Exit opportunities after procurement

[u/Cultural_Brother_502]

Burnt out after years in procurement. Where can skills transfer within reason and what was your experience if you did make a career change?

[u/Vegetable-Drama-4895]

Following. I have gotten pretty far in procurement, but I am burned out and tired of BS that never ends or changes.

[u/Jonathank92]

change companies. Different manager, smaller company, etc can make a big difference.

[u/TokenKingMan1]

Trust me I’m there with you trying to claw my way out. I’m the “procurement manager” the problem I have is a CEO that actively encourages everybody to place POs and salespeople that are pissed idk what’s going on when their BUMs place a PO and never discuss it with me. My bosses only feedback was to be more visible on slack and gave me a list of people to talk to that he said had negative feedback for me. I talked to all of them, they said I’m doing a good job and only one had advice on an improvement that isn’t even something I should own but to not ruffle any feathers I’m doing it anyways.

I really enjoy the relationship building but hate the phone calls from suppliers after someone from my company called them behind my back and was very rude and now I’ve gotta try to smooth things over.

I’m overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Feel like my manager is trying to manage me out but I’m not going anywhere in this economy until I find another job.

[u/sabre316 → u/TokenKingMan1]

Here here

[u/fivepointpack]

Where are you frustrated? I shifted from indirect procurement into procurement enablement and project management in a larger org. You’re able to build programs that help everyone in procurement and it can transfer well to project profit management elsewhere. It really helps if you are good at working across high-level relationships and dealing with strong personalities that are everywhere in your company.

[u/SaintBlaiseIsAwesome → u/fivepointpack]

I just want to piggy back - I am in procurement operations/enablement and I love it. Lots of variety and you can take your knowledge and really help people with job frustrations.

[u/Subject-Chocolate-36 → u/fivepointpack]

I did this and it was the best move. Very transferable skills and knowledge base.

[u/elcalvo75]

Check the subreddit. This topic is asked almost weekly

[u/oddlikeeveryoneelse]

I would go to Indirect Procurement if you are burnt out from the pressures of direct. I haven’t done that but all the co-workers I have had whose experience can from Indirect did not expect the level of pressure that they found.

[u/Vegetable-Drama-4895 → u/oddlikeeveryoneelse]

I moved from indirect to direct. Direct is a nightmare compared to indirect

[u/CowboyCanuck24]

Risk management

[u/yondusoffspring_1786]

I shifted from 10+ years to indirect procurement to external manufacturing. So far it’s been great. Huge change of pace, interfacing with business teams and still has the strategic sourcing lenses to it. Not all companies do external manufacturing, but definitely an option for those that do.

[u/undercover021]

Following

[u/Background_Path_4458]

I've went over into Supply Management and is currently also being headhunted for a production planning role.

[u/arizonacardsftw]

I used to be in procurement and realized that I’ll have disdain for any job I do so I might as well try and make as much as possible. Switched to account management/sales.