YOU'VE HEARD about careers in marketing, accounting, business studies and auctioneering, but the likelihood is that you're unaware of the job opportunities that exist in purchasing and materials management. It's an area with excellent career prospects, yet it's almost completely overlooked by young people, according to Fiona Desmond, who is course director of the purchasing and materials management programme at Cork College of Commerce.

"Every company has to purchase goods, from stationery to raw materials or services, including electricity and telephone services - wherever supplies are needed there is someone in charge of the purchasing function," she says. The pharmaceutical and electronics industries, the semi-state bodies and hospitals, for example, all have huge purchasing functions. Depending on the size of the company, there may be a single purchasing officer or a chief buyer and a number of specialist buyers, Desmond explains.

Sourcing, the purchasing of materials at competitive prices, and high standards of materials management - which ensure that goods are transported and stored effectively and economically - play a vital role in contributing to the profitability of manufacturing companies.

Cork College of Commerce offers a three-year diploma course in purchasing and materials management, which is validated by the Irish Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management - the professional 1,000-member strong organisation for purchasing managers. The course is offered at a number of other centres including Carlow RTC.

In Cork the first year which leads to a certificate in materials management is offered as part of the day programme. And this year for the first time, the second-year programme which leads to an advanced certificate is also being offered as a full-time PLC course. Year three, meanwhile, is at present available only as part of the college's evening programme.

The daytime course is run primarily for school-leavers and no previous knowledge or experience is assumed, says Desmond. "Daytime students have much greater contact with the teaching staff and obtain more tuition than do the evening students." However students who obtain full-time employment - and a number do - may transfer to the evening programme, she says.

Cork's daytime programme also includes computer studies at National Council for Vocational Awards Level 2 and one week's work experience with leading companies in the Cork region.

The minimum entry requirement for the course is a Leaving Certificate with five passes at ordinary level, including maths and English. Up to 25 students are admitted to the programme each year. But Desmond says that if numbers exceed 30 next year, the college will consider creating an extra class.

First-year students study stores management and inventory, transport and distribution - basics for buyers and management. In second year the programme includes financial and cost accounting, economics, purchasing and materials management and marketing. Third year covers statistical method, materials and production planning and control, business law, purchasing and materials management and a project.

Up to one quarter of students obtain jobs after their first year and continue with the programme at night, Desmond says. "During the course we emphasise interview techniques, presentation and the work ethic, and the fact that our students have experienced relevant work experience means that they are already tuned into the world of work. "We encourage students to think of the future and be prepared to take up relatively low-level positions and work their way up ... With this qualification they will beat direct school-leavers hands down for jobs and the important thing is to get your feet on the first rung of the ladder."

The programme enables students with relatively mediocre Leaving Certs to work their way into positions of responsibility, Desmond says. "We advise students initially to look for jobs with small companies where they can gain valuable experience and work their way up. After three or four years they can apply to larger organisations which pay more money.

Former Cork College of Commerce students have eventually obtained positions as purchasing managers, stock controllers, materials managers and warehouse managers. Good people who have worked for a number of years in a specialised area of purchasing and materials management are able to compete successfully with degree holders for jobs, Desmond adds.