We caught up with Abdiqani to hear about his experiences as a Future Leader at DHL and gain his exclusive advice for anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I’m currently in my first year of the DHL Future Leaders Graduate Programme. Before this, I studied Biomedical Science at Middlesex University, from where I graduated with a First-Class degree. And, prior to joining DHL, my work experience had been in retail and in football stadiums.
Outside of work, I’m a big anime fan and an avid football supporter.
What is your role and how long have you been at DHL?
I’ve been at DHL for 2 months now so am still fairly new. My first-year placement is at DigiHaul,
a tech start-up company focusing on smart end-to-end shipping utilising technology. This company forms a part of DHL and here I’m part of the Transition team working to move subcontracts from DHL to DigiHaul.
What first inspired you to apply for a role with DHL?
I don’t come from a logistics background, but DHL stood out to me because of the numerous roles as well as the wide-ranging and diverse network of people you can meet. I was keen to work in an ever-changing environment that was focused on people.
DHL is a huge organisation and the leading logistics company in the world with endless opportunities, making it a fantastic place to launch my professional career.
What kind of training have you received? How has this helped your professional development?
At this early stage in my career at DHL, I’ve had a mixture of on-the-job and off-the-job training. DHL’s training method for graduates includes the 70, 20, 10 rule. 70% of our training should be done on-site, 20% near the job and 10% off the job in your own time.
So far, I’ve completed my CSCS training (Certified Supply Chain Specialist) which is aimed at helping you understand more about DHL both in the UK and globally. This gave me a foundation of knowledge on DHL and how all the different operations interact. As a grad, we are also assigned mentors who help us navigate through DHL and assist with our development.
What excites you about the work you are doing?
What excites me most is the variety in my work. No two days are the same. I’m constantly interacting with new people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures. The logistics industry is currently facing some obstacles such as driver shortages, so I find it extremely exciting that I’m able to contribute to real issues and offer change and improvements.
What is the company culture like?
The company culture here at DHL is great. There’s a huge emphasis on new talent, especially grads and apprentices, and their development. People are extremely helpful and friendly, meaning there’s such a welcoming atmosphere. I feel very proud and privileged to work for a world-renowned company with such great values and vision.
Finally, any tips for members wanting to apply to DHL?
My key advice would be to be yourself, be a team player, be inclusive of others and listen to others.
Do your research. It’s important when applying to DHL to do your research, look into the company and key future trends in the logistics industry. If you don’t know where to start, I would suggest giving DHL’s ‘Strategy 2025’ a read.
Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to the team at DHL on platforms like LinkedIn for further advice and tips. Whether it’s hiring managers, HR executives or current grads, everyone is always happy to help!
If you’re feeling inspired and want to explore where a career at DHL could take you – explore the profile here.