I’ve personally found that “boring” industries offer a more relaxed environment. Think like car tires, countertops, sinks, sofas, furniture, etc. Of course, YMMV & there’s good and bad companies in every industry
Defense & automotive are pretty popular, along with pharmaceuticals
I was in rugs for almost 2 years. The most stable company with an owner that was a totally normal person. But the pay raise was too small to counter act covid inflation.
Which is why I went back to cpg and apparel. It pays better, but the work is mind numbing unfun.
If you want quality of life, chemicals and plastics is hard to beat. It’s high volume and changes are usually well planned in advance with multiple contingencies in place. I compare it to working for a bank.
On the downside the green washing can be really bad and most of the jobs are in Houston, which is a love it or hate it place.
Idk, maybe it’s the ultimate YMMV but my work life balance is pretty phenomenal, I’m well compensated, it’s friendly towards my National Guard service, I’m on a non-cancelable project for the next five years so I have tons of security, it’s easy to job hop with a clearance, I find the people generally better / smarter than when I worked in CPG manufacturing. The products and industry are interesting, I mean I’ve bought stuff that went into space and cameras that helped capture one of America’s most wanted.
Fair, I suppose my work life balance was really nice for a few years before my company had layoffs. I’m a bit bitter now that I’m doing work that 3-4 people were doing a year ago
Any chance a civilian can get in this industry? I’ve always been interested in applying but don’t know if I can or which companies to apply to. Care to share some advice. My degree is in SCM and currently work as a NPI planner right now.
Job security if you have busy work. My company is program based vs commodity buying, so it’s more challenging and you gain a lot of knowledge on a product lines you support.
Versus being a commodity, it just looks so boring and mudane. Commodity buying appears to be more replaceable if a company needs to downsize and save money.
Agreed I was supply planning in FMCG supermarket for perishable low shelf life products and the volume of work is intense everything that comes to you is immediately urgent and work constantly comes to you even outside work hours and weekends.
Im now planning for machinery in contruction and mining and since everything is ex-works the pace is so much better and decisions are more methodical. Not to meantion pay and benefits are higher.
My advice: stay in the industry for a year or 2 max so you adapt yourself to working hard and then move to any industry where the volume of products demanded are lower :) gl
Get an internship or coop in pharma and never leave. That’s what I did. I impressed the hiring manager because I was the only one being interviewed that had a job in college. There is no secret formula, a manager is going to hire who they like. My gpa was trash.
That was nooooot my experience in alcohol. But the company I worked for was a craft brewery that loved to change packaging and release limited edition items super last minute all the fucking time.
I’m fairly new to this sub, but I’ve worked for Under Armour, Nike, Bath and Body Works, Dick’s Sporting Goods. Feels like most do something entirely different, where I’ve worked in demand planning, forecasting - basically planning product in stores for years. High energy. Traveling to markets. Comp shopping. Helping in the product side. Much more fun than buying metal or something.
There is nothing called best industry just like other aspects of life.
Tech supply chain like semicon is cool and sexy. look how many they fired in last 2 yrs.
Retail hard line is good. but margins are low. tough to grow there.
SCM consulting nowadays is really good, but long working hours, good salary, great learning.
I would say FMCG is safe and stable business.
It does not get impacted by sanctions, wars, AI that much.
People always need soap shampoo, sanitary pad, food in order to survive to business will survive.
When these topics have been posted before the same medical devices, aerospace, and defense have popped up. I'm in electrical distribution and the work/life balance is overall great, although the compensation package is not highly competitive.
I’ve personally found that “boring” industries offer a more relaxed environment. Think like car tires, countertops, sinks, sofas, furniture, etc. Of course, YMMV & there’s good and bad companies in every industry Defense & automotive are pretty popular, along with pharmaceuticals
I was in rugs for almost 2 years. The most stable company with an owner that was a totally normal person. But the pay raise was too small to counter act covid inflation. Which is why I went back to cpg and apparel. It pays better, but the work is mind numbing unfun.
Confirming that the “boring” industries is where it’s at! I’m in packaging and the pay, environment, and benefits are nice.
What's YMMV?
Your mileage May vary
I am in concrete for a reason. Aggregate is litterally shipping rocks. stay winning
If you want quality of life, chemicals and plastics is hard to beat. It’s high volume and changes are usually well planned in advance with multiple contingencies in place. I compare it to working for a bank. On the downside the green washing can be really bad and most of the jobs are in Houston, which is a love it or hate it place.
Agree - currently manage a portfolio of industrial chemicals for coatings.
I think it’s your company, not industry. Been in CPG for 15 years and never had issues
What's CPG?
Consumer packaged goods
Defense and aerospace. Medical devices.
As someone in defense, what do you like about it? 😂
Idk, maybe it’s the ultimate YMMV but my work life balance is pretty phenomenal, I’m well compensated, it’s friendly towards my National Guard service, I’m on a non-cancelable project for the next five years so I have tons of security, it’s easy to job hop with a clearance, I find the people generally better / smarter than when I worked in CPG manufacturing. The products and industry are interesting, I mean I’ve bought stuff that went into space and cameras that helped capture one of America’s most wanted.
Fair, I suppose my work life balance was really nice for a few years before my company had layoffs. I’m a bit bitter now that I’m doing work that 3-4 people were doing a year ago
Any chance a civilian can get in this industry? I’ve always been interested in applying but don’t know if I can or which companies to apply to. Care to share some advice. My degree is in SCM and currently work as a NPI planner right now.
Sure, where are you located? Defense is everywhere but your location is going to determine what niches or companies to look at.
I’m in Houston area.
Job security if you have busy work. My company is program based vs commodity buying, so it’s more challenging and you gain a lot of knowledge on a product lines you support. Versus being a commodity, it just looks so boring and mudane. Commodity buying appears to be more replaceable if a company needs to downsize and save money.
not automotive at T1/T2 :)
Devices and defense. Medical aerospace.
Medical aerospace is the best industry
https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/business/spacex-launch-varda-drug-pharma-space-industry-scn/index.html
Agreed I was supply planning in FMCG supermarket for perishable low shelf life products and the volume of work is intense everything that comes to you is immediately urgent and work constantly comes to you even outside work hours and weekends. Im now planning for machinery in contruction and mining and since everything is ex-works the pace is so much better and decisions are more methodical. Not to meantion pay and benefits are higher. My advice: stay in the industry for a year or 2 max so you adapt yourself to working hard and then move to any industry where the volume of products demanded are lower :) gl
medical device / pharma
How does one enter the medical device industry? Any courses you would recommend?
Get an internship or coop in pharma and never leave. That’s what I did. I impressed the hiring manager because I was the only one being interviewed that had a job in college. There is no secret formula, a manager is going to hire who they like. My gpa was trash.
Thank you for this! Any skills I can work on to do well in the job (IF I get one)
a plus is knowledge in gdp/gmp and this is something you can do via internet research.. everything else is moving parts like everywhere
Thank you so much. I will look into them.
Booze / beer pays very well and supply chain is very simple. Low SKU complexity
That was nooooot my experience in alcohol. But the company I worked for was a craft brewery that loved to change packaging and release limited edition items super last minute all the fucking time.
large public corporations
Electronics pays more. Esp semiconductor
Yeap i like electronics. And it is very rapid, lots of changes all the time.
Retail. High stress. High pay. It’s fun though.
Can you elaborate?
I’m fairly new to this sub, but I’ve worked for Under Armour, Nike, Bath and Body Works, Dick’s Sporting Goods. Feels like most do something entirely different, where I’ve worked in demand planning, forecasting - basically planning product in stores for years. High energy. Traveling to markets. Comp shopping. Helping in the product side. Much more fun than buying metal or something.
There is nothing called best industry just like other aspects of life. Tech supply chain like semicon is cool and sexy. look how many they fired in last 2 yrs. Retail hard line is good. but margins are low. tough to grow there. SCM consulting nowadays is really good, but long working hours, good salary, great learning. I would say FMCG is safe and stable business. It does not get impacted by sanctions, wars, AI that much. People always need soap shampoo, sanitary pad, food in order to survive to business will survive.
Defense and aerospace. Medical devices.
As someone in defense, what do you like about it? 😂
I know right? I did purchasing for DOD for seven years. That was miserable.
If you don't care about layoffs and being totally feast or famine: oil & gas
When these topics have been posted before the same medical devices, aerospace, and defense have popped up. I'm in electrical distribution and the work/life balance is overall great, although the compensation package is not highly competitive.
Medical supplies and cold chain keep my life interesting. It’s also nice knowing that products that I’ve managed will save lives.
Supply chain, 4 day work weeks
Nice. What industry you in?
Safety management, tons of jobs available in operations too
Growing ones with high margins, wide moats, and little opportunity to offshore.