Role of a Logistics Manager in the Food Industry

1. My aim is to become a logistics manger in the food industry. The role of the logistics manager is to monitor the movement, storage and distribution of products and materials in an organization. Part of my job would also include training and evaluating the employees. As a logistics manager I would also require to prepare reports for the upper management The advantages of networking for my role as a logistics manager would be to negotiate the supplier costs and shipping (O’Toole 2015). The broader aim is to work for the efficiency of the supply chain of the company. Considering my aspiration, I feel that networking will be helpful in the new opportunities. It will enable me to seek the right employees for the organization. Another advantage of networking would be to establish connections that would provide new opportunities of employment and boosting one’s career. This will further enable in seeking advice from the best people in the field (Bichler et al.  2016). Another advantage of networking would be improving one’s profile. This will contribute in the building of confidence. I had the opportunity of attending the events of Energy Institute and NEBOSH. Through attending these events, I could network with like-minded people from the food industry. They gave me information about the kind of company that would be suitable for my profile and the companies I should avoid sending my job application. I also got to meet with people who have been experienced in this industry and they gave me valuable suggestions about the tips and tricks to flourish in the food industry. I need to develop interpersonal communication skills based on the Newcomb’s Model. The highlight of this model is that it challenges the traditional linear model of theory and emphasizes that the process of theory is dynamic (Pearson 2017). During this event, I learnt the perception of people about an industry is shaped by their cultural location and broader social context (Sharf 2016). I made sure I was polite, courteous, professional and diplomatic. I also listened to the advice that came my way very carefully. These were some of the skills that I used during these two events

2. I have always been a motivated individual who has excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This pertains to both my oral and written communication abilities. I am quite hardworking and manifest an organized and disciplined approach towards work. Based on my earlier experiences and my involvement with different companies I have learnt the skill of surviving in the industry with aplomb. I have been associated as a support worker in PROFAD CARE AGENCY during January 2017. As a support worker I learnt about the various challenges and responsibilities. I also have the experience of working in Baezo Property Management where I was entrusted with the responsibility of administrative duties. I was employed as a part-time employee and was in –charge of looking after the daily office activities. I also had to accomplish the responsibility of enquiring through telephone, letter or through face-to-face communication.

Advantages of Networking for a Logistics Manager

I have worked as a storeman in CPU food Production. During my association with CPU Food Production, my responsibility providing food supply to the CITY Hospital. I also had the responsibility of ensuring the hygiene of food and maintaining the safety regulations. I also had the responsibility of taking calls from the ward kitchen members and had to coordinate with the diet chefs. 

A professional qualification that I intend to pursue acquire along with my current qualification is BSc (Hons) Business Management with Creative Industries. I intend to pursue this course alongside GSM because it would help me to learn about innovation, develop core academic skills, technical skills and interpersonal skills that would be important my future career endeavors. The task-based and the emphasis on reflective learning approach in this course will enable me to consolidate my current skills, strengthen and explore new skills and finally focus on the emotional and social skills (Stacks and Salwen 2014). This course will also teach me to be more innovative in my approach that would contribute in the growth and development of small business and enterprises. The new ideas that I would be learning through this course would render me the confidence to venture into my own business (Beske, Land and Seuring, 2014). Ultimately, it will help me to have an understanding of the creative industry from both macro and micro standpoint. The Johari Window model is important for understanding and self-training  through awareness about the skills, abilities and endowments. The Johari window is a self-processing tool that represents the information on motivations, intentions, feelings and experiences (Berland 2017). Based on the understanding of the Johari Window’s model, I feel that accomplishing this degree would help me to be successful in my prospective career as logistics manager. This course will enable me to learn the supply chain management about myself and realize my full potential that was otherwise unknown to me (Ravindran and Jaiswal 2016). I intend to pursue this course from a reputed institution and balance it along with current educational aspirations. Innovation and acquisition of new skills are central to the growth of a logistics manger along with cording with different employees, there this course is appropriate for this purpose.

Current job description and the specification for a desired job in your sector.  Include what skills the job requires and how your CV and LinkedIn profile demonstrate the§ essential and desirable skills  Reflect on the interview process and how well you were able to apply the STAR method and§ give an example of how you responded to a question.

Experience at Energy Institute and NEBOSH

Currently, my aspiring job role is to become a transport manager. Some of the skills required for the job are planning driver hours and maintain the costs of control, liaising the Central Fleet and external suppliers to ensure Vehicle maintenance, scheduling of deliveries and liaising with hauliers. It also includes maintaining a safe working environment, ensuring the company’s disciplinary code and identification of the subordinate staff and recommending them to the superior staff and assisting the contract manager in controlling the staffing levels that may include absenteeism. This job role further demands producing KPI reports, allocating costs to each movement, resolving the related job queries and controlling the team briefings creating staff awareness. The job demands that the right kind of applicant for the job will be someone who possess the ability to survive and work under pressure and meet the deadlines, adoption of a customer focused approach and continuously focusing on innovation. The job applicant needs to be someone who pay attention to detail, good communication skills and an acute understanding of the Road Traffic Legislation and the driver’s hours regulations. There is a preference for someone with IT literacy.   Based on the requirements of the job and a corresponding reading of my CV it can be seen that I have the necessary aptitude to apply for this job and get selected. The job requires the person to possess excellent communication skills that I have already mentioned in my resume. During my service as a Customer Care Officer in Nottingham Council I had to be present all the time and assist with the direction of council meetings. I also had to provide conflict resolution assistance and act with a professional demeanor. These task is helpful considering that I have tow work under pressure as a transport manager. As I have mentioned in my LinkendIn profile I am dedicated to the cause of the employees and I am quite hardworking that would beneficial for the job of a transport manager. I feel I have the right kind of skills that are befitting for the role of a manager in an organization. This job will require me to work as a team and therefore, I would be able to do to justice to the role of transport manager based on my abilities. During the interview I was about my past experience and how its impact on my current job profile. I was also asked about some of the challenging situations at work and in what ways I dealt with the situation. Drawing from the reflections of the STAR (Situation, Task, Action and Result), I could answer the questions confidently. I explained the situation or the context of the job that I worked earlier as a storeman in CPU Food production and the challenge I faced was complaint from the hospital staff about wrong being delivered (Costa 2017). I handled the situation calmly and realized that it was the mistake of the driver who delivered the product for QMC to CITY HOSPITAL. I personally called the front desk in the hospital and apologized for the mistake. I resent the products without any compensation. I wrote a letter of apology to the hospital administrative body. This led them to calm down and reinforced their faith in CPU Fodd Production. 

References

Berland, A., 2017. Using the Johari Window to explore patient and provider perspectives. International Journal of Health Governance, 22(1), pp.47-51.

Beske, P., Land, A. and Seuring, S., 2014. Sustainable supply chain management practices and dynamic capabilities in the food industry: A critical analysis of the literature. International Journal of Production Economics, 152, pp.131-143.

Bichler, M., Frank, U., Avison, D., Malaurent, J., Fettke, P., Hovorka, D., Krämer, J., Schnurr, D., Müller, B., Suhl, L. and Thalheim, B., 2016. Theories in business and information systems engineering. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 58(4), pp.291-319.

Costa, D.C., 2017. The New Theories on Business Judicial Reorganization in the Brazilian System. International Journal of Insolvency Law, 1, pp.9-20.

Dainton, M. and Zelley, E.D., 2018. Applying communication theory for professional life: A practical introduction. Sage publications.

Derwik, P., Hellström, D. and Karlsson, S., 2016. Manager competences in logistics and supply chain practice. Journal of Business Research, 69(11), pp.4820-4825.

Lussier, R.N. and Achua, C.F., 2015. Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development. Nelson Education.

O’Toole, L.J., 2015. Networks and networking: The public administrative agendas. Public administration review, 75(3), pp.361-371.

Pearson, R., 2017. Business ethics as communication ethics: Public relations practice and the idea of dialogue. In Public relations theory (pp. 111-131). Routledge.

Ravindran, R. and Jaiswal, A.K., 2016. A comprehensive review on pre-treatment strategy for lignocellulosic food industry waste: challenges and opportunities. Bioresource technology, 199, pp.92-102.

Sharf, R.S., 2016. Applying career development theory to counseling. Nelson Education.

Stacks, D.W. and Salwen, M.B. eds., 2014. An integrated approach to communication theory and research. Routledge.