Hi everyone!
I just finished my master’s degree and I’m doing an internship at a maritime logistics company in their supply chain department. They offered me a permanent job working in supply chain management reporting to the procurement director who has tons of experience in this field.
I also got an offer from a big consulting company to work as a data analytics consultant.
My goal is to work in operational excellence and digital innovation eventually. The shipping company is interesting because their tech infrastructure needs major upgrades, so there’s a chance to make real impact on modernizing their processes.
Both opportunities seem great and I’m having trouble deciding. I’d love to hear from people who work in supply chain, consulting, or digital transformation roles.
Here’s what I’m wondering about:
- What’s the reputation of maritime logistics in the supply chain field?
- Where could I be in 10 years if I take the supply chain position?
- Would supply chain management help me move into operations and transformation later?
- How much impact can you make in a company from a supply chain position?
I have graduate degrees in Data Analytics and Global Business Management if that helps.
Maritime’s your golden ticket! That modernization gap you mentioned? That’s where careers are made. You’ll be pioneering digital solutions in a trillion-dollar industry that desperately needs fresh thinking. Perfect launching pad!
Go with the maritime role. I spent 3 years at a shipping company and the transformation opportunities were insane - we rolled out new tracking systems, automated procurement, and I worked directly with IT on digital projects. Maritime’s been slow to adopt tech, so when companies finally modernize, they need people who get both operations AND the digital side. Supply chain gives you cross-functional exposure you’ll need for operational excellence roles down the road. Consulting’s good for skills, but you’ll wait years for the hands-on transformation experience you’d get right away at the shipping company.
honestly, maritime’s way better for what u want. consulting’s all about powerpoints and long hours, but supply chain lets you see real results. maritime logistics is booming with all the digital upgrades - perfect time to dive in and grow with the field.
both sound pretty standard for new grads. maritime logistics moves slow and drowns you in bureaucracy. but if you’re into digital transformation, dragging them into the 21st century could look good on your resume. consulting teaches you powerpoint and how to bill crazy hours, but you’ll bounce between random projects forever. the supply chain role might let you see actual results instead of just making slides. don’t expect maritime companies to move fast on tech though - they’re probably still running 90s systems lol
Maritime supply chain experience is invaluable - it operates within one of the most intricate logistics environments globally. Considering that maritime shipping supports 90% of world trade, excelling in this field can significantly bolster your credibility. In ten years, you could find yourself leading supply chain transformations, potentially occupying a Chief Procurement Officer position, or driving digital innovations across diverse industries. Starting your career in maritime means that if you can enhance ship routing, port operations, and cargo management, you can tackle challenges in any supply chain arena. Additionally, the company’s need for technological advancements allows you to essentially craft a digital transformation strategy from the ground up. This practical experience in developing operational solutions is crucial for advancing to senior transformation roles later on. While consulting offers wider exposure, maritime logistics provides a deep understanding of a highly challenging sector.
I’ve been doing operational transformation for over 10 years, and honestly? Don’t sleep on that maritime supply chain role. The shipping industry is getting hammered with digital pressure right now - especially after COVID - which makes it a perfect playground for ops excellence work.
Maritime logistics has serious street cred in supply chain circles because it’s complex as hell and operates globally. You’re dealing with crazy regulatory stuff, multimodal transportation headaches, and massive cost optimization opportunities. That kind of exposure gives you rock-solid foundational knowledge.
Career-wise, supply chain people in maritime often move up to COO roles or end up leading digital transformation across different industries. The operational knowledge you get from moving physical goods around translates incredibly well to process optimization everywhere else.
Sure, consulting gives you broader exposure, but starting with deep operational expertise in something as complex as maritime shipping usually pays off better long-term. You’ll actually understand the practical constraints that make or break digital initiatives - and that knowledge is gold when you’re leading transformation efforts down the road.