Table 1Transition record

purchasertopurchasing manager

A purchaser already meets 40% of what the purchasing manager role asks for. The move turns on 15 required skills not yet in the profile.

From purchaser

40%

Overlap1

To purchasing manager

21 Skills carried over

15 Required, not held

66 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 66

This move: 66 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the purchasing manager role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the purchaser profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A purchasing manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a purchaser background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held category specific expertise business, administration and law
already held perform procurement market analysis information skills
already held track price trends information skills
already held analyse logistic changes information skills
already held assess procurement needs communication, collaboration and creativity
already held implement sustainable procurement communication, collaboration and creativity

All 21 carried skills, including the 10 the purchasing manager role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 32 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 management skills 4 required, 6 supplementary

required, not held issue sales invoices required
required, not held manage inventory required
required, not held manage budgets required
required, not held strive for company growth required

optional, not held manage procurement planning optional
optional, not held ensure equipment availability optional
optional, not held manage rented goods returns optional
optional, not held manage staff optional
optional, not held manage supplies optional
optional, not held recruit employees optional

02 business, administration and law 4 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held corporate social responsibility required
required, not held supplier management required
required, not held quality standards required
required, not held supply chain principles required

optional, not held market pricing optional
optional, not held pricing strategies optional
optional, not held risk management optional

03 information skills 3 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held analyse supply chain trends required
required, not held estimate costs of required supplies required
required, not held study sales levels of products required

optional, not held monitor stock level optional
optional, not held calculate purchasing levels of raw materials optional
optional, not held carry out statistical forecasts optional
optional, not held maintain contract administration optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held liaise with managers required
required, not held negotiate buying conditions required
required, not held order supplies required

optional, not held advise on sustainable management policies optional
optional, not held attend trade fairs optional
optional, not held train employees optional

05 assisting and caring 1 required

required, not held follow company standards required

06 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 supplementary

optional, not held sustainable manufacturing optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a purchasing manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 21 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held analyse logistic changes skill
already held analyse supply chain strategies skill
already held assess supplier risks skill
already held coordinate purchasing activities skill
already held identify suppliers skill
already held maintain relationship with customers skill
already held maintain relationship with suppliers skill
already held manage contracts skill
already held negotiate sales contracts skill
already held supply chain management knowledge
already held analyse consumer buying trends skill
already held assess procurement needs skill
already held category specific expertise knowledge
already held implement procurement of innovation skill
already held implement sustainable procurement skill
already held international business knowledge
already held perform procurement market analysis skill
already held procurement legislation knowledge
already held procurement lifecycle knowledge
already held track price trends skill
already held use e-procurement skill

17 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held manage procurement planning optional
optional, not held market pricing optional
optional, not held monitor stock level optional
optional, not held advise on sustainable management policies optional
optional, not held attend trade fairs optional
optional, not held calculate purchasing levels of raw materials optional
optional, not held carry out statistical forecasts optional
optional, not held ensure equipment availability optional
optional, not held maintain contract administration optional
optional, not held manage rented goods returns optional
optional, not held manage staff optional
optional, not held manage supplies optional
optional, not held pricing strategies optional
optional, not held recruit employees optional
optional, not held risk management optional
optional, not held sustainable manufacturing optional
optional, not held train employees optional

16 held skills the purchasing manager role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role analyse logistic needs skill
not needed by the target role communicate price changes skill
not needed by the target role compare contractors' bids skill
not needed by the target role conduct performance measurement skill
not needed by the target role embargo regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations skill
not needed by the target role export control principles knowledge
not needed by the target role have computer literacy skill
not needed by the target role identify new business opportunities skill
not needed by the target role international import export regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role issue purchase orders skill
not needed by the target role manage purchasing cycle skill
not needed by the target role manage tender processes skill
not needed by the target role perform procurement processes skill
not needed by the target role report accounts of the professional activity skill
not needed by the target role speak different languages skill

8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held corporate social responsibility required
required, not held supplier management required
required, not held quality standards required
required, not held supply chain principles required
optional, not held market pricing optional
optional, not held pricing strategies optional
optional, not held risk management optional
optional, not held sustainable manufacturing optional

Index

Other moves recorded from purchaser

Full index of moves from purchaser

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.