4 Things to do before pursuing a new Procurement role

You’ve Been Offered the Role – Now What?

Your ideal business has taken you through an in-depth interview process. You’ve been competing against some of the top talent in your field, and the organisation has told you that you’re the one they want – the best person for the role.

Let’s explore the 4 things to do before pursuing a new procurement role.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Queue a rush of pride and a tidal wave of self-confidence.
Bring on anticipation for the future and excitement at the challenges ahead.
Except… something’s not quite right.

Time to Pause

Put on the brakes! Hold everything…
You’d be surprised how easy it is for a recruitment process to fall apart simply because someone failed to think things through before proceeding.
The fact is: we’re human.
- We get excited by new opportunities and rush straight in.
- We’re busy, so we sidestep conducting our due diligence.

Why It Matters

We’re innocent in our endeavours, not realising that a change of job affects much more than just salary or job title.
As procurement recruiters, the Procurement Heads team is adept at preempting most catastrophes.
We ensure that 99.9% of our candidates finish the race and enter the winner’s circle.
But there are several things a procurement job seeker can do to help themselves cross the finish line safely.

Procurement Heads’ 4 Tips on How to Find a New Procurement Job

1. Understand Your Priorities

Just like buying a house, have a checklist (mental or written) of what’s important to you.
Consider potential deal breakers such as:
- Salary
- Benefits
- Travel distance
- Working culture
- Size of the business
- Career development opportunities

2. Do Your Research

If flexible working is essential, ensure the business supports it.
If generous holiday entitlement matters, check the company’s benefits package.
To avoid a difficult commute:
- Do a dummy run.
- Ask yourself: Could I really do this route every day? Twice?

3. Be Realistic About What’s on Offer

It’s okay to want a package that reflects your skills and experience.
But remember:
- Most companies have limited flexibility on salary.
- Top-end salary offers are usually reserved for long-standing employees.
- Organisations must consider internal salary equity.
In short:
- Only apply for roles where the advertised salary truly matches your requirements (see point 1).

4. Give Yourself the ‘Trial Close’

Before diving into the recruitment process, ask yourself:
- How would I feel if this company offered me the role?
A new job means:
- New faces
- New relationships
- A big change that some may struggle with
Handing in your notice may trigger a counter-offer from your current employer.
- If you think you’d be persuaded by such an offer, it’s better to approach your employer directly than use another organisation as leverage.

Job seekers who consider all these factors are far more likely to finish as winners.
Don’t let bad planning ruin a great job offer.
Better still: talk to a trusted recruitment partner who can help you build a strategy for success.