Supply Chain Management is a field widely acknowledged for its career advancement opportunities. If you’re a working parent aspiring to move from an entry-level warehouse role to a position with better pay and more responsibility, you’re in the right field! With a wide range of specializations that don’t require a four-year degree, Supply Chain Management enables skilled workers to advance through the ranks and achieve their career goals.
In this article, we’ll explain why Supply Chain Management is such a great career choice for parents – and how a diploma in Supply Chain Management can help you progress in your career and make your family proud.
What is Supply Chain Management?
Supply chains are essential to the business sector. Without a supply chain – which refers to the sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and distribution of goods and services – consumers would have nothing to buy and businesses would have nothing to sell.
Today, supply chain networks are international. Products may be sourced, manufactured, and distributed in different parts of the world. Additionally, with the rise of e-commerce, products can be easily ordered by anybody, anywhere. This increase in supply chain complexity and consumer demand means that Supply Chain Management Professionals are more important than ever.
Supply Chain Management Professionals keep the supply chain moving efficiently, so products are delivered correctly and on time. The many areas of Supply Chain Management include analytics, logistics, manufacturing, and distribution. Professionals in this field are expected to stay up to date on the latest technology and make data-driven decisions – especially as they advance into more senior roles.
Why is Supply Chain Management a Great Career Choice?
The field of Supply Chain Management can provide parents with the stability they need to balance working with caring for their family. Let’s take a closer look at the top reasons parents are choosing a career in supply chain management:
Job Security
The supply chain field offers many permanent, full-time positions at established companies. These roles typically include competitive benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement packages; factors that are especially important to job-seekers with children or family members to support.
Playing an indispensable role in business operations, Supply Chain Management Professionals are high in demand. Workers with a technical skillset and practical experience in the industry are especially indispensable.
High Salaries
Professionals in the Supply Chain Management field are paid a competitive salary for their work. While entry-level roles like a Warehouse Associate make an average salary of $36,422 a year in Canada, experienced workers in senior roles can make $87,546 or more. For example, experienced Traffic Managers working in Alberta make an average of $95,962 per year. With a combination of education and experience, the earning potential of a Supply Chain Management Professional can increase significantly.
Fulfilling Work
Supply Chain Management Professionals are required to perform highly technical tasks and think strategically. For example, Supply Chain Analysts use data to evaluate the efficiency of a supply chain and suggest opportunities for improvement. This type of work is not only intellectually engaging, but also makes a tangible difference on business procedures – and research shows that employees are more satisfied at work when they feel like they are accomplishing something.vi
Professionals in this field also work closely with others to coordinate tasks. Teamwork and collaboration are important to this field, and there are many opportunities for Supply Chain Management Professionals to build strong and fulfilling relationships with their leaders and co-workers.
When you love what you do every day, you’re sure to translate that sense of wellbeing into your homelife as well. In fact, liking your job is scientifically proven to have a positive impact on your kids!
Career Paths in Supply Chain Management
Whether you are currently working in a Supply Chain Management role or planning to transition into the field, there are many opportunities to advance in your career path as you gain experience and education. Job opportunities for skilled workers in this field include:
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Retail and Wholesale Buyer
- Traffic Manager
- Purchasing Agent
- Operations Manager
For example, meet Jen. Jen is a 25-year old mother of two. She works as a Warehouse Associate for a food and beverage company, making $18.21 hour. Jen is ambitious and would like to advance in her career. She can increase her opportunities for promotion with post-secondary education.
With the right education and experience, the next role in her career progression might be a Logistics Coordinator, which pays an average of $24.43 an hour. This role oversees the receiving and shipping of product and involves managing relationships with customers as well as leading the warehouse team.
Eventually, Jen may become an Operations Manager. This is a high-level role that oversees multiple departments and would require leadership skills and in-depth operational knowledge. In this role, Jen could make $34.04 an hour – or $74,893 a year.
How to Advance in Your Supply Chain Management Career
If you’d like to follow a journey similar to Jen’s, there are steps you can take to advance in your Supply Chain Management career.
Your first step should be to identify your career goals. Where would you like to see yourself 2 years from now? What about in 5 years, and then in 10 years? You should also identify what’s most important to you. Is salary at the very top of your list – or is there a specific area of Supply Chain Management that really interests you, like forecasting or sustainability?
Another step you should take is to build a relationship with a mentor. This can be someone in a senior position at work – or even an instructor. Mentors are a great resource for learning about opportunities and refining your own skillset. You should be able to ask your mentor for candid feedback and learn about their own journeys and experiences.
Applying for jobs is an obvious step in your career advancement journey – but this experience can be intimidating for some. It’s important not to undervalue yourself during the job search process. Women are especially likely to undercut their own abilities or avoid applying for a job if they don’t have the exact skills or experience defined by the job posting. Apply anyway! Practicing self-confidence will lead you to the incredible opportunities you deserve.
That said, the best step you can take to advance in your career is to earn a diploma in Supply Chain Management. This official credential will level up your skillset and allow you to market yourself to employers. Plus, a formal education in Supply Chain Management will help you accomplish every other step we’ve mentioned: it will clarify your goals, provide mentorship, and boost your self-confidence!
5 Benefits of Completing a Supply Chain Management Diploma
A Supply Chain Management Diploma is a form of career-focused education that can typically be completed in less than 2 years. Importantly, many diploma programs – including ours at Sundance College – include hands-on practicum training.
Here are 5 ways that earning a diploma in Supply Chain Management will help you advance in your career:
1. Credibility
A professional diploma conveys to employers that you possess a standardized set of skills, taught by qualified instructors. Your first-hand experience on the job is valuable, but employers also look for workers who have completed an official curriculum.
2. In-Depth Knowledge
Understanding the larger picture of Supply Chain Management is key to advancing to higher-level jobs. You’ll need to know about supply chain fundamentals, global trade, and business ethics to make informed decisions. This deeper understanding will also make it easier to transition to new roles or employers, who may have different processes. Since you’ll know the underlying logic, you’ll find it easier to adapt!
3. Relationships
Completing a career college program will help you form connections with other students – who could be valuable contacts in the supply chain world – as well as potential employers through your practicum training. Networking can be difficult without an initial introduction; college education opens that door.
4. Up-to-Date Skills
Supply chains are quickly integrating new technology and tools to optimize their processes – and you don’t want to get left behind. Upgrading your skills will ensure that you understand up-to-date technology, making you an even more valuable asset.
5. Versatility
A diploma in Supply Chain Management doesn’t focus on a specific role. By completing this program, you’ll gain the skills you need to work in huge variety of fields, from product to operations. This will increase the number of jobs you’re qualified for, presenting more opportunities to advance.
How to Be a Mom and a College Student
Going back to school as a working parent might seem challenging, but it is certainly achievable. The good news is, unlike a 4-year degree, career education is designed to work with your busy lifestyle. At Sundance College, the majority of our students work full-time, and many are also parents. Our approach to learning and our college team is dedicated to providing the support you need to balance college with other life responsibilities. Life shouldn’t have to pause in order for you to earn your diploma.
Here are a few tips, based on the experiences of our students, to help you study at college while being a parent:
Organize Your Time
Find a routine that works for you and stick to it. If studying in the morning, before your kids are up, is the best time you have to concentrate, build that time slot into your schedule. Be sure to build in breaks as well – they’re necessary.
Ask for Help
You’re juggling a lot. Don’t be afraid to ask for an extension from an instructor or help with childcare from a close friend. Your support network – which includes your advisors and instructors – wants you to succeed. You just need to communicate what your needs are.
Celebrate
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind and forget to acknowledge your accomplishments. Every time you hand in an assignment or complete a quiz, take a moment to tell yourself how amazing you are. Be sure to share your successes with your family, friends, and kids as well!
Make Your Family Proud
When you love your job, everyone wins! Supply Chain Management is a rewarding career that offers many opportunities to grow professionally. Skilled workers in this field are able to find secure, well-compensated jobs that they enjoy.
If you’re aiming to advance – or wondering how to transition into the Supply Chain field from a different sector – a diploma in a Supply Chain Management will equip you with the skills and connections you need for success.
At Sundance College, we offer two diplomas in Supply Chain Management. The Supply Chain Management Professional Diploma includes at 7-week practicum and is 60 weeks in length, offering a comprehensive education to prepare you for your career. Our more streamlined option, the Supply Chain Management Technician Diploma, is 32 weeks, with the option to ladder into the Professional Diploma.
Our supportive faculty and staff can help you advance to the next level of your career. Every student at Sundance College receives personalized support applying for financial aid, securing a practicum placement, and preparing for their job search.
To learn more about the Supply Chain Management Professional Diploma and start the enrollment process, get in touch with one of our advisors today!