Graduate Case Studies - David Castle - Transport Team Manager - Sainsburys
Name: David Castle
Age: 22.
Degree and university: Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University
Job title:Transport Team Manager, Wincanton
Can you give your work title and what it is you actually do?
Day to day this job involves direct management of my driver colleagues in order to service Sainsbury’s stores. We have firm guidelines and timeframes to follow with all of our deliveries, and therefore part of the role is to ensure the stock arrives when the store expects it and not early or late! In this role there are several sophisticated Transport Management Systems, which require constant manipulation. It provides a good balance of man-management skills and the use of systems that are employed to run the transport operation.
Were you always interested in logistics as a career?
When I went to university I didn’t really know what I wanted to do afterwards. I had enjoyed Psychology at college so thought that I would do this as a degree and then look at my options later. I did some work for Royal Mail throughout college & university and enjoyed the world of operations, so I decided that I would have a look at what the various graduate schemes of logistics companies had to offer. Wincanton has a very good scheme and after passing the assessment centres I started work in Gloucester in July 2006 before moving to Northampton in September 2007. I was most attracted by the diversity. I have had three different roles within operations so far and each has been very different. If I want to move out of operations in the future there is plenty of scope to do so. Overall, I’m very pleased with the career choice I have made.
How did you find out about this particular career/job?
I did sign up to a couple of the graduate jobs websites but I tended to do my own research on the internet. Having worked for Royal Mail I was already aware of some of the major logistics companies. I would recommend doing some of your own research on company websites and reading some of the case studies from previous graduates.
To what extent have your postgraduate studies helped your career?
In March 2007 I took my National CPC in Transport (Certificate of Professional Competence). This allows you to hold the Operators Licence, which is required to run any transport operation. I completed a two-week course which culminated in three written exams. It was a highly enjoyable course and gave me an in-depth insight into transport.
What do you like most about your job?
No two days are ever the same. When I was looking for potential careers the one thing that was most important to me was that it had to be varied and not bore me! If that is what interests you then logistics is definitely an option you should look at. Not every day runs as smoothly as you would like it to, but it is all part of the challenge.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As long as you are willing to learn then there is immense room for development. If you’re looking for a 9 to 5 job then logistics isn’t for you, but if you want something that can challenge you any time of any day, then go for it!
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