Career Guidelines





Recruitment in the Freight and Shipping Industries - February 2010

 

2009 for us at Ribton-Turner Recruitment, specialising in Freight and Logistics recruitment, was a year of darkness with our clients (both freight agents and shipping lines) restructuring, retrenching and realigning their organisations. The ‘jobless’ were losing houses and motor vehicles, and running up records of debt with the credit bureau. Even senior level, respected individuals in our industry were experiencing difficult times. It has been a tough time financially and emotionally speaking for many.

 

Now in February 2010, (as they say, the darkest hour is before the dawn), we without doubt in the job market are experiencing the ‘break of day’! January saw our computers being flooded with curriculum vitae from the retrenched, unemployed and new graduates and surprisingly from employed candidates who were unhappy with the retrenchment processes initiated in their companies – many felt their organisations had behaved in a ‘heartless’ or disrespectful manner in the processes in which colleagues were retrenched. During January, whilst many clients were still on vacation, we were unsure if the job orders would start to open up or whether caution would rule the market.

 

Bottom line now is an increasing demand by employers for skills; competent sales staff are still a priority, however, clients seek a clear record of success and proof of commission earned and at least a covering of cost. Sales contracts with Freight Forwarders often ‘spell out’ the period of grace within which Sales Executives should be on track against target. There is a dire shortage in the market of competent, reliable, successful sales individuals at all levels.

 

As the freight volumes increase our clients are reassessing their need for "engine room" staff, experienced sound controllers for ocean/air imports and exports. The need for import staff appears greater at this stage than the request for export skills. The optimistic, positive clients are also driving forward and requesting talent in various operational, sales, financial and human resources management positions. There is a definite sense of revival returning in the market! Some companies are hesitating and looking for contract/temporary staff perhaps restrained by IR/legal processes or alternatively preferring to put ‘toe’ in the water rather than leap in.

 

Speaking to a wide variety of International Freight Forwarders increases in volumes (imports mostly, sadly not revenue yet) are happening and they are gearing up for growth. It does not appear that this increased activity is linked only into the 2010 requirements for the Soccer World Cup – we believe that there is longer vision at play with South Africa as the springboard for mining and metals, oil and gas and general cargo into Africa and, in addition, trade with China. We look forward to a healthy 2010 in terms of growth in trade and requirements from our clients for the employment of hardworking, competent and driven staff. Employees need to know that their “job” is a privilege not a right and performance above the bar, is required to retain their position in the team.




Women in Freight – by Dr Lynn Ribton-Turner (August 2008)

When we look at the progress of women in freight (as in most business arenas) it has been quite remarkable over the past twenty or more years.

In the early 80’s the leading edge women were fighting “old attitudes” from some of the traditional male sea faring navy blue blazer types who believed women should be secretaries or at home and not climbing in and out of the holds of vessels or even having a drink with ship’s captains or being seen down at the docks…  

In the early 80’s freight was centered at the ports and it was there that women started their journey into leadership positions.  When the event of containerization took grip and the new business hub moved to Johannesburg, women there took up the reins.

In the 90’s exceptional women became accepted in the boardrooms of the listed freight companies and began to quietly compete with their male counterparts for management positions.  Many employers decided that women were employees of choice for their ability to multi-skill, pay attention to detail and accept long tenure in mediocre positions.  Women in air freight were taking up senior positions and increasing the visibility of the fairer sex in the Johannesburg freight circles!

The 2000’s has seen dramatic shifts with assertive, confident women taking up top positions with global forwarders and holding their own in leadership roles with multinational freight forwarders or multi-trade shipping lines.  Women have not had it “that easy” there is no “old boys network” for support, no golf fraternity or jobs for pals to join the “in” group in a corporate environment.  They have needed to be pioneers and make their way in, at times, a hostile environment, and let’s face it the freight industry is not easy – it is highly competitive, international and fraught with complexities which means that if processes go “wrong” there can be hugely costly outcomes.

So, hats of to all the women in freight who have been tough enough to have survived the race and intelligent and compassionate enough to evolve into highly respected leaders that deliver success!