Table 1Transition record

wholesale merchanttodistribution manager

A wholesale merchant already meets 33% of what the distribution manager role asks for. The move turns on 25 required skills not yet in the profile.

From wholesale merchant

33%

Overlap1

To distribution manager

39 Skills carried over

25 Required, not held

74.8 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 74.8

This move: 74.8 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the distribution manager role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the wholesale merchant 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 39 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A distribution manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a wholesale merchant background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held live animal products agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
already held glassware products engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held meat and meat products engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held flower and plant products natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 39 carried skills, including the 2 the distribution manager role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 39 missing skills fall into 9 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 information skills 9 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held analyse supply chain trends required
required, not held carry out inventory control accuracy required
required, not held track shipments required
required, not held analyse business plans required
required, not held carry out statistical forecasts required
required, not held develop financial statistics reports required
required, not held manage financial risk required
required, not held perform financial risk management in international trade required
required, not held perform risk analysis required

optional, not held monitor security procedures in warehouse operations optional
optional, not held monitor stock level optional
optional, not held oversee freight-related financial documentation optional

02 management skills 7 required

required, not held direct logistical functions required
required, not held handle carriers required
required, not held manage freight payment methods required
required, not held track shipping sites required
required, not held manage staff required
required, not held minimise shipping cost required
required, not held perform multiple tasks at the same time required

03 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held communicate with shipment forwarders required
required, not held create solutions to problems required
required, not held implement strategic planning required

optional, not held ensure client orientation optional
optional, not held present reports optional
optional, not held think proactively optional
optional, not held train employees optional

04 assisting and caring 3 required

required, not held ensure customs compliance required
required, not held adhere to organisational guidelines required
required, not held ensure regulatory compliance concerning distribution activities required

05 services 2 required

required, not held hazardous freight regulations required
required, not held freight transport methods required

06 business, administration and law 1 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held supply chain management required

optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
optional, not held international import export regulations optional
optional, not held employment law optional
optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a distribution 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 39 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held have computer literacy skill
already held plan transport operations skill
already held agricultural equipment knowledge
already held agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feed products knowledge
already held beverage products knowledge
already held chemical products knowledge
already held clothing and footwear products knowledge
already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products knowledge
already held computer equipment knowledge
already held construction products knowledge
already held dairy and edible oil products knowledge
already held electrical household appliances products knowledge
already held electronic and telecommunication equipment knowledge
already held fish, crustacean and mollusc products knowledge
already held flower and plant products knowledge
already held fruit and vegetable products knowledge
already held furniture, carpet and lighting equipment products knowledge
already held glassware products knowledge
already held hardware, plumbing and heating equipment products knowledge
already held hides, skins and leather products knowledge
already held household products knowledge
already held industrial tools knowledge
already held live animal products knowledge
already held machinery products knowledge
already held meat and meat products knowledge
already held metal and metal ore products knowledge
already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
already held perfume and cosmetic products knowledge
already held pharmaceutical products knowledge
already held speak different languages skill
already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products knowledge
already held textile industry machinery products knowledge
already held textile products, textile semi-finished products and raw materials knowledge
already held tobacco products knowledge
already held types of aircraft knowledge
already held types of maritime vessels knowledge
already held waste and scrap products knowledge
already held watches and jewellery products knowledge
already held wood products knowledge

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 generic programmes and qualifications 1 supplementary

optional, not held teamwork principles optional

08 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held use a warehouse management system optional

09 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary

optional, not held manufacture ingredients optional

14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
optional, not held international import export regulations optional
optional, not held manufacture ingredients optional
optional, not held monitor security procedures in warehouse operations optional
optional, not held monitor stock level optional
optional, not held oversee freight-related financial documentation optional
optional, not held employment law optional
optional, not held ensure client orientation optional
optional, not held present reports optional
optional, not held teamwork principles optional
optional, not held think proactively optional
optional, not held train employees optional
optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional
optional, not held use a warehouse management system optional

36 held skills the distribution manager role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
not needed by the target role assess supplier risks skill
not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
not needed by the target role commercial law knowledge
not needed by the target role comprehend financial business terminology skill
not needed by the target role consumer goods industry knowledge
not needed by the target role debt systems knowledge
not needed by the target role e-procurement knowledge
not needed by the target role electronic communication knowledge
not needed by the target role export control principles knowledge
not needed by the target role handle cargo space on sale skill
not needed by the target role identify customer's needs skill
not needed by the target role identify new business opportunities skill
not needed by the target role identify suppliers skill
not needed by the target role initiate contact with buyers skill
not needed by the target role initiate contact with sellers skill
not needed by the target role inventory management rules knowledge
not needed by the target role machine tools knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain financial records skill
not needed by the target role maintain relationship with customers skill
not needed by the target role manage storage operations skill
not needed by the target role meet deadlines skill
not needed by the target role monitor international market performance skill
not needed by the target role negotiate buying conditions skill
not needed by the target role negotiate sale of commodities skill
not needed by the target role negotiate sales contracts skill
not needed by the target role office equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role office furniture products knowledge
not needed by the target role perform market research skill
not needed by the target role product comprehension knowledge
not needed by the target role sales activities knowledge
not needed by the target role sales strategies knowledge
not needed by the target role supply chain principles knowledge
not needed by the target role tolerate stress skill
not needed by the target role visit suppliers skill
not needed by the target role waste management knowledge

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 hazardous freight regulations required
required, not held freight transport methods required
required, not held supply chain management required
optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
optional, not held international import export regulations optional
optional, not held employment law optional
optional, not held teamwork principles optional
optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional

Index

Other moves recorded from wholesale merchant

Full index of moves from wholesale merchant

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.