3 keys to unlock your supply chain career potential · 3 keys to unlock your supply chain career...

3 Keys to Unlock Your Supply Chain Career Potential

Presented by Rodney AppleAPICS Career CoachAPICS Magazine AuthorPresident of SCM Talent Group

January 22nd, 2018

2 © APICS Confidential and Proprietary

Agenda

IntroductionHow to Access Career Coach Webinars & White Papers3 Keys to Unlock Your Supply Chain Career Potential Q&A


Introduction

Rodney Apple – SCM Talent Group• Founder of SCM Talent Group, a national supply chain recruiting and executive search firm

(www.scmtalent.com) • 22+ years in recruiting (17+ in end-to-end supply chain, both Corporate and Agency)• Clients have ranged from Fortune 15 to start-up and include: Coca-Cola, Home Depot,

Kimberly-Clark, Cummins, HD Supply, PWC and many others• Service Manufacturers, Retailers, Wholesalers, Service Providers and eCommerce

businesses across multiple industries• Have filled 1000+ Professional to Executive Supply Chain Positions to Date

Practices Services Industries • Supply Chain Management• Logistics & Transportation• Global Sourcing &

Procurement• Planning• Manufacturing• Quality & Continuous

Improvement

• Executive Retained Search• Contingency Search• Contract Staffing• Resume Writing• LinkedIn Profile Optimization• Talent Acquisition Consulting

• Consumer Goods• Retail & eCommerce• Food & Beverage • Hi-tech & Electronics• Industrial• Healthcare & Medical Device• Wholesale Distribution• Private Equity


Let’s Connect!!

linkedin.com/in/scmtalent

[email protected]

@scmtalent


How to Access Career Coach Webinars & White Papers

www.apics.org/careercoach• Master the Art of Networking• Optimizing Your Supply Chain Resume and LinkedIn Profile• How to Accelerate Your Career in Supply Chain• How to Develop and Execute a Winning Job Search Strategy• How to Master the Art of Job Interviewing• How to Evaluate and Negotiate a Job Offer• Ask the Career Coach Part I & II (APICS Member Questions & Answers)• Discover Hiring Secrets & Recruitment Practices from The Employer’s Perspective • Fast Track Your Supply Chain Career Through Mentorship • Top Strategies for a Successful Job Search Campaign • Understanding & Navigating the Various Career Paths in Supply Chain • Top Career Tips from Top Supply Chain Leaders

http://www.apics.org/careercoach


Supply Chain Careers: The Guidebook for Launching & Accelerating Your Career in Supply Chain

What’s in the book? • A breakdown of supply chain careers• Key techniques to accelerate your career• Resume & LinkedIn optimization tips• Secrets to nailing your next job interview• How to change careers in supply chain• & MUCH MORE!

COMING: Q1 2018 | www.scmtalent.com/supply-chain-career-book-prelaunch

http://www.scmtalent.com/supply-chain-career-book-prelaunch

KEY #1: CREATE S.M.A.R.T. GOALS


Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals

The Path to Success



Plan Your Career (or someone else will do it for you!)



1) Set Career Goals that Motivate You• Career Goals must be deemed “important” and create “value”• Focus on Career Goals that match Highest Career Priorities

2) Set S.M.A.R.T. Career GoalsS - Specific: very well defined, precise detail on what to achieveM - Measurable: include numbers, percentages, $$$, etc.A - Achievable: realistic to achieve yet challenging (stretch)R - Relevant: closely aligned with highest career prioritiesT - Timely: create sense of urgency



Write Down Your Career Goals!!!• If you don’t write them down, you will likely fail• Keep written goals in highly visible places (desk, mirror, fridge)

Develop Career Action Steps• Prioritize action steps needed to achieve each career goal• Embed action steps into your task management system (Outlook)

Review and Track Progress• Strive to keep career goal deadlines in place• Set up recurring calendar appointments to review progress• Make adjustments to your action plans when necessary



Celebrate Goal Achievements!!

KEY #2: NETWORKING


Networking


The No. 1 Predictor Of Career Success According To Network Science • Forbes Article from 1/15/15 by Michael Simmons• https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelsimmons/2015/01/15/this-is-

the-1-predictor-of-career-success-according-to-network-science/#562b4dfbe829

“According to multiple, peer-reviewed studies, simply being in an open network instead of a closed one is the best predictor of career success”

• Dr. Ronald S. BurtProfessor of Sociology and StrategyUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business

Dr. Burt is one of the world’s top network scientists. He studies the ways that social networks create competitive advantage in careers, organizations, and markets

Networking

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelsimmons/2015/01/15/this-is-the-1-predictor-of-career-success-according-to-network-science/#562b4dfbe829


The No. 1 Predictor Of Career Success According To Network Science

Networking


Benefits of Networking

• Open New Doors / Create New Opportunities• Accelerate Achievement of Career and Business Goals• Learning: Exposure to New Ideas and Ways of Thinking• Problem Solving• Job Search and Career Development• Business Development / Generate Leads• Recruiting & Hiring Talent• Stay on top of Industry Trends and Happenings• Elevate Your Brand, Expertise and Reputation• Satisfaction/Gratitude from Helping Others• Earn Credits to Maintain Job Certifications• Builds Self-esteem and Confidence• Coaching and Mentoring • Facilitate Introductions and Referrals• Conduct Market Research/Analysis• Come up with New Business Ideas/Ventures• Discover Investment Opportunities• Identify/Meet New Suppliers & Service Providers• Build New Friendships (Possibly Meet Significant Other)


Where to Network

• Ask for Referrals (Influencers, Coworkers, Alumni, LinkedIn Contacts, etc.)• Supply Chain Associations e.g. APICS

• Attend local chapter meetings or better yet, volunteer for the chapter• Sign up for facility tours e.g. warehouses, manufacturing plants, etc.• Attend Conferences

• Chamber of Commerce Chapter Events – www.uschamber.com• BNI – Business Networking International - www.bniamerica.com• Search for Networking Events

• Meetup.com• Eventbrite.com• LinkedIn Groups

http://www.uschamber.com/

http://www.bniamerica.com/


Where to Network

• Business Journals Events - www.bizjournals.com/calendar/• Local Alumni Chapter• Volunteering / Charity Events / Fundraisers• Civic Organizations e.g. Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, Moose, Lions• Diversity Based Associations e.g. NBMBAA, NSHMBA• Take a Class / Course • Other Professional Associations e.g. Toastmasters• Seminars & Retreats

http://www.bizjournals.com/calendar/


Networking Best Practices

• Develop a Networking Strategy for In-Person and Online Networking• Define your networking objectives• Identify the types of people you wish to connect with• Determine appropriate networking events and online channels• Set goals, action steps and deadlines• Integrate “networking” into your daily routine

• Personalize Each Introduction (Invitation to Connect) Request• Answer 3 questions in your intro to build confidence and passion

• What problem do you love to solve in your profession?• How do you accomplish that?• What are you looking to do next with your skills and in your career?

• For Example: I love managing procurement as it gives my company a competitive advantage. I collaborate very closely with my suppliers to help drive out costs and inefficiencies throughout our supply chain. I'm looking to connect with procurement professionals like yourself in hopes to expand my knowledge base and identify new techniques to improve my overall procurement skills.


Online Networking Best Practices

• Engage and Qualify Each New Connection / Contact• Always think: “How can I help this person?”• Never try to sell or push strongly for help on the first contact• Identify and state the potential benefits of connecting• Aim to schedule a call or meeting, if it makes sense to do so• Develop goal(s) for what you wish to accomplish per call / meeting• Use Outlook or a CRM to track contacts, follow-ups, & conversations• Stay connected and on their “radar screen”

• Schedule check-ins but don’t just call or write to “check in”• Share valuable tips, advice and content that they could use• Follow their online activity: share content, like and comment on post

• Key Tip: The More You Give (Help), the More You Receive!

KEY #3: MENTORSHIP


“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.”

— Denzel Washington


Common Myths About Mentoring

Myth #1: You need to have one perfect mentor

• Multiple mentors are encouraged as one can’t fit all needs

Myth #2: Mentoring is a formal long-term relationship

• Formal is great but ad-hoc mentors serve a great purpose too

Myth #3: Mentoring is for junior people

• Anyone at any job level or age could benefit from a mentor

Myth #4: A Mentorship only benefits the mentee

• Mentors can and should benefit as well e.g. gratitude, improving leadership, strengthening reputation, etc.


Primary Mentor Categories

Peer or Buddy Mentors • Early-stage of career• Onboarding acceleration• Informal and high-frequency

Career Mentors• Accelerate learning of skills (functional, technical, leadership, etc.)• Remove common obstacles that slow or inhibit growth• Knowledge transfer• Facilitate key introductions

Life Mentors• Typically the most important and high-impact• Mentor may not be from same employer• Major focus on growth and leadership


Benefits of a Mentorship

Mentee Benefits• Access to an Untapped Network and Increased Visibility within Company• Leadership Improvement• Help Prioritize and Accomplish Your Goals• Improve Self-Confidence & Communication• Career Mapping & Planning Advice• Obtain Constructive Feedback• Better Understanding of Company Culture & How to Navigate• Learning and Sharing of Best Practices• Gain Invaluable Insights into an Organization, Trends, etc.• Develop Unique Perspectives & Vision• Reduce Isolation (e.g. remote workers, independent consultants)• Alleviate Obstacles & Avoid Common Mistakes• Improve Work Performance & Develop Skill Sets• Sounding Board for Sharing & Validating Ideas &Opinions• Teaches Mentees how to become Good Mentors• Exposure to New Ideas & Improve Critical Thinking Abilities



Mentor Benefits

• Recognition as a Subject Matter Expert and Leader• Exposure to Fresh Ideas and Perspectives• Gratitude and Personal Satisfaction from Helping Others Succeed• Opportunity to Reflect on One’s Goals and Accomplishments• Develop and Enhance Leadership and Coaching Abilities• Improve Your Communication

Style and Skills• Help Advance Your Own Career • Impact the Next Generation of

Supply Chain Talent• Help Foster Promotions within

the Organization



Employer Benefits• Very Cost-effective Approach to Developing Talent• Maintain High Level of Employee Engagement• Improve Employee Retention Rate• Transfer Critical Business Knowledge and Skills• Improve Succession Planning throughout Organization• Develop a Learning Culture that Promotes Professional Growth• Transform Culture to a Desired State (share desired traits & behaviors)• Develop and Enhance Leadership and Coaching Skills in Managers• Improve Motivation, Morale and Overall Performance• Develop, Advance and Retain High Potential Employees• Promote Collaboration throughout the Workforce• Improve Diversity in the Workforce• Accelerate Innovation throughout the Enterprise• Teach Tenured Employees New Skills (Reverse Mentoring)


How to Identify and Work with a Mentor

• Write down exactly what you need and expect out of a mentor

• Seek out mentors within your functional or industry expertise

• If looking to switch function/industry, seek out those already working in your desired function/industry

• Poll your supply chain network to identify mentor candidates

• Find out if your employer offers a Mentor Program

• Search the APICS Mentor Center

• Identify someone that has achieved similar goals


How to Identify and Work with a Mentor

• Seek out cross-generational and cross-cultural mentors

• Engage for new job onboarding and early on in career

• Leverage LinkedIn Advanced Search to source Mentor candidates

• For first contact, state you’re seeking professional guidance versus “Want to be my mentor?”

• Develop all communication templates to use throughout mentorship• Communications• Agendas• Progress update

• Always arrive on time and be prepared in advance for all meetings and calls

3 keys to unlock your supply chain career potential · 3 keys to unlock your supply chain career...

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