You’re starting a new job in Supplier Sourcing. How can you make a great first impression?

Just got into a new role in Supplier Sourcing? Hit the ground running by knowing your company's supplier landscape inside out. Actively participate in meetings, displaying you're eager to learn and provide input. Build rapport and networks with your team and stakeholders through well-developed communication skills and understanding of the sourcing process. Ask to meet the suppliers from the beginning and do not shy away from making suggestions.

Get under the skin of the business before you begin any strategic sourcing. Speak to key stakeholders, visit sites, explore how things are done and ask lots of questions. Understand the supplier base and analyse how much is being spent and with who every year. Look at the contract landscape to see which contracts are up for renewal and whether they should be renewed/retendered/terminated. Look at the category strategies if there are any in place to ascertain if they are fit for purpose and up to date. If not seek to refresh them and ensure that stakeholders are bought into them and engaged throughout the process. It is vital that they also own the strategy behind each category when it comes to implementation.

Hopefully you will have done some homework on the company beforehand and learnt a little about the new company and its structure. Once you arrive be Enthusiastic, demonstrate professionalism, most importantly be open and willing to learn. Read all company policies and understand them. Ask questions where relevant........ The rest will come to you in time

I totally agree that you initially need to understand the goals and objectives of the organisation and that any sourcing strategy is aligned with delivering these expectations. It is also imperative to understand how procurement has historically approached delivering these objectives and how successful or otherwise the strategy worked. Furthermore, how mature is the function in adding value and gaining a competitive advantage.

As a sourcing agent in any business I must know up and down of the product. I should know my USP and my targeted audience. Because without an audience we cannot sell any product

It is very important to make a great first impression. And going through, you need to build trust for sustaining long term great relationships

First things first. You shall dig up the data internally. Analyze first. What is the nature of business. How many the spending. Who are the key supplier. How is the payment term. Etc. In short. Scan and Map first. Second. Analyze Deeper. Number is important but insight shall be the one you chase out. Please make sure that the Supplier Sourcing shall be inline with businessess. Not otherwise. Once you have all the data shout it out loud into supplier sourcing strategy. This one is one different things.

I like meeting with management and internal stakeholders early and asking "What do you expect from me in the first 30/60/90 days?". It helps give you benchmarks to be working towards, shows that you want to partner with them successfully, and set reasonable expectations for what you can accomplish in the first few months as you're getting up to speed.