose one of the numerous education programs offered by Logistics Training Systems to obtain your U.S. Customs Broker License. Read the descriptions of courses offered by the Institute for Logistical Management.

Subscribe to publications about logistic jobs

Many organizations offer magazines or online articles about trends and news in the logistics industry. Reading these articles regularly will help you to maintain a current knowledge and perform your job more successfully.

I recommend: Obtain a free subscription to Inbound Logistics. Highbeam Research offers archived articles from the Journal of Business Logistics. If you wish to subscribe, send correspondence to the address listed on Penn State University's Center for Supply Chain Research publications page.

Attend conferences that discuss careers in logistics

Conferences and seminars in the logistics industry will help you to see what resources are available to assist the logistical function of your company, as well as finding out what trends and applications work best to store, distribute and transport products effectively through the nation and world.

I recommend: The Reverse Logistics Association offers seminars throughout the year in various U.S. locations. The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the International Society of Logistics (SOLE) offer annual logistics conferences.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A successful career in logistics requires a degree. Make sure the courses you attend can provide accreditation toward that degree. Sometimes a business offers courses, but they are only informational and don't result in a degree or certification.

Logistics, also known as supply chain management or distribution, encompasses all the jobs necessary to move goods to the right places. Logistic jobs include inventory control, order processing, purchasing, material handling, warehousing, transportation, traffic, and parts and maintenance support. A single person might do all these jobs in a small company. Large corporations employ specialists who work in only one or two logistic areas.

Whether a business is in retail, manufacturing, defense, construction or hospitality, it relies on the efficient delivery of goods. An early delivery presents storage problems; a late delivery delays projects. Careers in logistics require a variety of skills. Luckily, that means that logistic jobs appeal to many job seekers:

1. Planners and analysts are attracted to inventory control and purchasing careers in logistics.

2. Good communicators can work in order processing and customer service jobs in logistics.

3. Active people choose positions in warehousing and material handling.

4. Independent workers seek employment in logistics as truck drivers and route delivery persons.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Build a career in the logistics industry

Logistics is a good industry for entry-level job seekers. Start your logistics career in warehousing and work your way up to inventory systems management.

I recommend: Find logistics job listings at LogJobs. Search jobs and post your resume on this website which concentrates exclusively on the logistics industry. JobsInLogistics bills itself as the largest logistics job board and allows you to search jobs by location or category.

Hit the road with distribution jobs

If you don't want to spend your days in the office or the warehouse, consider a job in transportation. You can find logistic jobs in truck driving, rail transportation, and local delivery.

I recommend: Visit Find a Trucking Job and search logistics employment by state. The website works best if you click on your home state to start the search. RAILjobs.com lists jobs postings from actual rail companies and staffing companies.

Use your experience to move into logistics management

Talented logisticians can use their skills to move into middle- and upper-level management. The highest levels of logistics employment include Purchasing Manager, Distribution Manager, Transportation Director and Vice President of Logistics.

I recommend: The Lucas Group works with both employers and job seekers to fill high-level logistics openings. Job seekers should register with them to work with a recruiter.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You don't have to look far to find jobs in logistics. If the field interests you, contact companies in your area and ask about employment in logistics.
• •  Although some logistic jobs involve on-the-job training, you may need more formal training. Contact tech schools and colleges for training programs.

Logistics jobs are an essential part of getting goods from the manufacturer to the consumer. The area of logistics deals with providing a way for goods and services to successfully meet the satisfaction of the consumer. There are many different types of logistics jobs, many of which include the physical transportation and delivery of tangible goods. Other types of logistics jobs can include handling and managing inventory or overseeing production lines to get the right amount of product sent out at the best time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bill of lading

The bill of lading is a document that works as a receipt of goods for shipment. The bill of lading is issued by a carrier and describes, in detail, the terms of the shipment.

I recommend: Wisegeek offers a detailed description of a bill of lading and the common terms included in these documents.

Consignment

Consignment is the process of putting goods into the care of another party in order to transport or sell the goods.

I recommend: Inventory Operation Consulting describes the uses of consignment inventory and what types of businesses can benefit from this system.

Just-in-time inventory

Just-in-time inventory is a method of processing inventory supplies through control of the time and amounts of inventory. This method allows suppliers to receive the shipment 'just in time' for manufacturing and production.

I recommend: The Inventory Management Review offers a detailed description of just-in-time inventory and uses real company examples to help describe the benefits.

Manifest

A manifest is an important document for logistics. This document lists all of the cargo on an aircraft, ship, truck or train. The manifest is the best way to keep track of shipments over a variety of transportation methods.

I recommend: GPO Access lists and explains federal regulations for shipments and air cargo manifests.

Tare weight

The tare weight of a container is the weight of the container only without its product shipment inside.

I recommend: Scumacher Cargo Logistics offers tables to describe the tare weight of a container according to exterior and interior dimensions. Additional information includes the cubic capacity of the containers.

Logistics support analysis (LSA)

Logistics support analysis is the process of determining requirements for a new logistics system. This analysis helps to ensure that the system will perform as it should while working within the constraints of logistical support and affordability.

I recommend: MTain offers a detailed explanation of logistics support analysis and how all of the support tools work together to find the best solution.