What do you do if you're a mid-career logistics professional looking to move up the ladder?

As they said in the Matrix movie, Nosce te ipsum or Temet nosce. It's very important to reflect on this. Only by knowing your strengths and weaknesses can you benefit from them. Moreover, a person continuously changes, so it's important to reflect regularly and assess the latest changes.

Begin by conducting a thorough self-assessment to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Reflect on your technical skills, leadership abilities, problem-solving capabilities, and communication prowess. Recognizing your strengths allows you to leverage them to your advantage, while acknowledging weaknesses enables you to focus on skill development.

The other thing that is very important here - is working on the resume and online profile. There are many online materials about improving your LinkedIn profile and CV that you can easily find for free. Remember, if you look at your 1-year-old resume and feel bad about it, it's a great sign. That means you developed a lot during this period, and it's time to renew your profile.

Revamp your resume and online profiles, such as LinkedIn, to showcase your accomplishments, skills, and career progression. Highlight your achievements in optimizing supply chain processes, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and leading cross-functional teams. Tailor your resume to align with the specific requirements of logistics management roles you aspire to.

I believe that this is a very important part of your progress. Working on your resume and profile only makes sense if you have enough skills, right? I recommend learning from everyone, especially those around you who are seniors and who you like. Read industry-related web materials. Expand your network — it usually leads to improving your skills. Participate in massive logistics events. Ask for help and guidance. Read books.

Stay ahead of the curve by continuously expanding your knowledge and skills in logistics management. Consider pursuing certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Professional in Logistics and Supply Management (PLS), or Lean Six Sigma. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and webinars to stay updated on emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in logistics.

Be proactive in seeking out new opportunities and challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Look for roles that offer increased responsibilities, leadership opportunities, and exposure to different facets of logistics management, such as warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and procurement. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.

Seek new opportunities: Volunteer for projects or roles outside your comfort zone, such as leading a team or managing a client. Expand your skills: Implement a new system or process to showcase your problem-solving abilities. Ask for feedback: Request more feedback, guidance, or mentoring from your manager or senior colleagues. Learn from others: Network with industry professionals to gain insights and knowledge. Real-life example: A mid-career logistics professional took on a project to implement a new inventory management system, leading to increased efficiency and recognition within the organization.

One area of development I alway encourage leaders to consider is the movement into areas or operations that are performing poorly . This gives you tremendous opportunity to make small change that will help drive positive performance .

I mentioned above that building relationships is a key skill for building and managing teams in the future (and I'm sure you will if you read this). I think you should use LinkedIn to extend your network. Visiting big events in your city offline and worldwide online. Ask more questions to learn from people. Don't hesitate to ask your alumni or former coworkers for help or recommendations. A big percentage of successful hiring processes ended with an offer based on recommendations.

Focus on expanding skills and networking. Seek advanced certifications like Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) or Certified Professional in Logistics and Supply Management (CPLM). Demonstrate leadership abilities by taking on projects that showcase strategic thinking and problem-solving. Network extensively within the industry, attending conferences, joining professional associations, and connecting with mentors. Seek opportunities for cross-functional experience to gain a holistic view of the business. Additionally, consider pursuing further education such as an MBA with a focus on logistics or supply chain management to deepen knowledge and increase credibility for upper-level positions.