It’s a good idea to get as much experience as possible working with material handling and product delivery if you want to become an expediter. You’ll need to be well-versed in the processes of the industry you want to work in, such as food, construction, or transportation, as well as shipping and delivery options. This knowledge and experience, when combined with a business or technical education, can help you develop the skills necessary to work as an expediter.
Courses in relevant computer software and accounting can be extremely beneficial in launching an expediting career. Whatever industry you work in as an expediter, your primary goal will always be to ensure that a company has the supplies it requires when it needs them. Because storage is either expensive or non-existent in many companies or industries, getting needed materials delivered on time for a specific project is critical. Experience with the related software is important because as technology advances, the demand for expediters decreases. Developing a reputation as a technical expert in the required software can help you become a more sought-after expediter.
Consider the industries that will provide you with the most job opportunities in the future, as well as those that will pique your interest. Getting real-world experience while taking online or in-person classes can be a winning combination for becoming an expediter. Working as a laborer in the construction industry and knowing what materials are needed at what stages of the construction process, for example, can provide a foundation for this type of expediting. You’d have to figure out how to get materials to the job site in the most efficient way possible, as well as how to keep them safe from damage and theft.
Smaller businesses often have more expediter jobs than larger businesses, but you may have other responsibilities as well. If you want to work in expediting, the ability to handle multiple projects at once is a useful skill to have. You might have to coordinate the delivery of materials for multiple projects at the same time, and you’ll be held accountable for getting everything done on time. Critical thinking skills and attention to the smallest details are required to become an expediter. A career as an expediter may not be right for you if you aren’t a highly organized person who enjoys writing things down and keeping detailed lists.