Lets chat to Shifa Nasir, Recruitment Consultant here at Talent Drive, with over 5 years of recruitment experience Shifa leads our Real Estate and Property sector within the business operating across all levels from Buyer to Senior Procurement Manager grade.
Lets jump right into it.
What trends do you think will be implemented in the Procurement industry in 2024?
After a tumultuous couple of years including COVID, Supply Chain resilience is definitely an area of focus and being able to navigate around disruptions in the future. I also think Digital Transformation, Sustainability/ESG, Supplier Relationship and Risk Management are going to be integral factors to enhance Procurement activities across all categories and industries.
Digital Transformation to potentially reduce costs, gain better insights and reports, increase compliance. Looking at supplier’s sustainability/ESG KPIs are important when it comes to ethically sourcing, environmental and social impact and ensuring this is aligned to the company’s procurement and wider business objectives.
Lastly, I think Supplier Relationship and Risk Management will be a core focus as it can build a more secure and stable supply chain, able to mitigate risks more efficiently, build strong supplier relationships, produce better value for money and ensures quality assurance across all suppliers.
Have you noticed an increase of certain job roles so far this year and why do you think this is?
It has been non-stop and what a great way to start the year!
I have seen an influx of roles come through as clients are given new budgets and clearer idea of how they can build their Talent Pipeline. I have noticed an increase in IT Procurement, Supplier Relationship Management and FM related roles. Digitalisation, better value for money and the constant wider socio-economic changes within the build/property sector and highly regulated environments requires the support of the Procurement function more than ever.
Ok, so you’ve put a candidate forward for a job role and they have successfully landed an interview. What are your top tips for prepping candidates for interview in a procurement role?
My top tips are as follows:
- Make sure you have researched the company beyond what they do. Check out their LinkedIn posts, social media platforms, any recent reports and find one or two points that stand out to you and align to what you are looking for in your next role. This shows that you aren’t just applying for any role but you have a genuine interest in this specific company and role.
- Articulating your experience as succinctly as possible. Try not to spend too much time breaking down your CV but instead provide a high-level summary and let the back-and-forth conversation break down your experience further. This creates a better flow to the interview and shows you are able to articulate large amounts of information into a cohesive manner.
- If there is time at the end, have questions ready. This is your opportunity to find out more information around the company, the interviewer and long-term opportunities.
Thank you for your insights Shifa! Don’t forget to connect with Shifa on LinkedIn here to stay up to date with her current job opportunities and market insights.
