You’ve graduated from college with a degree in supply chain. Congratulations! You’ve made an excellent choice—the supply chain industry is up and coming.

Your first hurdle is going through the interview process to get your first supply chain job. Knowing that supply chain has become a competitive industry, are you ready for those interviews?

Some of the questions are going to be pretty basic:

• Can you give an example of how you improved a supply chain?
• How do you see your supply chain experience benefiting this organization?
• What makes you a good candidate for this position?

Practice your answers so that you can prove that even with limited on-the-job experience, you have the knowledge to do the job.

The questions may get more difficult when supply chain employers are trying to determine whether you have the “soft” skills to succeed in this field. They may ask you about:

• Problem-Solving – When you work in supply chain, unexpected problems can crop up on a daily basis. Your interviewers may ask how you would handle a routing change. They may ask for an example of how you would handle a problem like a supplier not meeting shipping deadlines or bad weather delaying a shipment.
• Analytical Skills – To stay competitive, companies have to move materials promptly and cost efficiently. An interviewer may ask you to give an example of a process improvement that will help you save money and avoid delays. Think about what kind of reports or analysis tools you would use to identify weak areas and find solutions.
• Communication – In supply chain, you will probably have to exchange information with others in different time zones or deal with language barriers. Interviewers might ask how you would handle communication barriers or what you would say to an angry customer or an unhappy service provider, especially one who speaks another language.
• Global Perspective – Supply chain is becoming ever more global, so companies are having to think about cultural diversity and differences. Make sure you’ve brushed up on your knowledge of world events or new international trade regulations in the supply chain.

Do you feel you could use more interview preparation? Call or contact the team at ZDA Supply Chain Recruiting. We are happy to share our expertise and knowledge of the supply chain industry with professionals at all levels!