Spring brings positive news for job seekers
By Lisa van der Pool -- Purchasing, 4/22/1999
The job market will continue to stay strong in the second quarter. According to Manpower's Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell S. Fromstein: "While the broad-based results continued the strong hiring patterns of 1998, there was a notable decline in the plans of durable and non-durable goods manufacturers. These declines were balanced by higher seasonal increases over levels of three months ago among services firms and in the construction industry. We see no deterioration of hiring strength in terms of plans to reduce work forces even in the manufacturing sectors, where weakness is centered more on new hires than on downsizing activity."Hiring professionals also indicate a healthy job market for purchasing professionals looking for work. "The economic outlook is fantastic; companies are hiring at a fast rate," says Gary Elias, an executive recruiter from Elias Associates in East Brunswick, New Jersey. "Unemployment continues to be low. Basically, it's a great time to be a purchasing professional."
Automotive leads the way
Though many industries are seeking high-quality purchasing pros, automakers are particularly aggressive. "There is a lot of activity in automotive," says Bill Fello, a partner in charge of the supply chain management practice at Heidrick & Struggles in Dallas, Texas. "The chemical, electronic, and consumer goods industries are also doing well."
Elias agrees: "All industries are doing well, but automotive is doing fabulously. If I had a job seeker for the automotive industry right now I could find him/her an opportunity fast."
As for positions getting the most requests: There are fruitful career opportunities for those candidates seeking lower- to middle-level positions. This is great news for beginning purchasers or those who want to make a career move. "All levels are doing well, but the middle and lower levels are strong and will continue to be strong," says Elias.
Yet there also is hiring activity at the higher levels. Fello, whose firm Heidrick & Struggles deals only with upper and middle levels to top-tier levels, reports "a lot of activity on the upper levels."
The total picture
Companies on the cutting edge are broadening the role of their purchasing departments, and they are seeking job candidates who have many and varied skills. "The direction is toward knowledge of total supply chain management, instead of strictly purchasing," says Fello. "There is a focus on partnering programs and having the supplier involved very early in cross-functional teams."
"Fifty cents out of every revenue dollar gets spent by purchasing. Improving performance in purchasing departments might be the single largest bottom-line improvement available to most companies today," says Fello. "This is becoming a widely known fact."
For job seekers, the key is to be on the cutting edge, so you can be sure to secure the position you want. Today, advanced degrees and special training in other disciplines--especially engineering and other technical areas--are increasingly important.
Opportunities in Midwest and South
The greatest hiring activity continues to be in the Southeast and Midwest. "There are a lot of opportunities in the Southeast and Midwest. The manufacturing market is hot in the South," says Elias.
According to Manpower's Employment Outlook survey for the second quarter. "As hiring in other parts of the country has eroded slightly from the feverish activity of last year, companies in the South have maintained the demand expressed last spring with just seasonal variations since mid-1997."
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