<p>I have an interview this friday with the county’s Purchasing and Supply Management Inventory manager.</p>
<p>Typically, what does an inventory manager do? What type of questions could he possibly ask? I’m guessing it’s very business related, but as a high school student it’s not like I have heavy business-related extracurriculars or anything. </p>
<p>This is an internship that I landed through a program - I was assigned to this department when I said I was interested in “office work and business” but there is a possibility that it might be nothing like office work or business - my friend who asked for a teen-interaction internship got babysitting!</p>
<p>Can anyone who is familiar with this type of occupation inform me as to what my interview will entail? </p>
<p>I don’t think you really need to worry about the specifics of what an inventory manager does. My guess is that he is going to be concerned with things like:</p>
<ul>
<li>Are you trustworthy?</li>
<li>Will you come to work and be on time?</li>
<li>Can you follow instructions?</li>
<li>Will you be lazy or will you stay busy?</li>
<li>Can you get along well with others?</li>
<li>Can you follow-through with a hard task or do you get frustrated and quit?</li>
</ul>
<p>I bet he will ask you what kinds of things you do in school and for hobbies. But he will be trying to find out the answers to the above questions. But, just relax and be honest. Good luck.</p>
<p>Inventory specialists have to keep track of supplies and place orders for supplies so that the company doesn’t run out.</p>
<p>Being reliable, well organized, efficient, and having good critical thinking skills are helpful. Critical thinking skills means being able to predict, for instance, which supplies will be needed in the future. </p>
<p>For instance, someone ordering supplies for a department store in the northern parts of this country, would have the good sense to be placing orders for winter clothes and back to school supplies so those things would be available in the story by Aug. even though the weather still would be hot outside.</p>
<p>And also…learn as much about the company you are going to interview with as possible. This may provide you with information about how they move their product and give you insight into your job. Good luck!</p>
<p>When you have a job interview, asking the interviewer to explain his job and what your role in it would be is a very good question for YOU to ask. </p>
<p>Our inventory manager is responsible for making sure we re-order existing products before we run out (but not ordering too much) and determining what new products we should order. It’s a VERY difficult job, because the goal is to have product to sell that creates the maximum profit. Money tied up in inventory that doesn’t sell isn’t making profit.</p>