What Do Purchasing Agent Do?
Job Description: Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.
Life As a Purchasing Agent: What Do They Do?
- Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
- Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
- Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
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What Every Purchasing Agent Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Purchasing Agents say are important on the job.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Related Job Titles
- Area Field Worker
- Contract Administrator
- Procurement Specialist
- Piece Jobber
- Timber Buyer
Job Demand for Purchasing Agents
There were about 309,400 jobs for Purchasing Agent in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Purchasing Agent. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 23,800 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Purchasing Agent are Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What Tools do Purchasing Agents Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Purchasing Agents:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
How do I Become a Purchasing Agent?
Learn what Purchasing Agent education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
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Are you already one of the many Purchasing Agent in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Nick Nijhuis via Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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