When you think about career colleges, what sorts of programs come to mind? Many people instantly think of courses like health care aide, office administration, and computer networking. And while those certainly exist, the full range of course offerings is far more diverse than you might imagine.
Keep reading to learn about some unique career college programs that often go unnoticed but offer a specialized education leading to exciting career prospects.
After earning a degree in advertising in the Phillippines and spending years working in sales, customer service, and business development, Marikit Dela Cruz was looking to enhance her skills specifically in the area of supply chain management.
Herzing’s program was available online, which made it easier to fit both work and study into her schedule. So she took a chance and enrolled.
By the time she graduated in March 2023, she had already secured a job as a purchasing assistant with the very same company where she’d done her internship!
We caught up with Marikit to find out what she thought of her Herzing experience and what advice she would pass on to other students.
Here’s her story.
Updated January 2023
The global economy depends on getting products from point A to point B in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective way. That’s why people who specialize in supply chain management are in such high demand.
In a survey by the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), almost two-thirds of Canadian supply chain professionals landed their current position within three months of starting their search. What’s more, most of those individuals enjoy their work: in a separate survey by ASCM and Supply Chain Canada, 69 per cent of respondents were happy with their jobs, rating their satisfaction at least eight on a scale of one to 10.
Think this field might be right for you? Not sure about how to begin? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to start a career in supply chain management.
Updated November 2022
If you’re interested in working in business, you’re definitely not alone. Business-related programs are consistently among the most popular choices for students.
Much of the appeal stems from the wide variety of fast-growing, in-demand jobs—even for those just starting out.
Weighing your options for business careers? Wondering which entry-level roles are in high demand across Canada?
We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’re focusing on six entry-level business jobs that are trending up right now across the country.
Keep reading for details on what each role involves and what it takes to get started.
Updated December 2022
Every product you see on a store shelf or online took a long and winding journey through a supply chain. Before a single pair of jeans can end up in your closet, for instance, it must go through a complex process of material sourcing, production, warehousing, and distribution.
Supply chain management is about coordinating each step of that process. Supply chain training teaches you how to do that, so your employer can save money and serve customers better.
Students learn what it takes to get a product from point of origin to point of consumption, including how to solve challenges, deal with clients, negotiate with suppliers, organize warehousing, transportation logistics, etc.
Supply chain degree programs are available, but this post focuses on a quicker path to employment—a supply chain diploma. Diplomas are built around the practical skills you need to get started in the industry.
So what exactly will you learn in a supply chain diploma program? Here are five key areas covered in class.
Updated December 2022
Supply chain management is a vast field. Think about the process a single piece of clothing or technology goes through, from point of origin to your local store shelf.
There are raw materials to source, a manufacturing process, warehousing, distribution, global transportation logistics, and local delivery networks.
At each stage, there are contracts to be made, negotiations, problem-solving, costs to manage, orders to track, and clients to update.
Supply chain management is a highly complex, global industry with many areas of specialization and potential career paths.
Updated December 2022
Perhaps a more accurate title for this blog post would be: “Is Supply Chain Management a Good Career Choice...For You.”
Because “good” is obviously a relative term and there's no easy answer.
Some people choose a career based on demand and salary. Others are looking for a challenge or something they really feel passionate about.
In some cases, fast training is the top priority.
It really depends on how you define "good" and what's important to you. So in this post, we’re covering all the bases.
We’ll break down how the supply chain industry works, training programs, career options, certifications, advancement opportunities, salaries, and required skills.
Is supply chain management the right career for you? These are the six points you should consider when making your decision.
William Rapisarda teaches the online Supply Chain Management program at Herzing, and is an Associate Category Manager with Cabela's Canada
We started offering a Supply Chain Management program at Herzing a couple of years ago, when we saw big demand in the field across Manitoba.
But the truth is, not many people are aware of how fast this industry is growing...or what supply chain management even is!
We got so many questions about the training, career path, and job options that we decided to bring in an expert to answer them.
Who better to ask than William Rapisarda? He teaches the Supply Chain Management program at Herzing and has been working in the field for almost 25 years.
What part does negotiation play in supply chain management?
It's actually quite simple. If you work in purchasing or procurement, a key part of your role will be to track inventory levels and order new components, equipment, or raw materials as needed so your employer can fulfill orders coming in from clients.
This means identifying the best suppliers for the products you need and negotiating the best deal you can in terms of price, quality, service, conditions, etc.
In most cases, you'll talk to several different suppliers and compare deals before deciding on who your company will do business with.
Demand for procurement specialists, purchasing agents and officers is steady from coast-to-coast in Canada, according to the latest data from the Government of Canada Job Bank.
Waves of retirements, a shortage of trained job candidates, and growth in the supply chain industry is creating opportunities for new grads in this role—and in other areas of supply chain management, such as logistics and transportation and materials/inventory sourcing.
Considering heading back to school to earn a supply chain management diploma? Wondering what kinds of career paths you might pursue after training?
