Supply Chain Management Careers

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

Hey everyone,

I have some questions about supply chain management careers. I am a sophomore and I just switched into the Business Administration major at my school. I am considering getting my concentration in supply chain management, because I think the careers are really interesting…I do have some questions about it though.

  1. What is upward mobility like for supply chain careers? Specifically what are some higher level careers in supply chain management that you can get after working several years in the field? Also, if anyone knew any salaries for these careers that would be awesome.
  2. I have room to get either a minor or another concentration in Business Administration (I already have a psych minor already). I am considering Industrial Engineering for the minor, because I think it would be a good compliment to the supply chain concentration. For an additional concentration I am considering Finance. Do you guys think that the Industrial Engineer minor or the Finance concentration would be more useful for supply chain careers.
  3. Is it possible to make your way into executive level positions with a supply chain background? I think that I have the drive/aptitude to make it to those levels if there is a route available for me to take.
  4. I am considering being an actuary (concentration in Finance & take math classes at my school that are tailored for the actuary exams) if I do not go the supply chain management route. I think that a career as an actuary would be more stable financially and with job security, but a career in supply chain management seems more enjoyable and exciting/less boring to me. If anyone has any 2 cents they'd like to throw in on that too I'd be really interested.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your help!!

2

Anyone?

3

No one has an opinion because you seem to be all over the map. You want to major in supply chain and finance, with minors in psych and industrial engineering (which, btw, doubtful can be a minor), and throw in some actuarial math on the side.

For starters, one does not dabble in actuarial math. You need a serious commitment, not to mention love of higher math and outstanding math skills. Sure it’s a good career, but that’s thanks to a very high barrier to entry. Those actuary exams are like nothing you’ve ever imagined. No exaggeration, hundreds of hours of studying (in addition to your day job) to take an all day test with an incredible failure rate. Then do it again until you pass 10 of them.

As for question 3, recent CEO’s of Apple, Walmart, UPS, and Raytheon (to name just a few) all have backgrounds in supply chain and operations. There are many high level execs in almost all industries that come from supply/operations.

4

Haha yes, I suppose my post is somewhat erratic. Sorry about that. My school offers a minor in Industrial Engineering which is only 4 courses. That is why I was considering the minor or the additional finance concentration.

I do know quite a bit about the exam process for actuary careers and how rigorous it is…I just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts about it. I know that I would definitely not be able to do both the supply chain curriculum and the actuarial curiculum at my school so its definitely one or the other.

Thank you for your insight though, Chardo. I appreciate it!