Top 5 Resume Writing Tips for Procurement Job Seekers

Working in the procurement field entails making crucial decisions, such as being involved in multi-billion-dollar contract negotiation, product cost optimisation, supplier management, and delivering efficient and innovative operations.

As an aspiring job candidate, landing an interview with your prospective employer brings you a step closer to establishing your career. And, to do that, you will need a well-written procurement resume that leaves a strong and positive impression. Below are some key resume writing tips for procurement job seekers like you!  

1. Customizing your resume

Sending a generic resume to a recruiter or potential employer is one of the worst mistakes of job seekers. Without tailoring your resume to the position you are applying for, you fail to highlight proficiencies that matter to the hiring company. It also gives the impression that you are not putting enough effort into the application. When writing your resume, find out how you can position yourself as the best option for the job. This could include adding industry-specific skills and results of campaigns/projects related to the job description.

2. Writing an excellent summary

The summary of your resume can make or break your chances of landing an interview. As such, you should pay close attention to what you include in this section. Your goal is to write a brief and concise summary of your achievements and skills. It should also explain how you can provide value to the company. Use relevant keywords, such as location tags and job titles. Read through the summary a couple of times and determine if it provides the reader with a good overview of your application. 

3. Highlighting your accomplishments 

An ideal way to highlight your value as a candidate is to present proof of your competencies. The procurement industry gives a lot of emphasis on strategic function and cross-functional value. As such, when you build your resume, you must include numbers and highlights of a project. For example, you can provide details on the tasks such as vendor management, negotiations, savings from initiatives you led. You should also specify the size of the teams you handled, the scales of your projects, and other quantifying details to help them gauge the depth of your experience. 

4. Providing details on your educational background

Recruiting officers and HR specialists also look into the educational background of candidates. It is another factor that can help determine how well you are prepared for the job’s responsibilities. Some positions may even require specific training and certification, so it is a must to add them to your resume if applicable. Make sure to mind the spelling and accuracy of the details you provide. Also include important dates, the university/program’s name, and the degree/training certification you completed.

5. Minding the layout of your resume

Most of the time, job seekers tend to neglect using a scannable resume layout. Unfortunately, this could significantly affect the employer’s perception of your application. Hiring companies and recruiters often need to go through a large volume of applicants, so it pays to present them the information they needed the best way you can. 

Also, by using an easy-to-read format, you can present information in a more organized way. With a presentable resume, you can guide the recruiter/HR to each section of your profile. When you write your procurement resume, you must consider the flow of information.  Keep each section brief, relevant, and concise and use headers to divide the resume into sections. You should also avoid using abbreviations when not needed.

Conclusion

It is absolutely valuable to have a well-written procurement and supply chain resume. It can set you apart from other candidates and help you land an interview with your dream company. Some of the most in-demand roles include specialists and managers in category and procurement management. 

Are you looking to fill a job vacancy in procurement? Check out our supply chain and procurement job board. We have a stream of job openings from our SCM and procurement partners!

Aileen Apuntar-Laqui is the Director – Operations & Research at The Supply Advisory (a division of Datasearch Consulting), a leading executive recruitment firm specialising in Procurement & Supply Chain.

You can view the The Supply Advisory website or contact them directly at info@supplyadvisory.com for a more detailed discussion.