You're struggling to make career decisions. How can you create a framework for smooth progression?

When I was navigating my career in logistics, my first step was to clearly define what I wanted to achieve. I started by setting short-term goals like improving my project management skills and long-term goals like advancing to a senior management role. I found it helpful to think about what aspects of my job I enjoyed most and where I saw myself in the next five to ten years. This clarity allowed me to focus my efforts and make informed decisions about my career path.

Not saying that setting goals and aspirations is not a good thing to set, think about. However you need to be realistic and setting a 10 yr is not realistic and one never knows what might come along. It’s about being pragmatic and understanding that life throws lots at you, but having a shorter realistic plan in mind is more practical and achievable. Also don’t think May want to be a manager but being a specialist is now becoming more equitable in terms of recognising re salary etc and opportunities.

I took stock of my current skills and areas for improvement by listing my strengths and weaknesses. For instance, I was good at managing schedules and coordinating between teams but needed to enhance my knowledge of advanced supply chain technologies. I sought feedback from colleagues and supervisors and took skill assessments to identify gaps. This self-awareness was crucial for targeted professional development.

This is a key one, to think all those accumulated and both technical, soft skills. But also relevant knowledge and how much need to retain, update etc. if you become skilled then maintaining CPD etc think about especially if maybe in a role not relevant at this time but something need to maintain for longer term.

With my goals and skills assessed, I researched various career paths within logistics and supply chain management. I spoke with mentors and industry professionals to learn about different roles such as supply chain analyst, logistics manager, and operations director. I also attended industry conferences and workshops to gain insights into emerging trends and opportunities. This exploration helped me understand where my skills could be best utilized and what additional qualifications I might need.

This is an important one to think about and to look to talk to a mentor someone you trust. Do some research as well to see paths others are trod but also new paths. Eg when my girls were doing sports science this shifted from learning games to performance more of a science little practical aspects. I knew that HR functions which little developed this would be a new future career path and now you see them appearing either in operations roles or HR in many types of org. So options taken lead to a job role may not exist or one think as a start up opportunity! Be brave

Based on my goals and the options I explored, I decided to pursue a certification in supply chain management to bolster my credentials. I also opted to take on more leadership responsibilities at work, such as leading project teams and managing larger accounts. This decision was a balancing act between immediate opportunities and long-term aspirations, and it required careful consideration of how each choice would align with my career trajectory.

I set clear milestones to track my progress. For example, I aimed to complete my certification within a year and to take on a new project lead role within six months. I broke these milestones down into actionable steps, such as dedicating specific hours each week to study and actively seeking out new project opportunities. Regularly reviewing these milestones helped me stay on track and motivated.

Flexibility was key as unexpected challenges and opportunities arose. For instance, midway through pursuing my certification, my company underwent a major restructuring. I had to adapt my career plans by re-evaluating my goals in light of the new organizational structure. I kept an open line of communication with my mentors and adjusted my milestones to reflect the changing landscape. Being adaptable ensured I remained resilient and proactive in my career development.