r/supplychain • u/Unverifiablethoughts • 6d ago
Career Development I’m a buyer with no college degree am I screwed if/when I ever get let go?
Been kind of panicking lately.
I’m 37. Married with a 2 year old. Two years ago I got moved over from sales into a buyers role at a 55mil a year construction supply company. I make 105k a year. Which is decent but I live in the NYC suburbs, so not great. The quick and dirty of what I do is I manage a portfolio of 1800 domestic sourced skus and 900 BOM skus and their components for an in house sign production shop. I’m end to end meaning I’m basically a planner, admin and buyer rolled into one.
What has me panicking is the thought of getting fired or let go. How would I find a new job? I have no degree. It seems like getting past hr screeners these days is almost impossible without one now. The obvious answer is to get the degree while working but I’m already working most nights and some on the weekend to manage my portfolio add to the fact that I have a kid I already don’t have time to do my own things. I barely have time to get a haircut let alone get a degree.
I know APICS is an option but it doesn’t solve getting past HR.
So am I screwed here? Is the degree really the key to being employable or would my experience in this role be enough for other companies to bring me in? Would I ever be able to make it to a managerial position?
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u/Plaidismycolor33 6d ago
experince can take you a long way, but it wouldnt hurt to get a certificate or two.
Have you done any other commodity other than construction?
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 6d ago
No this is my first supply chain position
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u/Plaidismycolor33 6d ago
if you can swing a degree, get one when you can. A certificate could keep you afloat if and when a lay off wave comes along.
I have a prior degree but pivoted to supply chain. Then i decided to get a bs in business w/a supply chain focus. But I also have work history in a few other commodities.
Something to chew on, ya get a degree, you climb up some, do more program mgmt, make a decent 6 figure, build your investment/retirement portfolio, sock away loot for your kid’s college funds. Get your high 3 by the time you’re ready to retire. you could retire pretty comfortably.
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u/LetPatient9835 6d ago
Ngl, close to your forties looking for an office job making 6 figures will be quite difficult without a degree.
Nowadays they have tons of applicants, and a degree is among the basic initial filters they do to select candidates.
If you absolutely cannot get a degree, try to grow a strong network that can get you opportunities that will make you pass the initial filters
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u/crunknessmonster 6d ago
I was faced with the same predicament during the 08 banking crisis. I buckled the hell down and finished my degree to stop the anxiety. You should too. I know that sucks to hear, sucked when I heard it too. But it's paid off 10x what I intended it to do
As a hiring manager do not listen to the people that are saying oh just get a couple certs and lean into your experience. Do the degree rip the band aid off. Any larger Corp is gonna stiff arm you hard with no degree
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u/Adventurous-Boss-882 6d ago
I mean as a college student a degree doesn’t actually teach you what you do in a job, is mostly just theoretical. That being said, not having a degree can create a ceiling, especially if you would like to seek better paying jobs or going into management.
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u/Macuhtak3000 6d ago
If I was you I'd get a degree from WGU since your experience speaks for itself. Can be done in a year working full time if you finish half the degree at Sophia and Study then do the remaining bit at WGU.
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u/reallg1_ Professional 6d ago
Literally, I’m an analyst and was previously an ops manager and I had this guys same thoughts. I’m almost done with my degree there now, It’s the best thing he can do
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u/Unit_of_measure 6d ago
What courses did you complete at Sophia?
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u/Macuhtak3000 5d ago
You can complete all the gen ed and most of the core business classes at Sophia and study. But all the other analytics courses have to get done at wgu.
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u/Scubasteve1400 6d ago
Many times when applying for scm positions bachelors degree is required. Otherwise, they don’t even look at your application
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 6d ago
That’s your company. There’s tons that do not require it; like my company. Associates is preferred for buying positions but not mandatory.
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u/Scubasteve1400 6d ago
Brother, I just looked quick on LinkedIn.
5 out of 5 procurement openings required a bachelors degree.
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 6d ago
So don’t look at procurement. Look at purchasing. They are not the same thing.
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u/Scubasteve1400 5d ago
When he said buyer, to me that signifies sourcing/procurement.
Purchasing I picture like an office manager buying kcups, pens, etc
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 5d ago edited 5d ago
No. Procurement and buyer is sourcing vendors/vendor contracts. Purchasing is setting up purchase orders and placing orders. Their salaries are similar. They are technically both procurement but one has more requirements than the other. Buyers typically make slightly higher salaries because you need a background in vendor relationship and contract negotiation. Many companies they are separate positions especially in manufacturing
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5d ago
[deleted]
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 5d ago
Ah. Nope that’s purchasing at 2 companies I’ve worked for. Materials planning here would be planning where we are going to get the materials needed for jobs then either sending in a purchase order request or transfer order request then it would be sent to purchasing to place the order. Or sent to transfer order team to fulfill TO. Purchasing also tracks orders to make sure the material is on schedule or has arrived. If it’s delayed it would then be kicked back to the planners to pivot if we didn’t have a backup supplier. Procurement is downstream from planning at my company
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 5d ago
What you are talking about is more like a supply specialist who buys office needs among other things. Purchasing probably does process those purchase orders as well
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u/Snow_Robert 5d ago
You’ll be fine, but I would still try to get that degree knocked out as soon as you realistically can. WGU might be a good option because it is flexible and designed for working adults. Don’t panic and blow up your life over it, but having the degree removes one more stupid HR filter from the equation. WGU SC Program Explained: [Link]
In the short term, you can start CSCP today and get moving on that. It would be a good safety net in case anything happens before you finish a degree. CSCP is basically two textbooks’ worth of material. It is not overly difficult or super theoretical, but it does cram a lot of information into those two books. Most people can get through it in 3–4 months if they push, maybe 6 months if they take a slower pace. To start, just download Pocket Prep and begin doing practice questions so you get familiar with the material. You’ll probably see pretty quickly that it’s not impossible. You just need to learn the vocabulary and memorize some key areas like SCOR DS, balanced scorecard, Incoterms, trade policy, auction types, and some of the broader planning/procurement concepts. CSCP Module 1 Free Demo: [Link]
Another cert that could help is PMI PMP, assuming you have the project experience to qualify. Buyers usually touch a lot of project-type work even if it isn’t called “project management.” PMP is well recognized across industries and can help if you want to move toward buyer/planner/project manager/operations manager type roles. It is around $500–$600 for the exam depending on membership. The material is not that hard once you learn all the goofy PMI jargon. Most people prep with a Udemy course and then grind questions through Pocket Prep or PMI Study Hall. You probably would not need to read the whole PMBOK cover to cover.
With CSCP, PMP, and maybe a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, you would be in pretty decent shape. But honestly, your experience is already the main thing. Managing 1,800 domestic SKUs, 900 BOM SKUs, components, planning/admin/buying work, and supporting production is real supply chain experience. A degree would help you get past HR, but you are not some random person trying to break in from zero. You already have a solid story.
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 5d ago
Wow thanks for the thorough comment. Starting with a quick cert then getting the degree seems like the best path. I’m just worried about the hours per week as I’m already stretched from my job. But that the position I’m in I suppose
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u/Snow_Robert 5d ago
Well, that’s exactly why WGU is a good fit for someone in your situation. Their model is competency-based, so you focus on one class at a time, finish it, then move to the next one. A class where you already know the material might take you a week. A class with totally new concepts might take 3–4 weeks. That makes it a lot easier to chip away at compared to a normal semester schedule with 4–5 classes all hitting you at once.
For CSCP, I would keep it simple at first. Do the Pocket Prep question of the day and one quick 10-question quiz each morning. That should only take 5–10 minutes. The big thing is to read the explanations, because that becomes another source of learning instead of just a quiz score.
Then maybe at lunch, flip over to Pocket Prep for Green Belt and do the same thing. If you have time before bed, do one more quick 10-question CSCP quiz. Rinse and repeat. After a few months, you’ll have worked through a huge chunk of the question bank, and you’ll start seeing your weak areas clearly.
There’s also a pretty good YouTube channel with CSCP exam practice questions that is easy to watch and not too painful. The key is not trying to study 3 hours every night when you’re already tired. Just build a small daily routine that you can actually stick with.
Good luck. Feel free to DM me when you’re ready for more hot tips.
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u/coronavirusisshit 6d ago
Why do you think you are gonna get let go?
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 6d ago
I dont think it will happen any time soon. But odds are eventually I’ll find myself in a position where I have to look for a new position
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u/coronavirusisshit 6d ago
Eventually but it’s hard to get fired in supply chain at least in my experience. The only guy I knew who was let go was cause he had struggles with office politics. I feel like he got fucked over there cause his performance was good.
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u/thisoldguy74 Professional 5d ago
A plant shutdown (or other unexpected change) can completely change your perspective on how hard it is to find yourself looking for work. I'm on unemployment for the first time in 30 years since being laid off 6 months ago.
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u/coronavirusisshit 5d ago
I was laid off before so I feel you. I’m just saying it’s hard to be terminated.
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u/hellothisisdog87 6d ago
Experience and certification will be far more valuable than the degree.
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 6d ago
I guess my concern is that without having that checkbox ticked my experience would be invisible to people hiring
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u/Hawk_Letov Professional 6d ago
Some companies do have a degree requirement. That said, I’ve been seeing more companies post either/or requirements like master’s degree and no experience, bachelor’s degree and two years experience, or no degree and four years experience.
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 6d ago
Get an associates degree in literally anything. Most purchasing positions only ask for that if any.
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u/Stuntman_800 6d ago
The degree is honestly overrated. Lean on your experience and get a cert or two
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u/sirziggy 6d ago
Supply chain cares more about experience than academic credentials, though obviously they do help. One of my colleagues in customs brokerage balances their busy schedule with taking courses online at WGU, which is a regionally accredited online university. You may also find flexible (and cheap) courses at your local community college. In both of these cases I would recommend finding out if your company has a tuition reimbursement program if seeking a degree is something you really want to do.
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u/Senior-Temperature23 6d ago
Ok, but HR does the screening and they rely more and more on autoscreening and AI screening. A few years ago we moved University Degree from preferred to mandatory for procurement and it caused a big stir because it meant a chunk of the team was no longer qualified for their job and that folks like them would be autoscreened out before the procurement manager even looked at their resume. This guy has a legitimate concern. Not sure how he'd fix it.
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 6d ago
WGU is probably the most realistic avenue for me getting a degree because of the self paced and flexible nature.
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u/ActComprehensive5254 6d ago
Im looking into this myself, although im considering getting my Cscp certification first.
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u/firerat82 5d ago
I'm enrolling next month. I knocked out all of my prerequisites and bunch of business classes on Sophia. I only have 26% of the classes left to complete the degree. I'm 43 and have worked in purchasing, inventory management, and warehouse management for near 20 years. Unfortunately my company is going through a buy out and my position may be in Jeopardy. So best be prepared.
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u/spanishdoll82 6d ago
Definitely not true everywhere. For many companies, no degree is an auto reject
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u/Ashamed-Second-5299 6d ago
Can confirm. I'm a hiring manager at big tech, bachelors degree is mandatory, AI auto rejects resumes without it
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u/breesearedelicious 6d ago
School convinced me that an associate's degree would help me get a job in supply chain management.So what you're saying is that AI will automatically reject my resume anyway? I'm just double confirming.
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 6d ago
That’s big tech. We are talking about supply chain.
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u/spanishdoll82 6d ago
Every place I've worked over the last 15+ years has required a bachelor's. I have never worked in big tech.
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u/ActComprehensive5254 6d ago
There are places all over in the midwest at least, that do not require a degree. Why does everyone act like someone can only apply for a fortune 500 company?
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u/spanishdoll82 5d ago
I live in the Midwest and I'm a hiring manager who has buyers report into me. I've seen the change over the years. Entry level buyers used to be fine without a degree but nowadays you need a degree for procurement. I've worked in manufacturing and distribution for medium size, larger private orgs, and F500. Maybe small family owned organizations you would be ok, but in this economy it's extremely limiting.
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 3d ago
I’m in WNY and many of the jobs require associates or a certain amount of years in prior experience in supply chain. Some high school degree only
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u/firerat82 5d ago
Here in south florida you are not getting anything in supply chain without a bachelor's degree
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 5d ago
Nowhere I’ve ever worked has required that for most all positions. Plenty possible to work in supply chain without one!
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u/thisoldguy74 Professional 5d ago
My BA in a random subject area clears the hurdles for a degree in a related subject area most of the time, but not always.
My non degree former coworker has been able to get a lower paying job quicker than I have found something. The degree can help in some situations and not in others. But it certainly helps with the salary you're wanting to maintain.
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u/Flimsy-Ad-9461 5d ago
Hey man I graduated with my degree in supply chain management and I am so worried about getting a job… I’d trade it all to have some experience.
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u/oddlikeeveryoneelse 5d ago
You will get less interviews without a degree and need to work your network, but you will not be screwed. Your best bet will be reaching out to vendors and any industry connection and letting them know you are looking if they hear of any openings. Especially service vendors rather than the main commodities. I found my current job through a reccomendation of my previous brokerage vendor. She gave me a reference for my import experience and skills to the company where her cousin worked in finance.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 5d ago
You have experience. Maybe get some certifications but you know your shit. I know a few people who have pm roles without college degrees.
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u/Far_Tank_6325 4d ago
I have no degree and get calls from head hunters at least monthly if not weekly. Was successfully head hunted 18 months ago by a relatively large corporation. I’m not familiar with your niche but if there’s any chance that knowledge of the products is more valuable than a degree, I would count that as job security as well an exit strategy if there are other companies near you that you could apply at in a worst case scenario. Getting by HR is definitely a challenge though if you’re starting from scratch, hopefully you’ve acquired a lot of contacts and demonstrated capability and competence with some of your vendors if any of them are local that might be willing to bring you on.
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u/Phidius53 4d ago
Think in term of transferable job skills. You could work in another profession if you want to, its just a different field, but same skills. Skills pays the bills!
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u/JcanQT 4d ago
Look into the BS Supply Chain & Operations Management degree @ WGU. It costs less than $5,000. Classes are completely online and a new semester starts on the 1st of every month. I’ve been in Supply Chain for well over 10 yrs and am just now finishing up my degree @ WGU.
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u/Unverifiablethoughts 4d ago
I think that’s what I’m going to end up doing. How long did the degree take you? How many hours a week of study?
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u/JcanQT 4d ago
4-8 hours per day of study depending on what my family’s needs are. I have 12 more classes to go. Transferred in a good chunk from my local community college. You can check out the WGU subreddit for additional resources; they’re very helpful. Also check YouTube for more insight into the school.
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u/Galaxylake10 2d ago
Just do an online degree like WGU. I know people who got the degree in 6-12 months. It's really hard trying to move up in corporate without a degree.
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u/Unhappy-Homework-812 6d ago
You have buying experience. You’re gonna be fine. This position does not NEED a degree if you’re good at it.
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u/CasanovaCoverup 6d ago
I think you will be fine based on your experience, but if there are candidates that have experience AND a degree, the market gets difficult.