High earnings, great employment prospects, or perhaps a curriculum that matches one’s interests? The motivations of young people to choose a specific field of study vary. According to labor market experts, high school students make decisions about their future with insufficient knowledge of current trends and employer demand. In terms of the number of applicants per spot, humanities fields like law, journalism, or psychology triumph. Meanwhile, the growing demand for specialists in technical fields makes graduates of technical faculties highly sought after in the job market.
A logistician – who are they?
The term logistics means planning, implementing, and managing the flow of goods. A logistician is someone who manages the storage of goods in a warehouse, works in transport, or coordinates production. After graduation, a student can find work in a manufacturing company in any industry, a logistics or consulting firm, or in economic and administrative units. There is also nothing stopping them from running their own business. The job opportunities after this degree are very broad, especially since employer interest in logisticians is high. According to data from the Pracuj.pl website, the number of job offers in logistics, forwarding, and transport departments in the first quarter of 2010 exceeded 2,500, which is an increase of 58% compared to 2009.
Specialist wanted immediately
A pinch of resourcefulness, a bit of creativity, and a large dose of analytical sense – this is the recipe for an ideal future employee in the logistics industry. However, according to practitioners, not everything can be learned during studies and internships. To find one’s way in the professional market, excellent knowledge of IT programs and foreign languages is also essential, as most large companies are international environments.
– We are observing a revival in the logistics industry, so the demand for qualified employees is constantly growing – says Borys Wochna, CEO of STILL, a manufacturer of forklifts. – Transport and warehousing specialists are essential in enterprises as well as in wholesalers, shops, or offices.
The interest of employers is reflected in the relatively high earnings in this industry. For example, according to the National Salary Survey conducted by Sedlak & Sedlak in 2010, the median salary for logistics department managers was 10,646 PLN gross.
Getting an education
Logistics studies can be undertaken at a university of technology, a university, an economic university, or a private institution. Vocational colleges specializing in teaching logistics enjoy a good reputation. For example, in 2010, 563 bachelor’s graduates and 424 master’s graduates left the walls of the College of Logistics in Poznań. During their studies, students must face subjects such as: fundamentals of logistics, fundamentals of accounting, marketing, labor law, or logic. Technical subjects here require consistency and commitment, but outstanding mathematical abilities are not necessary. In this industry, what counts most is organization and an open mind to challenges.