What can you do with an operations and supply chain management degree?

Your study of Operations and Supply Chain Management will provide you with knowledge and skills that are valuable to employers, both in terms of directly-relevant technical skills in addition to broader soft skills, such as:

Degrees relating to Operations and Supply Chain Management can prepare you for very specific and/or technical career options, in addition to equipping you with skills that will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities. Roles within Operations and Supply Chain Management can be varied and exciting, requiring adaptability in sometimes pressured environments. Due to the nature of Operations and Supply Chain Management you could choose to work in many different areas of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

Job options that relate directly to these degrees include:

Some of the sectors where these roles may be particularly prominent include: engineering and manufacturing; food science and technology; textile and trade industries. However, with so many different goods and products exported between countries on a daily basis you could work for any number of different companies. Additionally, roles in Operations can be found across the public, private and charity/third sectors, opening up a huge range of opportunities throughout your career from Universities to food manufacturing and distribution companies and animal rescue charities, to name just a few.

You could also apply the broader skills developed during your degree to many other opportunities: it is estimated that although graduate employers often specify a minimum degree classification as part of their shortlisting, approximately 70% of graduate employers do not specify that you must have studied a particular subject to work for them. However, graduate employers do highly prize skills such as strategic planning, resilience under pressure, creative problem-solving and commercial awareness which are some of the key skills you can develop during your course. Therefore, you could use your degree to access work in a multitude of sectors or industries.

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options .

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources .

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops .

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to operations and supply chain management, such as the very active Shipping Society or broader Business Society/Enactus, or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.