Consumables Associates: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of consumables associates about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for consumables associates to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of consumables associates expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for consumables associates.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Consumables Associates?
Do consumables associates need a degree? What kind of experience do consumables associates typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for consumables associates to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Consumables Associates
Jobs Postings for Consumables Associates By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 59,507 (47%)
- No Education Listed: 30,013 (24%)
- High School or GED: 21,357 (17%)
- Master's degree: 12,951 (10%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,529 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of consumables associates. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 47% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 17% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Consumables Associates
Jobs Postings for Consumables Associates By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 16,022 (24%)
- 2-3 Years: 30,958 (46%)
- 4-6 Years: 15,859 (23%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,721 (4%)
- 10+ Years: 2,359 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for consumables associates. In 46% of job postings for Consumables Associates, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 24% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 23% of job postings for consumables associates.
What Kind of Degree Do Consumables Associates Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for consumables associates, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective consumables associates, and in 2023 a total of 18,423 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective consumables associates.
Top Degree Programs for Consumables Associates
Top 5 Degree Programs for Consumables Associates (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Human Resources Development. | 1,731 |
| Executive/Career Coaching. | 90 |
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Degree Options for Consumables Associates
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- Class Type: 100% online
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- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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What Skills Do Consumables Associates Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by consumables associates to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for consumables associates, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Consumables Associates
Based on 112,395 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Consumables Associates
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Consumables Associates
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
Based on 112,395 job postings related to consumables associates, process improvement was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 13% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for merchandising, business process, performance management, community outreach and retail operations were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for consumables associates, followed by management, leadership, customer service, sales and teaching.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
| Retail Operations | 11,798 | 10% |
| Visual Merchandising | 11,578 | 10% |
| Profit And Loss (P&L) Management | 11,224 | 10% |
| Project Management | 11,102 | 10% |
| Learning Management Systems | 10,151 | 9% |
| Adult Education | 8,773 | 8% |
| Marketing | 8,522 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 8,361 | 7% |
| Instructional Design | 7,468 | 7% |
| Technical Training | 7,420 | 7% |
| Auditing | 6,988 | 6% |
| Business Operations | 5,498 | 5% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 5,480 | 5% |
| Workflow Management | 4,653 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 4,357 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
| Teaching | 24,914 | 22% |
| Operations | 23,878 | 21% |
| Writing | 20,965 | 19% |
| Mentorship | 18,707 | 17% |
| Presentations | 18,581 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 18,573 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,411 | 15% |
| Planning | 16,153 | 14% |
| Training And Development | 15,983 | 14% |
| Accountability | 15,876 | 14% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,174 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 15,094 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 14,286 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 14,064 | 13% |
| Adaptability | 13,482 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about consumables associates? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for consumables associates.
What do consumables associates do?
How much do consumables associates make?
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