Resume Advice for Candidates

As economic pressures rise and unemployment increases, SKILLSOOP is committed to supporting procurement and supply chain professionals by providing actionable tips for developing a strong resume. To maximize your chances of being selected for interviews, SKILLSOOP recommends adopting a dual-resume strategy, tailored to two distinct objectives: Progression and Impact.

Progression-Focused Resume

The objective of this document is to highlight career growth potential. SKILLSOOP advises structuring the resume as follows:

1. Technology and Qualifications: List these prominently at the top of the document.
2. Executive Summary: Include key details such as spend size, categories managed, technical skills, industry expertise, and leadership scale.
3. Professional Experience: Focus in detail on the most recent two positions or the past five years. Highlight key achievements and accountabilities.
4. Company Profiles: Provide context for employers by describing market share, turnover, and core offerings.

Impact-Focused Resume

This resume is designed to demonstrate measurable contributions and outcomes. While the top section mirrors the Progression resume (technology, qualifications, and executive summary), the key differentiation lies in:

1. Employment History: Provide a concise summary of past roles.
2. Key Achievements: Focus on five to eight standout accomplishments. Structure these using a Problem/Opportunity-Solution-Outcome framework.
3. Metrics and Skills: Clearly label each achievement with relevant technical skills and include metrics to quantify impact.

Examples of Key Sections

Executive Summary
A polished example might read:
“A tertiary-qualified (MBA) procurement professional with experience spanning FMCG, Retail, and Mining sectors, managing spends of up to $750M across diverse portfolios including packaging, MRO, Co-Pack, and HME. With leadership experience managing teams of up to 20 FTEs, key technical skills include category strategy development, negotiation, supplier development, and P2P implementation using technologies such as Coupa and ARIBA. Seeking a senior functional role in the private sector, driving revenue, risk management, and ROCE across a complex third-party matrix.”

Company Profile
To provide context, an example might be:
“A Regional FMCG business operating across India, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, and NZ, with annual revenue of $1.5 billion and an 11% market share in its core product categories. Employing over 5,000 FTEs and achieving an organic growth rate of 6% per annum, the company is a rising consumer favorite across Asia, with well-known brands X, Y, Z, and W.”

Role Profile
To showcase responsibilities, consider:
“Appointed as Portfolio Director to oversee performance across a $500M spend matrix covering MRO, Marketing, Packaging, and Finished Goods. Led a team of 12, comprising category managers and analysts, tasked with optimizing business value while managing internal and external risks.”

Key Achievement Example
For impact, achievements should be specific and quantifiable:
“Company X faced escalating plant maintenance costs, increasing 3.7% YoY on a $100M category value. Implemented a new category strategy to in-source MRO, leveraging a dedicated MRO P&L to service similar businesses. This approach converted costs into a revenue-generating operation, saving $1.5M in service costs, driving $3M in additional revenue, and achieving $500K in NPAT.”

By adopting SKILLSOOP’s proven techniques, procurement and supply chain professionals can present themselves as compelling candidates who are both strategic and results-driven.