Vendor Managed Inventory Coordinator

As in any negotiation the person who says the number first is at a disadvantage. You can try and say you are interested in the job and you are sure salary is fair and commensurate with industry levels. If pushed you say you are looking for a "total compensation package in the range of ___to____". In some companies they will insist on a W2 form so don't lie about current salary.

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.

To do this role, a candidate typically must have experience in dealing with complex requirements that align to strategic level business objectives. Describe how you have effectively handled relationships with executives, managed projects and conducted marketing and financial analysis. You should emphasize your sourcing and negotiation skills. Because success in this type of role tends to require a collaborative approach, you might also describe teams you have managed. Expand upon the details of your resume and don't gloss over the challenges.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As an experienced professional, you are bound to have a portfolio, and this is the right time to share such a portfolio with the interviewer. Make sure that the portfolio you share is authentic as your previous portfolio will decide whether the interviewer will be interested in you or not.

While gaps have been more common during the recession you need to show doing something of value. It could include improving your skills, certifications or connections. Building relationships as a volunteer is a usual answer, but you need to show how you were productive. Play down the vacation, reflection time, etc. If you did consulting work build up the value of what you got out of it. Don't disclose how little you might have been paid.

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.

Interviewers asking this question are looking for stories that will prove you have these necessary soft skills for the job. Make sure to brainstorm stories about your former project management roles in anticipation for this question and use them as a confirmation that you have the mediation skills that these hiring managers are looking for.

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.

Cite the specific tools and how you've used them. If you have used a system the company employs, mention your experience to the hiring manager. If you're not familiar with the technology the employer uses, discuss how you plan to get up to speed quickly.

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.

A good interview question for a strategic sourcing manager often involves strategy building. If you can determine how competitive the supplier marketplace is, how supportive your internal stakeholders are and what you can leverage for better pricing or terms, and if you can explain how to reduce complexity, increase productivity, reduce costs and create improvements, you'll be viewed in a positive light. Cite specific examples of cost reductions you've negotiated as a result of your strategic sourcing.

First of all, I acknowledge the positions regarding the task. I break down the tasks in a Ben Franklin fashion with Pros on one side and Cons on the other. After reviewing both sides, I recommend taking a consensus vote to confirm the pros outweighing the cons.

As a project manager one has to deal with uncertainties all the time. It is thus important for a project manager to identify and prioritize critical risks and appropriate mitigation actions required in fuzzy environments, and communicate adequately and appropriately. It is equally important to manage others' concerns in changing environments and enable change. To assess competency in this area, it is best to ask scenario based questions.