Career Advancement when I have left UMU

It is not a secret that Procurement Specialist is what I’m anticipating on becoming

my career.
Firstly, Procurement was once considered an occupation, but spurred by the rise of
globalization has evolved into a recognized profession. Businesses in all industries,
in both the private and public sectors, depend on the expertise of procurement
specialists to obtain the products, materials, and services needed to conduct
operations and do that at an acceptable cost.

The duties performed by procurement specialists vary widely according to the

nature and size of the business and may even vary daily. Here, I will like to point
out my career advancement upon my graduation from the United Methodist
University (UMU).

As a student studying Procurement and Supply Chain Management Major and also
a person whose wish is to become a procurement specialist, I have various career
advancement anticipations, some of which are below.

 Research Area: Procurement manager that evaluates and compares products

and services to determine which best meet the organization’s needs.

 Cost analysis Area: Obtaining goods at the right cost can determine whether
the company achieves profitability. Cost is also a factor when setting prices
for the company’s products or services which must be in line with what the
market will support.

 Inventory control Area: Often, the procurement specialist oversees

the inventory of raw materials or other goods and places orders when
supplies run low.

 Negotiating contracts Area: Negotiation is a major share of the procurement

specialist’s job. After securing the best pricing, terms and delivery options
for each product or service, they settle the contract.

 Projecting future needs Area: Not only do procurement specialists manage

current needs, they strategize with various departments and suppliers to
ensure the organization’s future needs will be seamlessly met.
In order to advance my career, I take sufficient education and qualification to be
the tools for my career advancement.
Based on my research and current understanding of Procurement specialist, I am of
the understanding that most procurement specialists hold at least a bachelor’s
degree in business, finance or a related field.

After I had left UMU, taking into consideration I am advancing into my career, I
will have understood the following topics under Procurement:

Strategies and tools for evaluating supplier performance

 How to develop quality relationships with suppliers?
 Effective tactics for negotiating costs and contracts
 Managing inventory with quantity and quality merchandise control
 Establishing e-procurement in the organization
 How to promote ethical behavior in an organization
 Driving environmental sourcing and sustainability

I have also understood that additional education beyond the bachelor’s degree is a
path for supply chain professionals who wish to improve their skills and
knowledge and seek to advance their career to become a procurement specialist or
manager. It also is valuable for professionals from other fields looking to move
into procurement or other areas of supply chain management.

In order for one to become a Procurement specialist he/she needs to understand the
roles and responsibility that are evolved.
The specialists have a deep understanding of specific industries and of the
intricacies of negotiating contracts in their area of expertise.

He/she also focusing more on developing good supplier relationships, improving

internal communications and leveraging the power brought by emerging
technological tools.