Whilst companies have always demanded that candidates come with relevant work experience and a good knowledge of English, employers in the logistics sector are now putting more of an emphasis on a candidate's formal education, something that may have been overlooked in the past. Previously specialists with linguistic education had been hired, but now applicants with core logistics or economical and technical diplomas are preferred. Additional education, for example APICS certificate is also appreciated, yet planning, analytical skills and a systematic approach to work remain valued by the country's top employers.

Companies’ Internal Logistics Departments

The situation in companies’ logistics departments has remained relatively stable and now differs little from the pre-crisis time. However it is necessary to mention that this sector was fortunate enough not to be particularly hard hit during the economic slump.

“The need for logistics and import managers is growing. Supply Chain Managers who support the entire logistics cycle are currently in big demand”, - says Tatiana Radina, senior consultant with Antal Russia’s logistics practice.

"More and more companies from varying sectors are implementing a purchasing function – management have woken up to realize that efficient purchasing processes result in considerable cost savings, which is why the demand for purchasing managers is on the up. It is FMCG and production companies who are hiring logistics specialists more actively than anyone else".

Logistics Companies (3PL-Providers)

A considerable decrease in amount of shipping operations (up to 70% by European analysts’ estimations) has had a negative impact on the logistics business – the past year was certainly a struggle for logistics companies, with positions of key account managers and operational specialists suffering most of all. Nevertheless almost all the main players survived and are beginning to open new positions.

“Even during the crisis period, sales managers were required and demand for good people with a strong track record is invariably high. Experienced and efficient sales managers expect a high fixed salary and a competitive bonus scheme. The need for customs specialists and account managers is also increasing”, - comments Olesya Shkut, senior consultant of Antal Russia’s Logistics Practice.

The market’s revival has affected candidates’ activity, as they are ready to consider new job opportunities. The candidates who are now more actively looking for a job are much more flexible in their salary expectations – if the company and what they can offer is of serious interest, they are more willing to reduce their demands from around 10% to 15%.

This survey conducted by Antal Russia was taken from approx. 350 logistics professionals and shows that besides financial conditions, candidates consider medical insurance, car allowance and share option scheme to be the most important benefits when looking to make a jump to a new job.