How to Get Your Dream Supply Chain Management Job?

Introduction

What exactly is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management integrates demand and supply management not just inside a business but also throughout all of the supply chain’s numerous members and channels so that they function together as efficiently as possible. It is basically the management of a product’s or service’s complete life cycle, starting with managing the raw materials and concluding with the delivery of the end product to the customer.

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In today’s world, the survival of any business in any economic environment and dynamic market depends on creative yet practical business strategies and robust supply chain management jobs. Businesses must integrate IT with supply chain and logistics to enable effective coordination across all supply chain components, from sourcing and production to reaching the endpoint as customer expectations evolve. Effective SCM ensures a balance between demand and supply in the market keeping all parties involved happy.

Why do people opt for a Supply Chain Management Job?

If we go by the data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Supply Chain Management majors are expected to expand 30% in the next ten years, substantially faster than the average for all jobs. Supply Chain Management provides a comprehensive perspective of the entire organization. It affects several departments, including manufacturing, procurement, shipping, accounting, finance, marketing, warehousing, R&D, and sales. It is an ever-changing, ever-expanding business. SCM is increasingly impacting more C-suite choices and influencing entire business operations. Supply Chain Managers have a wide range of work opportunities, making it a suitable alternative for people searching for various career possibilities after college. 

How to Get Your Dream Supply Chain Management Job?

According to a 2017 survey by APICS, a Supply Chain Management research organization, millennials regard SCM as a career option with a lot of growth potential. Are you enthusiastic about this field and want to land a dream job in it? If yes, then read further to get some tips on how to get hold of a decent job in this domain as a Supply Chain Management analyst, logistics coordinator, or distribution manager.

1. Educational Qualification

Before applying for a decent job in Supply Chain Management, you need to ensure that you possess excellent educational qualifications so that your degree makes you stand out among other candidates. Undoubtedly, the competition for top positions is tough and being hired without a recognized certification is nearly impossible. An exception may be if the individual has unique expertise in a specialized field with few other qualified candidates, although this is uncommon. It is fantastic if you have the ability, time, energy, and money to pursue a university education. Finance is another area where you can’t go wrong. The most prevalent path into supply chain management is to earn a Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or engineering, followed by an advanced certificate for a field leading to logistics and supply chain management jobs.

2. Well-built Resume

When applying for any job, your resume works as the best self-marketing tool. At the very beginning, the employer gets to see you through your resume; thus, try providing your best impression through it. The outline should not include all fancy formatting and fonts; instead, it should clearly illustrate your professional advancement by business, title, and quantifiable accomplishments in each job in plain fonts and structure.

When someone looks at your CV, they only give it 30 seconds of their time. If the recruiter cannot find relevance within 30 seconds, it is discarded. If the hiring manager can find what they’re looking for within these quick seconds, they will spend more time learning about you and testing if you are indeed fit for any role in SCM. Thus, the format, consciousness, and transparency of a resume are essential factors to determine whether or not you will make it to the next step of the recruitment procedure: The Personal Interview.

3. Personal Branding Can Be Used As A Tool

The ideal platform for marketing your skills is LinkedIn. Make and maintain a disciplined LinkedIn profile for yourself so that the management department of various companies can find you. Include all keywords relevant to the sort of SCM job you wish to win over. Recruiters and managers are increasingly turning to social media, particularly LinkedIn, to evaluate potential candidates by looking at their links and postings. Writing and publishing content might help you improve your profile significantly — the more, the merrier.

4. Start with an entry level Job

To land your dream job, you need some prior experience, so if you are a fresher, you might look at various entry-level positions to obtain the required experience in the field. Many internships and entry-level logistics and Supply Chain Management jobs at various places do not require prior experience. Still, some do require basic educational qualifications like a diploma, certification, or, in some instances, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute.

5. Make the interviewers understand your value

Since supply chain management is primarily reliant on strategy, it’s critical to show potential employers that you understand the issues you will face in the field and how you will effectively address them. Candidates who can demonstrate that they comprehend the “big picture” and can get the task done are preferred by managers. Those who can show that they can interact successfully with others in the business and make data-driven judgments will also capture the manager’s attention. Thus, try giving your best at the interview by demonstrating your skills and making the recruiter believe in your abilities.

If you want to get started towards landing your dream job in the supply chain industry, check out the Global Master Certificate in Integrated Supply Chain Management under the Michigan State University in collaboration with upGrad. It offers a detailed curriculum on SCM concepts and projects through 150 hours of learning content, live sessions under the guidance of industry mentors, and 1:1 feedback rounds on assignments.