Logistics and Supply Chain Management: the right major and career for me? (employment, average)

[zzguy2]

Hello,

I just changed my double major to Spanish and Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and my double minor English and Urban Studies. From what I know about the field, it seems like I might like it, but I still have a few questions:

1.) I've heard of people getting jobs right after they graduate. Do you think with my majors/minors and upcoming internships that I would have any problem?

2.) How much do pple in the field make? I was told 45-50,000 is the average starting salary.

3.) I go to school in suburban Chicago, so my plan is to get a job downtown and move to the city when I graduate and become a yuppie (lol). I'm told there are plenty of jobs in downtown Chicago--do you think this is a good "yuppie" career?

4.) How "hard" is the job? How many hours, and will I still have a life?

Thanks

[Dd714]

Ok I'll take a shot at answering. I don't work in the field specifically but I work with many people that do.

1.) It's not tough to get a job in this field but when you mention "logistics and supply chain" you are talking about a varied mixture of positions - warehouse worker, lift truck operator...all the way to supply chain directors, engineers, consultants, etc. All depends what position you want to start in. With a college degree you will start as an analyst of some sort I am sure. I guess Spanish would help, not sure about the minors of "urban studies and english"...that will be something that will be skipped over when a manager reviews a resume. I would pick up some business courses. Most companies hire logistic personell with BSBA's since a specific degree in Logistics is relatively new. Another BIG help is professional certification , CPIM, etc. Check APICS. APICS is more production related but still relates to supply chain and logistics. In fact join your nearest APICS membership for some valuable connections.

2.) How much people make? Again it's so varied, based on #1, I wouldn't even venture to guess. It's not a particulary high paying field because the skills at this time are not very specialized. They hire alot of ex-military in this field because logistical experiences are common in the military.

3.) Not sure about the situation in Chicago at all. You would have more choice in certain logistic hub cities - Louisville, Columbus, Memphis. But, then again, all corporate offices have a logistics personnel.

4.) How hard? Again varies. Young analysts are sometimes asked or expected to put in some long hours, or you may be working in a more relaxed hub/warehouse area. Be aware that for some company "logistics" means warehouse worker - supervisors or manager, not a suit and tie job.

Outsourcing has hit this field hard. Not to foreign markets, but to 3rd party providors so that a company can get back to it's core business. If a company hasn't outsourced their supply chain, expect them to do it in the future (to Fedex, Ryder, UPS, etc). It's the current trend.

[DasNootz]

Figure out what job you want, and work backwards.

Find a job that's duties, responsibilities, requirements and pay blend well with your strengths, personality, morals etc. Then you can determine what you have to do to get there. Find out what people who have the job did to get there.

I'd also recommend taking a course of action to get there that allows the greatest number of alternatives, if you decide you don't like the job, or don't get hired right away. Could you get the same job with major in Management?..

I have no working knowledge of the field, or the wide array of jobs that are out there in it. I'd just be leary to take a major that pigeon holes you into a specific job, rather than providing oppurtunities across several fields.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Originally Posted by DasNootz

Figure out what job you want, and work backwards.

Could you get the same job with major in Management?..

I'd just be leary to take a major that pigeon holes you into a specific job, rather than providing oppurtunities across several fields.

I agree with DasNootz. Unless you really, really deep down have a passion for Logistics and Supply Chain, you may be overspecializing. A management major with a finance minor might give you a bit more latitude in what you end up liking to do. That gives you a whole range of options when it comes time to employment. And you really must know something about finance in whatever you choose to do.

And, knowing Chicago, if you want the yuppie lifestyle, Chicago is heaven. If you can't live downtown but work there, the Metra is a great way to live in a yuppie suburb and have a swift commute downtown.

[DasNootz]

I see the same problem coming up for the mob of students majoring in Sports Management... thinking they'll all become agents and general managers.

[zzguy2]

The Logistics and Supply Chain Management degree is offered through the business department. I always thought it was listed as "Business admin. with a concentration in...." but I just found out today that it is officially listed as "Logistics and Supply Chain Management." On resumes couldn't I just write "Business Administration with a concentration in..."???

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Originally Posted by zzguy2

The Logistics and Supply Chain Management degree is offered through the business department. I always thought it was listed as "Business admin. with a concentration in...." but I just found out today that it is officially listed as "Logistics and Supply Chain Management." On resumes couldn't I just write "Business Administration with a concentration in..."???

Well, you can write anything on your resume, but... especially without a work history demonstrating performance, employers may be a bit more investigative in nature to find out just what the degree is in. The further out you are from graduation, the less a prospective employer is concerned is the academic side of things and focuses more on the history of work accomplishments.