Industry  Insights    with  

 Steve  Bredemeyer

Charlotte Flatley International Recruitment Specialist

The  Industry  Insider •  Name: Steve Bredemeyer •  Position: Sourcing Manager •  Company: Horizon Power •  Website: www.horizonpower.com.au

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Tell us briefly about Horizon Power and your position as Sourcing Manager. Horizon Power is a State Government-owned, commercially-focused Corporation that provides high quality, safe and reliable power to approximately 100,000 residents and 10,000 businesses, including major industry, across regional and remote Western Australia. Horizon Power is responsible for generating, procuring, distributing and retailing electricity supplies.

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•  As Sourcing Manager: o  Lead the business in the development of commercial arrangements with

suppliers to meet commercial, operational, and corporate objectives and deliver operational excellence in the acquisition of goods and services.

o  Develop clear category management plans to support business objectives and deliver operational requirements (working closely with the Supply Chain Manager to incorporate supply chain solutions).

o  Oversee the contract development and management system, identifying and implementing business improvements.

o  Manage Sourcing related Polices and Guidelines. o  Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships and market

intelligence, while monitoring supplier and product performance.

o  Lead the development of effective procurement planning across the business.

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What are the three most important things you look for on a resume & how long do you feel a good resume should be? •  A concise career objective •  Strong relevant employment history including

stability/longevity •  Evidence of skills and/or experience that directly link

to selection criteria

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How important do you feel cover letters are? •  For me, quite important. •  A cover letter that demonstrates the person has

thought about and customised their application is important.

•  I look for evidence that they have considered the role and can evidence their most relevant skills and experience.

•  No more than one page. •  I also prefer agencies that provide career summary

cover sheets.

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In your experience what do you see as the most common mistake people make on a resume? •  Too long. •  Too much detail. •  Things they think are noteworthy (and might be

awesome achievements) but are simply not relevant to the position they are applying for.

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In interviews, what is the most common mistake you see candidates make & how would you advise them with regards to preparation? •  Not answering the question ... even when prompted to

try again. It frustrates me that the tried and tested STAR method (which I believe is equally useful for both behavioural and skills based questions) is not known or ignored by many candidates.

•  I would advise candidates to consider examples of their work that address common situational type questions where evidence of achievement is being sought by the interviewer(s).

•  They should remember to give useful and concise examples of what they have actually done not what they can do.

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What would be your advice to prospective candidates on the best way to promote & differentiate themselves in your current market? •  Get rid of Facebook and get a LinkedIn profile

instead. •  Build your network, illustrate your skills/experience/

achievements and seek credible recommendations.

•  Quote your LinkedIn profile on your resume and make sure others can see it.

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How effective do you think LinkedIn is in recruiting and searching for candidates in your market? •  I think LinkedIn is invaluable throughout your

career ... not just when seeking new opportunities.

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What type of skill sets within your organisation are most likely to be needed in the next 1 - 3 years? Of these skill sets which is seen as being the hardest to source and what is being done to address it? •  In my own area of expertise (Procurement, Sourcing,

Contracts) I believe there will be increased demand. Whilst tier 1 enterprises globally have largely recognised the value and impact on profitability of an efficient and effective supply chain and procurement practices, many sizeable tier 2 companies are still working to exploit and unlock value in these areas.

•  I believe in the next 1-3 years, particularly as the capital investment phase of Australia’s “boom” slows, there will be increased demand for procurement, sourcing and supply chain professionals who can engage operational, strategy and finance stakeholders to seek out time, money and/or quality improvements.

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