Supply chain certification is a prerequisite for anyone pursuing a successful career in supply chain management. In order to get your application through the door with a prospective employer, evidence of supply chain professional certification is mandatory.
Today, obtaining supply chain management certification can be as easy as taking an online course. It is no longer strictly necessary to attend conventional on-campus classes, or to take a degree-level programme to work in supply chain management.
Boosting your CV with the best supply chain certification course available can open the door to a broad range of career pathways. But what are the benefits of choosing supply chain management as your long-term profession?
Why Choose a Career in Supply Chain Management?
The simple fact of the matter is that demand for talented supply chain and logistics personnel is at an all-time high. Worldwide, the complexity of supply chains (and activities therein) is growing all the time.
Supply chain managers and logisticians are tasked with overseeing all key phases of a product’s life. From manufacturing to allocation to distribution and delivery, it all falls within the remit of the supply chain manager.
Hence, when it comes to both career pathways and guaranteed long-term job security, a career in supply chain management ticks all the right boxes.
Is Supply Chain Management a Good Career Option?
Research suggests that career opportunities in supply chain management could grow by as much as 30% within the next decade. A growth rate which exceeds that of most comparable occupations, creating a world of potential job roles for qualified candidates.
By working towards endorsed supply chain certification online, you gain access to a broad and diverse range of potential job opportunities.
Typical job titles within the field of supply chain management and logistics include the following:
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Business Analyst
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Operations Manager
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Plant Manager
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Director of Global Procurement
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Director of Logistics & Distribution
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Distribution Manager
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Global Sourcing Manager
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Supply Planner
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Transportation Planner
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Import/Export Specialist
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Logistics Analyst
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Process Improvement Manager
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Production Planner
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Director of Operations
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Director of Supply Management
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Project Manager
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Purchasing Manager
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Quality Systems Auditor
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Sourcing Specialist
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Supply Chain Manager
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Commodity Specialist
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Demand Planning Manager
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Transportation Specialist
Besides the broad scope for potential career paths, choosing supply chain management as a long-term profession brings additional benefits.
Detailed below are 10 of the many reasons why a career in supply chain management could be worth pursuing:
1. Sector Growth
Logistics and supply chain management is one of the fastest-growing sectors of its kind, within which job growth is expected to continue accelerating indefinitely. The COVID-19 crisis had a profound effect on supply chain activities worldwide, strengthening demand for qualified and capable candidates.
2. Competitive Pay
In the UK, the average salary for a full-time supply chain manager hovers around the £40,000 mark. However, it is perfectly possible for senior supply chain and logistics personnel to earn closer to £75,000. Most supply chain management personnel earn in excess of the national average wage.
3. An Accessible Industry
There is no need to obtain a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, in order to enter the supply chain and logistics profession. Evidence of an appropriate educational background is essential, but experience and general aptitude count for more than formal qualifications.
4. Opportunities for Ongoing Progression
Logistics and supply chain management is a field that is committed to nurturing talent from within. Consequently, entry-level recruits looking to climb the leadership ladder as quickly as possible have every opportunity to do just that.
5. International Travel
Many roles within the logistics and supply chain profession necessitate regular or occasional international travel. Businesses often send representatives overseas to negotiate deals with suppliers, and to generally strengthen corporate relations.
6. Global Job Opportunities
Irrespective of where you study logistics and supply chain management, you will gain access to a potentially huge market of job opportunities worldwide. Demand for talented supply chain management personnel is high across dozens of key markets, resulting in a world of job openings to explore at home and abroad.
7. Internship Opportunities
Growing demand for qualified and capable supply chain personnel has prompted more employers than ever before to offer inspiring internship opportunities. Internships can be great for getting that all-important ‘foot in the door’, and are particularly useful for freshly-qualified candidates pursuing entry-level positions.
8. Highly Transferable Skills
To become a successful supply chain manager is to arm yourself with a highly desirable and comprehensively transferable set of skills and competencies. Over the course of your career, you could choose to diversify into financial planning, general management, operations management, or even entrepreneurship.
9. Job Security
Globalisation has created a landscape where supply chains are set to become increasingly complex over time. The more links within any given supply chain and the longer the distance products/materials must travel to meet their recipients, the greater the demand will be for qualified supply chain personnel.
10. Job satisfaction
Last but not least, a career in logistics and supply chain management can be supremely satisfying. Each and every task you complete plays an integral role in supporting the business you work for. You get to see the results of your efforts on a daily basis, and you know you making an important contribution to your company’s performance.
The Best Supply Chain Management Courses Online
At Oxford Home Study Centre, we offer an exclusive range of endorsed supply chain management courses of the highest quality.
Our self-paced courses can be taken from any location worldwide, with no deadlines or time restrictions imposed. Ideal for newcomers and experienced learners from all backgrounds, our online supply chain management courses could help you take the next step in your career journey.
Check out our full range of supply chain management courses online, or contact a member of the team at Oxford Home Study Centre today.
