Beyond the job title
Titles vary. A clear account of responsibility travels much further.
Describe decisions, not labels
A category manager in one organisation may hold a very different mandate from a colleague with the same title elsewhere. Explain the decisions you own, the stakeholders involved and the operating context. This makes your professional experience comparable without exaggerating its scope.
Separate scale from complexity
A large spend figure does not explain the difficulty of the work. Supplier concentration, regulation, changing demand and operational criticality can all matter. Discuss the constraints that shaped your choices, using only information you can appropriately share.
Be clear about the next move
When introducing yourself to a hiring contact, explain the kind of responsibility you want next. Greater category depth, team leadership and a different operating environment are distinct goals. Clarity helps both sides decide whether a longer conversation is worthwhile.