Category: Professional Development
Top Skills Employers Look for In Supply Chain Students
A student can never start preparing for the future too early. The top questions that I hear from supply chain management students are “What can I do to prepare myself for my first job?” and “What skills do employers look for in entry-level candidates?”. As supply chain recruiters, we can help pitch in some advice to help. Beyond your university’s core degree requirements, there are a few skills employers look for that I recommend that you fine-tune before walking across the graduation stage. Data Analytics From procurement to inventory planning to logistics, the ability to process and interpret data [...]
4 Ways to Enhance Your Procurement Resume
Having specialized in procurement and supply chain recruitment for about 2 decades, I’d like to fill you in on a few must-have elements that you’ll want to incorporate into your procurement resume in efforts to optimize its effectiveness. My hopes are that some of these tips will help improve your job application to interview ratio and ultimately lead to the job of your dreams. 1. Showcase Accomplishments within Procurement and Quantify Results One of the most common resume mistakes that you can make is to only state your roles and responsibilities. You must also list out your accomplishments [...]
ASCM Career Coach Webinar – Supply Chain Career Spotlight (Strategic Sourcing & Procurement)
Strategic sourcing and procurement is one of the fastest growing areas within the supply chain discipline. The career paths are expansive, spanning all industries from manufacturers, retailers, distributors and more. The diverse categories of spend cover raw materials, components, packaging and finished goods on the Direct procurement side, as well as service providers ranging from temporary labor, accounting, Information Technology, MRO and many more on the Indirect side. Attend the upcoming ASCM Career Coach Webinar:"Supply Chain Career Spotlight: Strategic Sourcing & Procurement" presented by ASCM Career Coach and SCM Talent Group President Rodney Apple and featuring two guest [...]
Top Skills Needed to Advance from Individual Contributor to Supply Chain Leader
One of the most common questions I receive from budding supply chain professionals is “How do I get promoted from an individual contributor role to a supply chain leader?” While there is no magic formula, there are several key skills and experiences that one should gain in efforts to transition into a supply chain leadership role. Communication For many supply chain leadership roles, strong communication skills can oftentimes be equally as important as having expertise in a particular field. Here are few skills to develop or sharpen as it relates to becoming an effective communicator: Active Listening [...]
6 Tips to Create a Successful Procurement Mentorship Program
Establishing a procurement mentor program is a proven way to attract, develop and retain talent. In a recent Procurement Leaders’ Salary Survey, one of the most important considerations in job satisfaction for procurement professionals is mentoring opportunities. There are many benefits for the participants and the procurement organization, such as: Keep Employees Engaged and Retained Transfer Indirect and Direct Procurement Knowledge and Skills Improve Succession Planning throughout the Procurement Organization Develop a Strong Learning Culture that Promotes Growth Enhance Leadership and Coaching Skills in Managers Improve Employee Motivation, Morale and Overall Performance Promote Collaboration throughout the Workforce Improve Diversity [...]
Advance Your Top Talent Through a Supply Chain Leadership Development Program
It’s no surprise that so many organizations struggle to retain leaders especially within the supply chain discipline. According to DHL’s recent report, 58% of companies have a hard time finding employees with both operational experience and soft skills. As baby boomers continue to retire in droves, it’s imperative for organizations to take steps to create more robust talent pipelines, as today’s supply chain leaders need to be able to think multidimensional. One way to do so is through creating a Supply Chain Leadership Development Program (LDP). I’ve had direct experience in this area, having helped create the first Leadership [...]
APICS Career Coach Webinar: Strategies for Dealing with the Challenges Faced By Older Supply Chain Professionals
Challenges Faced By Older Supply Chain Professionals As a seasoned supply chain professional, you face different challenges in your job search, compared to those entering the field. "Strategies for Dealing with the Challenges Faced By Older Supply Chain Professionals" presented by APICS Career Coach and SCM Talent Group President Rodney Apple, and learn how to accelerate your job search and market your advanced worked experience. In this webinar, you will learn: Resume optimization techniques to best display your tenured work experience Resources to discover employers more open to hiring the aging workforce Advice on how to advance [...]
How to Transition Military Supply Chain Skills into the Civilian Sector
The transition for military candidates into civilian jobs can be an arduous process. Luckily, there are plenty of great resources available to assist with learning the civilian lingo and translating one’s military supply chain experience into the civilian sector. Included below are some tips and specialized resources to assist with learning the civilian supply chain lingo and shortening the transition from a career in the military to a civilian supply chain career. Network with Ex-Military Supply Chain Professionals A great tactic is to connect with civilian supply chain professionals who have served in the military before. Utilize online resources [...]
APICS Career Coach Webinar: Becoming a Better Supply Chain Networker
Learning to become a strong networker is critical for accelerating your career in supply chain. Unfortunately, many supply chain professionals don't understand the benefits associated with networking and only do so when they're in job search mode. Others are intimidated by the sheer thought of reaching out to strangers to network and strike up a conversation. Check out “Becoming a Better Supply Chain Networker” presented by APICS Career Coach and SCM Talent Group President Rodney Apple, and leave with more confidence in your own ability to network. In this webinar, you will learn: The importance [...]
How to Address Questions About Current And Desired Salary
The all-important “What’s your current and desired salary?” questions that are typically asked in a job interview can be challenging to address especially if you haven’t spent any time preparing your thoughts for how you would respond to these questions. I view these salary questions as a poker game where the goal of one party is to get the other party to lay down their cards first. The key to knowing how to address these questions is proper research and preparation. It’s important to understand that the primary goal for the employer is to simply find out if you’re within their [...]
