There is no question as to whether now is the best time to be looking at making a new career move in procurement, whether that is a sideways step or upward move.
Procurement: A Striving Sector
Procurement as a whole is a very promising sector to be a part of as the current economic recovery and growth now experienced by companies is being largely pinned on the hard work of talented procurement teams.
With the sector gaining recognition for saving money and driving companies forward even when the economic climate was tough, and with healthier budgets allowing for more hiring and better salaries all round, procurement is currently one of the best sectors both for range of opportunities and for salary rises and rewards offered.
Reasons For Changing Procurement Industries
Moving onto pastures new by opting for a position with a new company and possibly a new industry can not only give you new lease of life when it comes to your work, but is also a great way to gain experience, which can then be used further down the line in your career progression.
Often we can get stuck in a rut with one company, and even if they offer you the chance to progress within their ranks, it may not fulfil the original dream you set out with. If you strive for new challenges or just don’t feel the industry you are in is the one you have a passion for, then you should look to use your current experience as a springboard to new opportunities in other industries.
How To Change Industries In Your Procurement Career
There are various hurdles to overcome when opting to move from one industry to another, more so than simply changing position within your current industry.
Be aware of similarities and differences between industries. There will be certain focuses that will remain very similar in the different industries, where as others will differ, often drastically. While still in your current company, try to gain experience in working with focuses that remain similar throughout procurement industries, even if you aren’t currently looking to move positions or even industries. This experience will open up more options for your when the time comes to progress, as you will be able to use this to get a foot in the door and apply for positions that play on this experience.
Research how your desired industry/company does business. There will be challenges that are unique to every industry. Knowing about them and being able to talk confidently and in depth about them will show you are on the same page as those already within the industry, and will help you get noticed during networking, interviews, etc.
Expand your network’s reach to include people in the desired industry/company. You can do this by attending networking events, seeking them out online via sites such as LinkedIn, or even going through your current network to find out if there are any joint connections that could help you get introduced and build your contacts from there. The more people you know in your desired industry, the easier it will be to seek out opportunities and find employment.
Gain transferable qualifications that can give you a foothold in any industry. The CIPS professional procurement qualifications are highly regarded in the procurement sector as valuable, and anyone with these qualifications already has some considerable worth to companies in all industries. The skills and knowledge learnt during CIPS courses are designed to be the foundations for procurement professional to then build a career around, and are often funded by employers as part of staff training due to their value in the sector.
