How to attract great supply chain talent

How to attract great supply chain talent

If the supply chain industry is going to attract new and qualified talent, it needs a face lift.  The industry needs to be proactive.  It needs to communicate what it is, what is currently happening within the industry, and what is in store for the future.

Who is responsible for making change possible?  You.

Job seekers turn to the Internet for information. Job seekers not only use the internet to search for job openings, they also use the Internet to research industries, companies, and key players.  The information job seekers gather by looking at websites, blog posts, articles, and social media  shape their opinion and knowledge.  According to the 2013 CareerBuilder Candidate Behavior Study 63 percent of job seekers turn to social media to learn about the employment brand of a company.  Specifically, job seekers look to social media to learn about the culture of a company, to learn if the company is a thought leader, and to determine the authenticity of the employment brand.

supply chain talent

Job seekers are likely seeing sensational headlines like this recent one from ForbesWanted: 1.4 million new supply chain workers by 2018.  But what do they find when they move forward with their search for information on the supply chain industry and on your company?

The reality is that the supply chain industry has been slow to participate in social media and has been remiss when it comes to blogging.  Even more basic, many companies within the supply chain industry do not recognize the value of their website and have created sites which provide little to no helpful information, are difficult to navigate, and are not up to date.

According to the CareerBuilder Study, 91 percent of candidates believe employment brand plays a role in their decision whether or not to apply.

If your company is going to attract great supply chain talent you need to step up to the plate.  Make changes to your website, create and curate great content, and get active on social media.

Great talent is on the Internet.  If you want to attract great talent you need to be there too.

How to attract great supply chain talent

How to attract great supply chain talent

If the supply chain industry is going to attract new and qualified talent, it needs a face lift.  The industry needs to be proactive.  It needs to communicate what it is, what is currently happening within the industry, and what is in store for the future.

Who is responsible for making change possible?  You.

Job seekers turn to the Internet for information. Job seekers not only use the internet to search for job openings, they also use the Internet to research industries, companies, and key players.  The information job seekers gather by looking at websites, blog posts, articles, and social media  shape their opinion and knowledge.  According to the 2013 CareerBuilder Candidate Behavior Study 63 percent of job seekers turn to social media to learn about the employment brand of a company.  Specifically, job seekers look to social media to learn about the culture of a company, to learn if the company is a thought leader, and to determine the authenticity of the employment brand.

supply chain talent

Job seekers are likely seeing sensational headlines like this recent one from ForbesWanted: 1.4 million new supply chain workers by 2018.  But what do they find when they move forward with their search for information on the supply chain industry and on your company?

The reality is that the supply chain industry has been slow to participate in social media and has been remiss when it comes to blogging.  Even more basic, many companies within the supply chain industry do not recognize the value of their website and have created sites which provide little to no helpful information, are difficult to navigate, and are not up to date.

According to the CareerBuilder Study, 91 percent of candidates believe employment brand plays a role in their decision whether or not to apply.

If your company is going to attract great supply chain talent you need to step up to the plate.  Make changes to your website, create and curate great content, and get active on social media.

Great talent is on the Internet.  If you want to attract great talent you need to be there too.

Why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

Why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

Kale is the hippest and trendiest of vegetables.

The dark leafy vegetable has received Bon Appetit’s dish of the year award, it was served at the White House Thanksgiving, and it has received ringing endorsements by celebrities and celebrity chefs.  Kale also has its own T-shirt, lawsuit, and day.  Did I mention the book?  50 Shades of Kale is an Amazon bestseller.

why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

The appearance of kale on restaurant menus has increased by 400 percent since 2008.  A recent Guardian article reported that sales of kale at Marks & Spencer are already up 32 percent on the same period last year and that it expects this rise to continue in the longer term. Similarly, at Waitrose, sales of kale are up 20 percent year on year.

How is it that kale is cool?  Much of it has to do with re-branding – communicating a new image for the vegetable and communicating new (and more flavorful) uses.

The supply chain is suffering from an image problem.  If we are going to attract new talent we need to make an effort to make the supply chain hip.  The supply chain should look to kale for inspiration.  If a leafy green vegetable can realize such a rapid ascent to popularity, so too can the supply chain industry.

Why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

Why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

Kale is the hippest and trendiest of vegetables.

The dark leafy vegetable has received Bon Appetit’s dish of the year award, it was served at the White House Thanksgiving, and it has received ringing endorsements by celebrities and celebrity chefs.  Kale also has its own T-shirt, lawsuit, and day.  Did I mention the book?  50 Shades of Kale is an Amazon bestseller.

why the supply chain industry should look to kale for inspiration

The appearance of kale on restaurant menus has increased by 400 percent since 2008.  A recent Guardian article reported that sales of kale at Marks & Spencer are already up 32 percent on the same period last year and that it expects this rise to continue in the longer term. Similarly, at Waitrose, sales of kale are up 20 percent year on year.

How is it that kale is cool?  Much of it has to do with re-branding – communicating a new image for the vegetable and communicating new (and more flavorful) uses.

The supply chain is suffering from an image problem.  If we are going to attract new talent we need to make an effort to make the supply chain hip.  The supply chain should look to kale for inspiration.  If a leafy green vegetable can realize such a rapid ascent to popularity, so too can the supply chain industry.

Want to be a great content marketer?  Think like a manufacturer.

Want to be a great content marketer? Think like a manufacturer.

Think like a manufacturer

Gartner’s Jake Sorofman wrote a great piece about building a content supply chain.  His advice for understanding what it takes to use content as a tool to grow your business: think like a manufacturer.

Why?  Sorofman connects the dots:

Manufacturing is actually an instructive example for what it takes to scale and sustain a content marketing program. Why? Because content marketing requires a replenishing pipeline of engaging content—a content supply chain—that helps feed the beast every day.

The following table (adapted Sorofman’s article) further illustrates the parallel between manufacturing and content marketing.

content and manufacturing

How can you successfully replenish your content supply chain and grow your business?

Strategy.  As in manufacturing, strategy is essential when it comes to content.  Without a strategy in place your content efforts will fall flat and will not help you grow your business.  Want to learn more about creating a content strategy that will drive profitable customer action?  Download our eBook: Grow your business with content: 12 steps to a content strategy.




 

Want to be a great content marketer?  Think like a manufacturer.

Want to be a great content marketer? Think like a manufacturer.

Think like a manufacturer

Gartner’s Jake Sorofman wrote a great piece about building a content supply chain.  His advice for understanding what it takes to use content as a tool to grow your business: think like a manufacturer.

Why?  Sorofman connects the dots:

Manufacturing is actually an instructive example for what it takes to scale and sustain a content marketing program. Why? Because content marketing requires a replenishing pipeline of engaging content—a content supply chain—that helps feed the beast every day.

The following table (adapted Sorofman’s article) further illustrates the parallel between manufacturing and content marketing.

content and manufacturing

How can you successfully replenish your content supply chain and grow your business?

Strategy.  As in manufacturing, strategy is essential when it comes to content.  Without a strategy in place your content efforts will fall flat and will not help you grow your business.  Want to learn more about creating a content strategy that will drive profitable customer action?  Download our eBook: Grow your business with content: 12 steps to a content strategy.