Young professionals see working within the supply chain as an exciting career option and said there are good opportunities for advancement or promotions. The majority of respondents taking part in the 2019 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals/Penske Logistics Young Professionals Survey, which surveyed more than 100 supply chain professionals under age 30, said they enjoy working in the supply chain and that it makes them content.
<p>The average young professional responding to the survey has worked in the supply chain industry for about four years and is employed by a third-party or fourth-party logistics provider, manufacturing, merchandising or retail trade, or an information technology provider.</p><p>As part of the survey, 75% of respondents strongly agree and 23% agree that the supply chain is a good career choice. That shifted slightly from the 2017 results, which showed 81% strongly agreed and 19% agreed that the supply chain is a good career choice. The majority, 64%, strongly agree and 33% agree that they would recommend that others consider supply chain as a career. In 2017, 69% strongly agreed and 31% agreed that they would recommend that others consider supply chain as a career.</p><p>Respondents also said they seek out a positive working relationship with their manager, a work/life balance, the freedom to make decisions in their daily work, and a clear career development path.</p><p>Andy Moses, senior vice president of global products for Penske Logistics, said Penske focuses on advancement. “At Penske, we’ve made tremendous strides in succession planning,” Moses said. “We are providing young professionals a line of sight to what’s next and available to them in our organization.”</p><p>Additionally, the survey uncovered the following:</p><ul class="ee-ul"> <li>91% said they are either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their current employer; that is up from 86% in 2017.</li> <li>79% would describe their work as satisfying, 65% exciting, and 61% said rewarding. In 2017, 76% described their work as satisfying, 60% exciting, and 67% rewarding.</li> <li>65% strongly agree or agree that it’s easy to advance in the field, down from 71% in 2017.</li></ul><p>Young professionals said the top three items important in prospective employers include the pay and benefits being competitive with other local companies, a positive working relationship with a manager, and a work/life balance. <img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="21e1805453dd38b6faaacdf2c81c17ca" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="49ba5" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyODYzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzkxMjkyNH0.45R6Q4ddByX7AWjlP_NSVSlG0pZAW_Y5SMbRUVWhIAU/img.jpg?width=980"/></p><p>“Today, pay and benefits have to be competitive. That’s table stakes with the high cost of university,” Moses said.</p><p>Respondents said they’re willing to relocate their primary residence for work, but the survey showed that today’s employees are slightly less willing to relocate than they were in 2017. Among respondents, 31% said they’re very willing to relocate, down from 49% in 2017. Additionally, 41% said they’re somewhat willing to relocate, up from 39% in 2017; 18% said they’re not very willing, compared to 8% in 2017;10% said they are not at all willing, up from 5% in 2017. What’s more, half of respondents said the majority of the applications they have submitted for supply chain jobs in the past year required relocation, which is up from 29% in 2017.</p><p>The survey delved into the ways young professionals found out about their most recent supply chain related job. The top answer was word-of-mouth through friends or family, followed by word-of-mouth through professional network and a promotion at the same company.</p><p>Young supply chain professionals said they are eager to continue their education on the job and they prefer to do it the old-fashioned way, via face-to-face training sessions. The majority of respondents said they prefer in-person training, as they did two years ago, delivered through mentoring or task-based activities that can be completed at their own pace.</p><p>“Young professionals appreciate access to online training, but that will never replace the value of face-to-face interaction,” Moses said.</p><p>The survey provides useful insights into hiring and employment trends. “This survey captures critical data and information, which helps our leaders better understand the talent landscape in supply chain,” said Jeff Stoicheff, senior vice president of human resources at Penske Logistics. “Our human resources team will of course mine and analyze the survey data more deeply in order to pull out nuggets of information that will be used to inform our sourcing and development strategies.”</p><p>The 2019 Young Professionals Survey results were presented at CSCMP's annual Edge conference in Anaheim September 16, 2019. A full report will be available in Supply Chain Quarterly this December.</p><p><em>By "Move Ahead" Staff</em></p> </div>
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Young Professionals Flourish in Supply Chain Roles
December 04, 2017
Today’s young supply chain professionals find their work to be rewarding – even exciting – in a field they say offers a clear path to advancement.
<p>These insights, the result of a groundbreaking industry survey of young supply chain professionals, are not only key for employers looking to attract young professional talent to the supply chain field, but are necessary to retain them.</p><p>The <a href="https://cscmp.org/" rel="noopener">Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP</a>) and <a href="https://www.penskelogistics.com/" rel="noopener">Penske Logistics</a> surveyed 300 supply chain professionals under the age of 30 as part of the <a href="https://www.penskelogistics.com/insights/industry-reports/young-professionals/" rel="noopener">"2018 CSCMP/Penske Young Professionals in Supply Chain Survey"</a> to determine what young professionals wanted from their career.</p><p>“We believe that young professionals represent the next generation of supply chain leaders, as they are critical to maintaining relevancy as a professional society and a supply chain community,” said Rick Blasgen, president and chief executive officer of CSCMP.</p><p>One of the key ways to accomplish this is through identifying a robust pool of talent.</p><p>“Like many industries, talent acquisition is a top priority for us, and finding motivated young professionals who are eager to work in the supply chain is paramount,” said Andy Moses, senior vice president of global products at Penske Logistics.</p><p><strong>Findings Show Confidence in Career Path</strong></p><p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e3664b6ece87ad9ed6e0c92e748da7e7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b3fe4" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyODQxMy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTQ4MDAxOX0.o3Ky8xeE8NFOG0-VxyK886tdqHsaSgeC_h2UmCbCmNA/img.png?width=980"/></p><p>The survey asked young professionals what they thought about their career paths, education and professional development as well as their priorities and goals for the future.</p><p>All of the young professionals who participated in the study were working in the industry for about three years and employed by a third-party logistics, manufacturing or transportation and warehousing company.</p><p>Some of the key findings of the survey included:</p><ul class="ee-ul"> <li>81 percent of respondents strongly agree that supply chain is a good career choice.</li> <li>86 percent of respondents said they are either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their current employer.</li> <li>76 percent would describe their work as satisfying, 67 percent said rewarding, and 60 percent said exciting.</li> <li>71 percent agree that it’s easy to advance in the field.</li> <li>The majority said they prefer in-person training, delivered through mentoring or task-based activities.</li></ul><p>“Learning that diversity of work, in-person mentoring and career advancement are important to this demographic reinforces the work we are doing to recruit and retain top young talent here at Penske,” Moses said.</p><p><strong>Fate Supplies a New Career Path</strong></p><p>After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Amy Beacom thought she would be working in a research lab and not as a supply chain analyst for Penske Logistics in Beachwood, Ohio.</p><p>Yet a chance visit to job sites encouraged Beacom to explore the supply chain field to see if her multi-tasking skills and ability to learn quickly while on the job would be a good fit.</p><p>“I wanted to use my degree for something, so I was looking for a job that offered opportunity and room for growth. I thought I was going to do research, and this kind of just fell in my lap,” said Beacom, who has been working for Penske for six years.</p><p>Alexander Amariles was not new to logistics when he decided to seek a career in supply chain. A former driver, Amariles was responsible for local moves. Now, he is a load planner in Beachwood, Ohio, shepherding shipments across the border between the U.S. and Mexico.</p><p>“I used to do the physical work, and now I do the mental work,” said Amariles, who has been working for Penske Logistics for a little more than three years. “Working in the supply chain field has exposed me to a different kind of career that I never knew existed.”</p><p>For those new to the supply chain industry, including new college graduates, Penske Logistics offers an opportunity to learn the field and grow in their career.</p><p>“For associates who are new in their career, Penske provides the ability to learn about supply chain management in a hands-on environment,” said Jennifer Biehn, director of human resources for Penske Logistics.</p><p>“We hire recent college graduates on a regular basis and offer opportunities in dedicated contract carriage, distribution center management and transportation management,” she said. “We care about our associates and invest in their career development.”</p><p>Penske Logistics has many opportunities for professional growth for associates who have demonstrated a proven record for driving results.</p><p>“Associates receive ongoing training to refine current skillsets, or to take on positions of greater responsibility when their performance demonstrates readiness,” Biehn said. “We provide associates with leadership development and functional training opportunities to help drive process improvement and meet their career goals.”</p><p>That career development – ongoing training coupled with advancement opportunities with Penske Logistics – continues to be very important to Beacom.</p><p>“Advancement is important for a lot of people,” she said. “You want to make sure that if you stay with a company, you experience growth at some point. I think that is a big thing.”</p><p><em>Are you interested in learning more about supply chain opportunities with Penske Logistics? Visit our </em><a href="https://www.gopenske.com/careers/" rel="noopener"><em>careers page</em></a><em> for more information.</em></p><p><em>By Bernie Mixon </em></p></div>
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Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of CSCMP, at the presentation of this year's State of Logistics Report.
<p>If you’re a young professional starting out on the <a href="https://www.penskelogistics.com/solutions/supply-chain-management/">supply chain management</a> career path, I want to share with you the excitement and opportunities that await you in the world of supply chain.</p><p>What other career offers you the opportunity to travel the world, work with the latest technology, collaborate with partners across the entire spectrum of business—marketing, analytics, finance, and design?</p><p>It’s a fast-paced, challenging, and constantly evolving profession, not to mention financially rewarding. Advancement opportunities are plentiful. Supply chain management is a meaningful career as well. We make significant contributions not only to our companies, but to our communities, the environment, and to society as a whole.</p><p>Now that you’ve chosen your career path, it’s time to take steps to ensure that you stay on the leading edge of the profession. It’s critical to keep up with your supply chain education and new knowledge, as well as make those all-important professional connections.</p><p>The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) offers a wide variety of programs exclusively for you—the young professional—to get you started off right on your supply chain journey. For more than 50 years, CSCMP has been the leading worldwide professional association dedicated to advancing the careers of supply chain professionals like you. Our members are the leading practitioners and authorities in the field, representing business, government, and academia from more than 65 countries.</p><p>At CSCMP, we’re focused on the lifecycle of a professional’s career. We offer supply chain education, connections and professional development that will enhance your career, from student to senior fellow. We provide a myriad of opportunities for you to hone your leadership skills through our committees, roundtables, and conferences. We’re committed to partnering with you throughout your entire career.</p><p>In a recent survey of our young professional members, we asked them what CSCMP products and services they used to advance their career development. Nearly half of them reported using many of their benefits for advancement, such as our publications, roundtable events, annual conferences, industry research, and career center.</p><p>Others used our case studies, online member directory and SCPro certification, and took advantage of our social media and volunteer opportunities. We’ve also just launched our Young Professionals’ Mentorship Program in which we’ll pair you with a more senior-level member to help develop you into tomorrow’s supply chain leader.</p><p>Congratulations on choosing a career in supply chain management. Your profession is vital to every company in the world, and to the global economy. As a career choice…it’s your chance to make a difference, make some money, and embark upon the adventure of a lifetime. I encourage you to partner with CSCMP throughout your professional journey and experience the dynamic difference this will make in your career.<em> </em></p><p><em>By Rick Blasgen</em></p><p><em>Blasgen is president and chief executive officer of <a href="http://www.cscmp.org/">CSCMP</a>. </em></p><p><em>Editor's Note: Penske Logistics is a proud supporter of CSCMP and presents the Young Professionals Survey and State of Logistics Report. The company is also a major sponsor of the CSCMP Annual Global Conference and is a corporate member. Mr. Blasgen’s views are his own.</em></p></div>
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