I graduated in May with a logistics/supply chain degree in Atlanta and I’ve sent about 35 applications for coordinator/analyst roles through LinkedIn and Handshake, but most responses are the generic rejections. For those who broke in, did networking move the needle — APICS meetups, alumni cold messages, or walking into local 3PLs — and how would you prioritize those this month?
I broke in here in ATL after two months by prioritizing alumni cold messages and two ASCM meetups; I asked ops folks one simple line: “Could I shadow a shift or grab 15 minutes?” That led to three referrals and one coordinator offer — aim for five warm chats a week and follow up next day; find your local chapter here: https://www.ascm.org/network/chapters/. Caveat: don’t overlook temp-to-perm roles at smaller 3PLs — titles aren’t flashy but they convert fast.
Building on @patwill, what finally moved the needle for me in ATL was emailing night-shift supervisors at nearby 3PLs with a one-pager — “here’s how I’d cut dock-to-stock by about 10% for your coordinator role” — and asking to sit in on a cycle count; I got three replies in a week and one on-site. If that feels too forward, apply on the company portal then send that same one-pager to the ops manager on LinkedIn so it doesn’t die in the ATS. Think of LinkedIn as the front door and shift supervisors as the side gate.
Quick example: I got my first ATL role after spending two Saturdays volunteering in the Atlanta Community Food Bank warehouse (Atlanta Food Bank Volunteering & Community Service) and simply asking, “who’s hiring an entry-level coordinator?” Not a magic trick, but pair that with a headline packed with “WMS, 3PL, inventory control” and you’ll start getting recruiter pings.