Resume is one of the fundamental components that will help us to land in a good supply chain management job. Though there are several other ways of communicating one’s suitability for a position, but resume is still demanded in the corporate world from small to large organisations. The biggest filtering happens at the resume level. Once a supply chain recruiter told me that out of 100 resumes received, she takes only 30 minutes to shortlist about 10 resumes. Let us get into the minds of a recruiter and understand the essential elements that are part of a stunning resume.

Across the globe, education plays a vital role in deciding the suitability of a candidate for a position. While there are few undergraduate programs that teach supply chain, the industry generally accepts engineering, science, commerce and business degrees. Hence it becomes important to attain supply chain certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) of APICS, USA. In case of procurement, Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Professional Diploma certifications from CIPS, UK. Without an iota of doubt, these are globally recognised certifications and are sought after by organisations. As one can achieve these certifications only after a strong commitment towards the supply chain career and with intense preparation, it goes without saying that the competencies of the professionals are of international standard. These certifications act as a great differentiator in your resume and a very important factor in short listing your resume for a given position.

The top positions in supply chain are Director, Vice President, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Chief Operations Officer are expected to manage the supply chain in the most efficient and effective manner, hence need a body of knowledge that brings the global best practices. Companies try to achieve the above objective by recruiting candidates with the APICS, USA and CIPS, UK qualifications. As you may be aware that no one can gain the experience of an end-to-end supply chain even by working for their entire lifetime, but on the other hand when they reach the senior positions, they need to ask the right questions. This can be achieved by attaining these supply chain and procurement certifications.

I would strongly recommend supply chain professionals to pursue an MBA as well. As you rise towards the senior management position an MBA becomes very handy to understand the other functions and to better collaborate. But if you ask me, which one should be first whether certifications or MBA? I would say certifications, because Supply Chain Certifications impart domain knowledge and MBA is for management knowledge. Supply Chain Certifications will help you to cross the middle level barrier in an organisation and MBA will help you to achieve the senior position.

In terms of graduate degree, in most part of the world the recruiters prefer engineering over science over commerce over business over liberal arts (in this order). Most of the readers of this article must have done with their graduation by this time, hence if you are falling on the later part of the preferred sequence, do not worry. But what you need to do is work towards your certifications and MBA to become a preferred candidate. For supply chain professionals, education is a never-ending task. Those who are updating themselves in the current trends of supply chain and best practices continue to rise in the career and better rewarded by companies.

In summary, a resume with a graduate degree, a certification and an MBA will be an impressive one for a recruiter and it helps in getting shortlisted.