5 Tips For Writing An Outstanding Procurement CV

With many Australians facing unemployment as a result of COVID-19 and competition for procurement jobs likely to increase in the coming months, it’s more important than ever to ensure your CV is in good shape.

Here are five pointers for writing an outstanding procurement CV.

1. Include details of all your relevant qualifications, certifications, and key skills

Industry-specific qualifications and training programs will reassure your prospective employer that you have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of procurement and supply-chain best practices, which will make you a much more appealing candidate. Be sure to highlight details of the certifications you’ve achieved within your CV and mention any key skills that will set you apart from other applicants. Post-COVID-19, the most in-demand procurement skills will include risk management, negotiation, adaptability, data analytics, and EQ.

2. Specify your former job titles and spend responsibilities

Sometimes it seems as though there is no rhyme or reason to procurement job titles.

Depending on where you are in the world and which organization you work for, your job title could be anything from buyer, category manager and purchase specialist to procurement lead, strategic sourcing partner, and resource consultant. Similarly, a Senior Category Lead at one company might have vastly different responsibilities to someone with the same job title at another company.

For this reason, it’s important to be completely transparent on your CV. Your prospective employer will need to know your job title, the level of spend you have previously managed, the number of direct reports, and savings achievements. This will help hiring managers to differentiate you from other applicants and ensure they don’t over- (or under-) estimate your experience.

3. Highlight your commitment to sustainable and ethical procurement

Driving cost savings and procurement efficiencies is valuable, and your prospective employer will be keen to know about these accomplishments. But shifting business priorities means that demonstrating your commitment to sustainable and ethical procurement is equally important.

Try to include some specific examples within your CV, which might include environmental initiatives you’ve worked on or your involvement in establishing your former organisation’s supplier diversity program.

4. Seek feedback from the experts

When it comes to writing a compelling procurement or supply-chain CV, your family and friends can only get you so far. They might be able to assist you with formatting issues or spelling errors, but that’s probably the limit of their involvement. You need only think back on the dozens of times you’ve explained the meaning of procurement to a confused family member to know you’ll require CV-feedback from someone in the know.

If you’ve recently been made redundant but maintain good relationships with your former manager and colleagues, consider asking them to review your CV and provide advice on what you can do to best sell yourself and your experience.

In addition, if you have registered with procurement and supply chain recruiters, your consultant should be  happy to review your CV and increase your chances of securing a new position.

5. Don’t fall short on the basics

Your CV might brilliantly showcase your procurement and supply-chain experience and expertise. But it’s all too easy to lose out on a job because of the most basic CV errors or oversights. Before submitting your CV to a recruiter or prospective employer, be sure to consult the following checklist:

• Have I included the necessary personal and contact information (including name, email address, and contact number)?
• Have I completed a thorough spelling and grammar check?
• Have I mentioned relevant work experience? Make sure your CV is tailored to the role you are applying for.
• Have I written concisely and clearly presented the information on my CV? Your CV should be no longer than two pages and must be formatted well so it’s easy for hiring managers to quickly find relevant information.
• Have I included references?