From Nashik to New York: A Powerful Career Transition Journey

From Nashik to New York: A Career Transition Conversation

Making a global career shift can be both exciting and overwhelming — especially when your experience lies in a niche domain like agri-logistics. In this candid conversation, a student navigating his move from India to the US speaks with a seasoned career transition coach, Saran Sampath. Together, they explore how to reposition past experiences, identify skill gaps, and build a strategy using coaching for career transition.

Student: Sir, I’ve worked in agri-export, managed banana supply chains, and built cold storage facilities. Now, with my upcoming move to the US, I’m wondering — how do I take all this and build a career there?

Saran : That’s a great place to start. What you’re navigating is a career transition, and it’s very achievable with the right narrative. You already have strong domain expertise. My role, like any good career coach for transition, is to help you reframe that experience so it aligns with global market expectations.

Student: I was thinking about roles in warehousing or logistics. Would that be a good starting point?

Saran: Absolutely. That’s your sweet spot. You’ve worked on cold chain infrastructure, warehouse design, and export supply chains. In the US, companies like Walmart, Amazon, or Target look for professionals who can run and improve these operations. Think roles like supply chain analyst, warehouse operations associate, or even logistics quality analyst.

Student: But isn’t this a big career shift? Moving from agri-logistics in India to US corporate roles?

Saran: It is — but not in a bad way. Every career transition is really a career translation. And that’s exactly where career transition services or coaching comes in. The experiences you’ve had — building systems, managing processes, handling perishables — are all relevant. You just need to tell the story differently.

Student: What industries should I look at in the US?

Saran: Start with retail, CPG, agritech, or even manufacturing logistics. These industries have similar operational needs to what you’ve handled — commodities, time-bound supply chains, and cost-sensitive operations. If you find a role in agritech, go for it. But if not, retail logistics is a strong alternative. Think of it as industry-adjacent.

Student: What about roles like procurement or sourcing?

Saran: Spot on. You’re already familiar with trade routes, warehousing decisions, and cost optimization — which are core to sourcing. If you back that with some buzzwords like Incoterms or landed cost, you’ll come across as someone who’s operationally and commercially ready. That’s the magic of working with a career transition coach — they help sharpen your pitch.

Student: I’m planning to upskill before applying. Any specific areas to focus on?

Saran: Yes — build strength in three areas:

Data Analytics: Excel, Power BI, and basic Python/R will help you interpret and present logistics data.
Lean Six Sigma: Don’t just have the certification — apply it. Show you’ve used it to reduce errors or improve efficiency.

Tech Awareness: Understand how AI, Cloud, and Blockchain are shaping supply chains. You don’t need to code — just grasp their business impact.

Student: And interviews? What should I prepare for?

Saran: Use the Situation-Action-Result (SAR) method. And prepare follow-up questions for each resume bullet. If you say you managed a cold chain, expect questions like, “What were the challenges?”, “How did you measure success?” Amazon’s Leadership Principles are also great for behavioral prep.

Student: How do I stay relevant long-term?

Saran: Build a journal of your wins. Keep doing case studies. Learn the language of business: cost reduction, root cause analysis, stakeholder alignment. And finally — keep telling your story. That’s where career transition services or mentoring help — not just with skills, but confidence.

Student: This gives me clarity — and direction. Thank you, sir.

Saran: You’re welcome. Stay curious, stay grounded — and go build something great.

From Nashik to New York: A Career Transition Conversation

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