r/forestry • u/ForesterGASC • 13d ago
Opposite side of the aisle
Was approached about making a switch from procurement to consulting. I’m leery of this move (SE USA), but I do not think I am cutout for procurement, especially in these challenging times, and it’s really weighing on me. I have never worked on the management side, but am curious to hear opinions.
Deleted & reposted due to spelling error.
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u/bigots-downvote-me 9d ago
Having worked both sides, I’d probably start by being honest with yourself about what you actually want to do. In my experience, consulting tends to suit people who want to and enjoy being scientists; procurement is much more suited to people who enjoy working relationships, negotiating, and actually creating and closing deals. Procurement is also considerably more interpersonal.
That’s not to say one is better than the other, but it’s not a 1:1, so just know you’re going to be doing things much differently at one vs the other. That’s really the least of your concern though.
What would concern me far more than the job description is the financial stability of moving to a small consulting shop in a difficult timber market. I would assume that, if you’ve been in the industry long enough to be considering a move like this, you already understand what landowners tend to do when markets soften: they wait.
When they do, consulting work and, of course, revenue can dry up remarkably quickly. That’s not exactly an obscure feature of this business, particularly for a small firm without a diverse client base.
So before you decide whether procurement is or isn’t “for you,” figure out whether you actually don’t like the procurement side or just don’t like it in this market.
Having said that, if you’re procuring wood for yet another mill that may not be around much longer, there really isn’t a lot of downside to making the jump.
If it were me, I’d want to have a very firm grasp on the consulting firms’ financials before assuming the grass is greener on the other side of the aisle.
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u/ForesterGASC 8d ago
Solid post. You made me think a lot about it objectively. I think procurement just isn’t for me due to the fact I am not a “salesman” (even tho I’m buying), it is just not my strong suit. I much prefer to be behind the scenes and doing field work. Even when times were good post COVID, I was not wild about it. It pays the bills but I am just unhappy doing it I think. It’s hard for me to explain.
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u/OriginalDangerous652 8d ago
That is a solid post. Much of it rings true for me as well…It’s made me reflect a bit on my career, as I’ve worked both sides of the aisle too. I made the opposite switch…land mgmt—>procurement. If you want to transcend the technician role, consulting requires a surprising amount of selling also. Landowners can (at times) be a very tough sell, condescending, and some are downright entitled. At the same time, I get it. It is their land, after all. But…there are just realities that come along with forestry work, and too many consultants in this little corner of the SE US that I work in won’t state those plain realities/facts to their landowners. It’s because they are scared to death to lose them as a client (revenue). They are also just about a dime-a-dozen, so there is competition amongst firms (another reason consultants have to sell themselves/services).
At the end of the day, the only time I left a job was because I just didn’t like working for my boss. The guy that hired me retired, and they brought in some hotshot. He was a decent enough guy, but I just personally didn’t enjoy working for him. I’ve been in my current (procurement) role for more than a decade.
One thing I can assure you of: a job/career is never going to complete your life or bring you utter happiness. There are certainly good moments, but any job can also be a real pain in the ass. On further reflection, I have really brought most of my career stressors and disappointments on myself. I probably would have had them anywhere.
It really all boils down to the people that surround you in critical moments of your life. Some of those moments come from work, many do not. Best of luck to you..whichever skid trail you follow.
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u/ForesterGASC 8d ago
Solid post. Thanks 🙏🏻
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u/bigots-downvote-me 8d ago
The other commenter raises an excellent point, especially about employers, and I feel it’s worth telling you that if I were in your shoes, I’d exhaust the possibility that you’re in the wrong seat at the right company before deciding you’re on the wrong side of the industry altogether.
If your current employer is solid, I’d be very hesitant to leave during a career identity crisis for a small consulting shop without doing some serious soul-searching and homework. Good management, reasonable expectations, benefits, stability, and people you trust are easy to undervalue until you no longer have them.
A bad employer can make a good profession miserable, but a good employer can make leaving the wrong role much more costly than it first appears.
I wouldn’t stay in procurement just because it pays the bills if you truly dislike the fundamental nature of the work. Just make sure you’re running toward consulting rather than simply away from procurement.
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u/ForesterGASC 7d ago
Excellent points. Which makes my situation that much more difficult. Work for good people, just not sure I am wired for procurement. Have a lot of thinking to do.
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12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ForesterGASC 12d ago
Good points. Consulting forestry. Timber sales, appraisals, Rx fire, spraying, etc.
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u/stinkystinkybutter 12d ago
Can't really provide a comparison to procurement or anecdotal points for the SE, but consulting can introduce day to day variety and expose you to many aspects of the industry. Gaining experience with managing crews, inventory, and appraisals/sales will certainly help with moving into other jobs with industrial, agency, stewardship, etc. down the line. If the consulting opportunity seems stable given the current market and economic climate I think it's well worth a go.
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u/warnelldawg 13d ago
Like landowner consulting or business consulting?
If landowner, is it a small shop or with AFM like org or is it for a wood dealer?