Wholesale merchant to distribution manager
A wholesale merchant already meets 33% of what the distribution manager role asks for. The move turns on 25 required skills not yet in the profile.
74.8/ 100
1 How much of what a distribution manager is expected to do is already part of a wholesale merchant’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the distribution manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A distribution manager role treats 2 of its required skills as things a wholesale merchant already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- have computer literacy
- plan transport operations
What stands in the way is 25 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 39 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A distribution manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a wholesale merchant background worth leading with.
- already held live animal products agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- already held glassware products engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held meat and meat products engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held flower and plant products natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 39 carried skills, including the 2 the distribution manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 39 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn analyse supply chain trends required
- still to learn carry out inventory control accuracy required
- still to learn track shipments required
- still to learn analyse business plans required
- still to learn carry out statistical forecasts required
- still to learn develop financial statistics reports required
- still to learn manage financial risk required
- still to learn perform financial risk management in international trade required
- still to learn perform risk analysis required
- optional, not held monitor security procedures in warehouse operations optional
- optional, not held monitor stock level optional
- optional, not held oversee freight-related financial documentation optional
- still to learn direct logistical functions required
- still to learn handle carriers required
- still to learn manage freight payment methods required
- still to learn track shipping sites required
- still to learn manage staff required
- still to learn minimise shipping cost required
- still to learn perform multiple tasks at the same time required
- still to learn communicate with shipment forwarders required
- still to learn create solutions to problems required
- still to learn implement strategic planning required
- optional, not held ensure client orientation optional
- optional, not held present reports optional
- optional, not held think proactively optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
- still to learn ensure customs compliance required
- still to learn adhere to organisational guidelines required
- still to learn ensure regulatory compliance concerning distribution activities required
- still to learn hazardous freight regulations required
- still to learn freight transport methods required
- still to learn supply chain management required
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held international import export regulations optional
- optional, not held employment law optional
- optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a distribution manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 analyse supply chain trends practise this
- 02 carry out inventory control accuracy practise this
- 03 communicate with shipment forwarders practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 39 skills that carry over
- already held have computer literacy skill
- already held plan transport operations skill
- already held agricultural equipment knowledge
- already held agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feed products knowledge
- already held beverage products knowledge
- already held chemical products knowledge
- already held clothing and footwear products knowledge
- already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products knowledge
- already held computer equipment knowledge
- already held construction products knowledge
- already held dairy and edible oil products knowledge
- already held electrical household appliances products knowledge
- already held electronic and telecommunication equipment knowledge
- already held fish, crustacean and mollusc products knowledge
- already held flower and plant products knowledge
- already held fruit and vegetable products knowledge
- already held furniture, carpet and lighting equipment products knowledge
- already held glassware products knowledge
- already held hardware, plumbing and heating equipment products knowledge
- already held hides, skins and leather products knowledge
- already held household products knowledge
- already held industrial tools knowledge
- already held live animal products knowledge
- already held machinery products knowledge
- already held meat and meat products knowledge
- already held metal and metal ore products knowledge
- already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
- already held perfume and cosmetic products knowledge
- already held pharmaceutical products knowledge
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products knowledge
- already held textile industry machinery products knowledge
- already held textile products, textile semi-finished products and raw materials knowledge
- already held tobacco products knowledge
- already held types of aircraft knowledge
- already held types of maritime vessels knowledge
- already held waste and scrap products knowledge
- already held watches and jewellery products knowledge
- already held wood products knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held teamwork principles optional
- optional, not held use a warehouse management system optional
- optional, not held manufacture ingredients optional
14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held international import export regulations optional
- optional, not held manufacture ingredients optional
- optional, not held monitor security procedures in warehouse operations optional
- optional, not held monitor stock level optional
- optional, not held oversee freight-related financial documentation optional
- optional, not held employment law optional
- optional, not held ensure client orientation optional
- optional, not held present reports optional
- optional, not held teamwork principles optional
- optional, not held think proactively optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
- optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional
- optional, not held use a warehouse management system optional
36 held skills the distribution manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
- not needed by the target role assess supplier risks skill
- not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
- not needed by the target role commercial law knowledge
- not needed by the target role comprehend financial business terminology skill
- not needed by the target role consumer goods industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role debt systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role e-procurement knowledge
- not needed by the target role electronic communication knowledge
- not needed by the target role export control principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role handle cargo space on sale skill
- not needed by the target role identify customer's needs skill
- not needed by the target role identify new business opportunities skill
- not needed by the target role identify suppliers skill
- not needed by the target role initiate contact with buyers skill
- not needed by the target role initiate contact with sellers skill
- not needed by the target role inventory management rules knowledge
- not needed by the target role machine tools knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain financial records skill
- not needed by the target role maintain relationship with customers skill
- not needed by the target role manage storage operations skill
- not needed by the target role meet deadlines skill
- not needed by the target role monitor international market performance skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate buying conditions skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate sale of commodities skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate sales contracts skill
- not needed by the target role office equipment knowledge
- not needed by the target role office furniture products knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform market research skill
- not needed by the target role product comprehension knowledge
- not needed by the target role sales activities knowledge
- not needed by the target role sales strategies knowledge
- not needed by the target role supply chain principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role tolerate stress skill
- not needed by the target role visit suppliers skill
- not needed by the target role waste management knowledge
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn hazardous freight regulations required
- still to learn freight transport methods required
- still to learn supply chain management required
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held international import export regulations optional
- optional, not held employment law optional
- optional, not held teamwork principles optional
- optional, not held transportation software related to an ERP system optional
Other moves recorded from wholesale merchant
Common questions about this move
Can a wholesale merchant become a distribution manager?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A wholesale merchant already covers 33% of what a distribution manager is expected to do: 39 skills carry over, 2 of which the distribution manager role treats as required.
What skills does a wholesale merchant need to become a distribution manager?
25 required skills are missing, plus 14 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is analyse supply chain trends.
How hard is the move from wholesale merchant to distribution manager?
Its learning distance is 74.8 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.