Vendor Managed Inventory Coordinator Interview Preparation Guide

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Employers want to know details about your experience conducting strategic sourcing activities. This provides an opportunity for you to explain how organization's divide their spending into categories that relate to supplier markets and how categories are then further divided by business or function. This helps to identify the best supplier. Once you fully understand the categories, you can assess the supplier market by preparing a survey to evaluate supplier capabilities. Then, you can build a strategy, request proposals or bids, and select and negotiate a contract. Finally, communicate with your new suppliers. Your ability to explain this clearly can get you the job.

Project Managers are responsible for understanding the need of the customer, and responding in a timely, efficient manner to meet customer expectations. They are also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships, and gaining the trust and respect of customers. Here are a couple of questions I usually ask to gauge the candidate's customer orientation.

Since business analysis is an evolving and multifaceted profession, hiring managers want to know that you are aware of the necessary skills for success. You probably have your own list, but make sure to highlight both technical and nontechnical attributes you can bring to the job.

The job description should provide clues as to what types of skills the employer is looking for on both fronts - especially technical requirements. Learning what you can about the company culture prior to the interview can also provide insight on interpersonal abilities that will likely be valued.

Everyone wants to believe that they can handle every project, but the reality is that most project managers are best suited for a narrow project management role. If you tell your future employer that you love working on everything, that communicates that a) you might not know what you're talking about or b) you're unwilling to communicate weaknesses. Neither of these traits reflect well on you.

Instead, be honest. Are you more of a software development person? Do you do well with creative media campaigns? Would you rather lie down and die than work on a construction project? Let your interviewer know; both they and your future self will thank you for it.

The best way to answer this question is by sharing with the interviewer project management techniques and methods you've successfully employed on past projects. This will allow you to support your answer using your own personal experience. It's wise to show the interviewer that you don't necessarily use a one-size-fits-all approach to project management by sharing a few examples of projects you've managed which required a different approach. You want show the interviewer that you're familiar with proven project management methodologies, but that you're flexible and will adapt your approach to the demands of a particular project.

Interviewers want to see that as a project manager you take the time and initiative to understand the unique aspects, demands, risks and requirements of each project, and that you don't apply the same "cookie cutter" framework to every problem.

Tell how you used your relationships within the organization to gain support or shift the thinking. It could be a new idea for training, product development or sales. Show how you presented it then how you worked around those that found it negative. Explain how you have used this experience to further improve.

Being a good strategic sourcing manager involves monitoring inventory levels and negotiating with vendors and business partners. Networking with other business professionals demonstrates an interest in a broad perspective and continuous improvement. If you have a credential from the American Purchasing Society, the Association for Operations Management and the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, mention it in response to this question. Some companies may be interested in the Project Management Professional credential from the Project Management Institute.

You've done some soul searching, weren't completely fulfilled or your talents weren't being utilized enough in the current industry and realized this was the right path for you. I've had clients say that to employers and they were impressed they had taken the time to really find their direction and that they had such focus. Another reason could be they want to add to their skill set.

Rarely is an inexperienced person taken in as a project manager. Any project manager would have at least two or three years of experience either as an employee or as a project manager. Therefore, this is one of the basic questions asked. Make sure that you give a brief and concise answer to this question, without going too much into the details. Also, make sure that everything you say as an answer to this question is factual.

Be honest here but you don't need to lay it all out either, for example if you and your boss didn't get along. Don't bash your former employer. It could be the culture, it could be there was little room for career progression, you didn't agree with the vision of the company say what it is, then move quickly to focusing on what you want instead.