Competing For Downsized Purchasing Jobs

PurchTips - Edition # 52 July 1, 2004

By Charles Dominick, C.P.M., SPSM

Can You Compete In Tomorrow's Job Market?

Like it or not, there are four harsh facts about employment in purchasing and supply management: (1) no job is secure, (2) there are only a few good jobs out there, (3) there is a lot of competition for those few jobs, and (4) there will be even fewer jobs in the future.

So even if you have no immediate plans to look for work, it makes sense to be prepared to do so. Consider it a "career contingency plan" if you will. Your career contingency plan is something that you work on while you are gainfully employed so that you will stand out from the competition if, at some point, you need or want to be employed elsewhere later.

In a lot of cases, there may be two or more candidates for a job that appear to the hiring manager to be equally attractive. In these cases, hiring managers often look for "tie breakers" or small, but important, ways that one candidate differentiates him or herself. Here are a few tips for developing tiebreakers for yourself right now:

Have a results-oriented resume. Your resume is not a job description - it is a sales pitch. As such, you need to discuss not what you did, but how you benefited your prior employers. "Decreased inventory by $100 million thereby saving the company $25 million in annual carrying costs" is way more impressive than "Was responsible for $200 million in inventory." The latter gives no indication of how well you performed or the results you are capable of producing for a new company.

Have a portfolio of your work product. If the resume is a sales pitch, the interview is the court case. And how do you win a court case? By having compelling evidence! Bring with you non-confidential examples of your work such as RFP's, analyses, or presentations that resulted in a measurable benefit to your prior employer.

Be certified. Often several candidates have impressive resumes and have succeeded at the interview process. At this point, hiring managers will compare the variations between candidates' qualifications. Having a certification can be the deciding factor. And if all finalists are certified, the candidate with the most certifications will often win.

Spotlight On Professional Development Opportunities

Do you want an impressive new qualification that will set you apart from the average purchaser? If so, you will want to earn the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) certification. This powerful designation will communicate that you've developed the skills and strategies necessary for world-class supply management success!

Why is the SPSM the best choice for a purchasing and supply management certification?

• You get real-world skills and strategies that will help you perform better in the workplace right away!
• You get personalized, expert support to ensure that you can successfully apply what you learn!
• You earn the SPSM entirely online - you can complete program whenever/wherever you want!
• You can prove that you have advanced capabilities, not just minimum competence!
• You can use the SPSM credentials after your name, increasing the respect you'll earn from your employer, co-workers, and peers!
• You get a valuable award to proudly display!

For more information on SPSM certification, visit:

www.NextLevelPurchasing.com

FREE Offer!!!

Is poor supplier performance driving you crazy? You won't have to work so hard if you apply certain proven techniques for evaluating and improving supplier performance. If you have wanted to implement a supplier ratings program but had difficulty getting started, Next Level Purchasing's online mini-course "Managing Supplier Performance" (MSP) is the perfect class for you. And, oh yeah, it's FREE!!! To sign up, simply complete the following form and fax this page to 412.299.6635. You'll get instructions by email.