Stand out from the crowd at procurement job interviews

The job market is constantly changing. Right now the market is more aggressive and you will be very fortunate if you land the perfect job simply by having a solid CV to rely upon during an interview. You need to find ways to differentiate yourself.

You have just one chance to make the right impression so you must make it count. There’s a plethora of advice out there, but it all boils down to making an interviewer believe you will bring value to a role and organisation.

How can a procurement candidate stand out from the crowd? Here are some tips that will help you leave a Hiring Manager feeling confident that they have found the perfect candidate:

1      Research and preparation – simple but necessary. Make sure you know as much as you possibly can about the organisation, its procurement function and the interviewer(s). With all the information freely available on the internet and LinkedIn, ignorance is no excuse

2      Use positive language when discussing how you influenced procurement activity and be prepared to provide specific examples highlighting how you have added value.  

3      Discuss how you have been involved in initiatives that have been about more than the traditional types of procurement activity (maybe business integration / divestment or how to improve customer experience)

4      Demonstrate how you have effectively and constructively challenged stakeholders to behave differently

5      Think about other benefits you have delivered through a procurement process; remember that procurement is not just about savings.

If you’re looking for a new position, have a look at the latest procurement jobs on our site.