Knowing when is the right time to move jobs.....

Here is an interesting article from the people at Supply Chain Quarterly on making the "should I stay or should I go" career decision.....

http://www.supplychainquarterly.com/columns/20121217-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go/

5 Supply Chain Predictions For 2013

Great article from Forbes (published on Supply Chain Management) regarding the trends in how supply chains will evolve and be driven forward during 2013.

5 Supply Chain Predictions For 2013 - Article from Supply Chain Management Review

How can I increase my chances of landing my dream job in 2013?

OK - we have explored social media platforms and how you can really harness their power to make them work for you........ next is my honest advice from a recruitment consultant perspective having managed the career search of hundreds of candidates in the supply chain space.

The harsh reality is that you really need to invest some time in the following areas in order to maximise your chances of being approached about or finding that dream supply chain job...........

First things first.... update your resume! Do not leave resume writing until the last minute... tailoring the resume towards a specific application is fine, however large scale creative writing at short notice doesn't usually get the best results. Get your main achievements and responsibilities down on paper and quantify them wherever possible as this adds a great deal of credibility.

Next, meet with a handful of select recruiters in your space. I would recommend no more than 4-5 since you will then start to notice consultants calling you about the same opportunities and it becomes harder to manage. Build the rapport and ensure that the recruiter knows exactly what you are looking for... more importantly, make sure the recruiter knows their space! They will then be working hard in the background to keep you updated on the best opportunities.

Next up is your Linkedin profile.... if you haven't updated it in a few months then think about adding your newly acquired skills or significant achievements. Try to envisage what keywords someone would be searching on to land the best candidate for your ideal role - make sure all these key words feature in your profile. More specific to supply chain, an example would be to think about specific ERP systems you have worked with and any continuous improvement or project management methodologies you have become experienced (and accredited) in. Attach yourself to a number of relevant networking groups to increase the visibility of your profile and start to follow the businesses that interest you the most. Most people are tentative towards putting their ideas out to the world straight away, so maybe ease yourself into things by sharing interesting articles and providing a brief comment on your thoughts. 

Finally, register for e-mail job alerts on specific job boards and make them work for you. I can guarantee from experience, if you put in the effort front end... you will be able to relax and go about your corporate and personal life without having to devote a significant amount of time every week towards managing your own career search. If you require any further advice, feel free to make contact with any specific questions you may have.

Linkedin for the Supply Chain job seeker

Coming from a supply chain recruitement perspective, Linkedin is a very important way to keep in touch with the local (as well as interstate and international) supply chain community.

Whenever I meet a new candidate who asks "what are the key things I need to do in order to tap into the supply chain job network?".... the answer is one which is vastly different to 5 years ago due to the advent of social media, and also the mobile optimisation of most of the leading job boards and recruitment websites. Print media has lost significant market share with regards to job advertising and there are infinitely more online opportunities to network with industry influencers. Having a complete Linkedin profile and a solid network is really important for the passive candidate who simply doesn't have the time to scour the internet for job opportunities, but would still like to be updated when interesting opportunities arise that may fit their own aspirations. This article provides a head hunter's perspective on effective Linkedin strategies to harness the power of the network and make it work for you.....


http://www.myjobthoughts.com/5-linkedin-strategies-to-uncover-the-hidden-job-market/

Using Social Media for your job search

I read an interesting article recently that highlighted how social media platforms can be used to create career opportunities. Despite there being some very credible advice towards using all the tools at your disposal, I feel the jury is still out on using Facebook in this way. Most individuals are keen to maintain privacy around their own job seeker status, therefore disclosing that you are seeking a new opportunity is risky business. There is however, a great deal of value in growing your reputation as a subject matter expert, industry influencer and generally putting your point across through Linkedin groups, forums etc. which takes up significantly less time than attending industry body events for the time-conscious supply chain professional of 2013.....

http://www.bestjobseeker.com/who-what-how-using-social-media-to-help-your-job-search.php