Getting Your Logistics CV Past the First Read

Hiring managers across Felixstowe and Ipswich look at dozens of CVs for every vacancy. Most decide whether to interview you in less than thirty seconds. This guide shows you how to put the right operational details front and centre so your application gets read properly.

Put your operational systems front and centre

If you work in freight forwarding, transport, or warehousing, your daily tools define what you can do on day one. Hiring managers in Suffolk scan applications for specific software, port inventory systems, and licences before they read your career history.

Do not bury these details on page two. If you have hands-on experience with CNS, Destin8, CDS, or specific warehouse management systems, place them in a technical profile right below your contact details. If you hold an HGV Class 1 licence or a Counterbalance forklift ticket, make sure that qualification is impossible to miss.

When employers recruit for roles like an Import Coordinator, Experienced Customs Clearance Clerk, or Forklift Counterbalance Driver, they want people who can hit the ground running. Show them straight away that you know the systems they rely on every day.

Replace vague duties with real daily volumes

General statements do not help you stand out. Phrases like "responsible for handling shipments" or "worked well under pressure in a busy yard" could describe anyone. Employers want to see the scale and pace of your recent work.

Swap generic tasks for concrete operational facts:

• Instead of "managed import jobs", state how many customs entries or ocean freight files you completed each week.
• Instead of "routed fleet vehicles", note your fleet size, trailer types, and whether you handled port container transport or nationwide general haulage.
• Instead of "general warehouse duties", list your daily pick rates, pallet counts, or container devanning volume. Right now, LME has 19 live vacancies in freight forwarding, 9 in warehousing, and 5 in transport. Managers hiring for roles such as Senior Transport Operator or Freight Forwarding Operations look for clear proof of your daily capacity. Operational numbers give them that confidence immediately.

What to do this month

• Put your core systems and port badges (such as CNS, Destin8, or CDS) into a clear bulleted list near the top of page one.
• Check that your licences and tickets—such as an HGV Class 1 or Counterbalance forklift certificate—are clearly visible with current dates.
• Rewrite three bullet points under your current role to include daily volumes, such as the number of TEUs handled, declarations submitted, or vehicles dispatched.
• Align your job title with standard industry terms where accurate, clarifying whether your operational background covers imports, exports, or road transport. If you want an honest review of your CV before applying for your next role, get in touch with the team at LME Recruitment.