Choosing your destination 

When deciding on my career path, I was extremely unsure on what direction to take. I knew that University was not an option for me and I have always had more success learning "on the job". Before leaving school I spent time looking for a place of work/industry that was going to be dynamic and fast paced.  My Dad was in the logistics industry and it seemed a natural progression to follow in his footsteps.  

I commenced working at TNT aged 17 and I knew from the day I started that this was the industry I wanted to be in. On starting I was offered to complete a Modern Apprenticeship with the company, achieving an SVQ Level 3 In Administration and IT. The colleagues that I was fortunate to have worked with at that time supported me through my SVQ, and gave me excellent advice and guidance while with them, helping me to 'kick start' my career in Logistics. 

I am still working in the industry and have managed to work with a handful of multi national companies and I have progressed 'up the career ladder' I am now the Area Sales manager for DHL - I am passionate about my job and I would recommend this as an excellent career choice.

Extra Curricular & Work Experience

Extra Curricular activities while at school were; sitting on the Pupil Council, being part of the Table Tennis team, I was a Cross Country runner, joined the Basketball team and was involved in Young Enterprise.

I was never the most academic of people, and I am not ashamed to say that! I have always possessed common sense, drive and a willingness to take on new challenges.

However, PE was something that I excelled at; it laid the groundwork and foundation for so many aspects relating to my professional career, such as; the importance of being a team player, being disciplined as well as understanding the importance of being competitive and driven. 

Skills I've developed

Throughout my career in logistics, I've discovered the invaluable power of skill development and continuous learning. In a male-dominated industry, being a young female hasn't hindered my career progress, all due to the support of dynamic and inclusive colleagues. Collaborating and sharing ideas with both men and women has been instrumental in my personal and career growth. I have excellent problem-solving  and creative thinking skills, learning on the job has allowed me to hone in my strengths and improve on those skills that I am weaker at. 

Being a confident and dedicated person has been a key aspect in putting myself forward for promotion and forging meaningful relationships across all levels within the Company. Transitioning into sales, I've embraced the challenge of being versatile and adaptable, catering to all demands of the modern world of the Logistics Supply Chain, which brings immense job satisfaction and hopefully further career progression.

My Advice

When picking what you want to do next... embrace the journey fully, listen and learn from others, don't be afraid to make mistakes and ask questions; it is important to take risks and be courageous and continually challenge yourself, never settle for less than what you aspire to achieve or aim for. 

Make sure you don't take life too seriously, always have fun and celebrate every milestone with pride!