Purchasing Managers, Buyers and Purchasing Agents

The opportunity of becoming purchasing managers, buyers, or purchasing agents are open to individuals with a college degree. About 43% of the population is either working in manufacturing establishments or wholesale trading. The purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents can be obtained in two ways – being promoted to the position or being hired by firms. Despite whatever degree is attained, a new recruit would take about five years to be able to master the job.

A firm with a supply chain naturally relies on purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents. The services and goods needed by that company in order to function properly will be taken care of by individuals of the mentioned positions. In sizable firms, there is a line between a purchasing manager and a purchasing agent or buyer. The purchasing agents will be handling routine purchasing tasks while the managers take care of the more delicate purchase transactions. The evaluation of suppliers is the main job for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents.

The individuals of the said professions can expect to work in comfortable and favorable offices. The standard work hours weekly is 40 but these purchasing specialists usually take on more work hours. This is because of deadlines for productions, conferences, and special sales. Pressure is part of a day’s work. It is also expected for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents to do a lot of travel.

Those who are qualified will begin as assistant buyers, junior buyers, expediters, purchasing clerks, basically beginning as trainees. As mentioned, a college degree is an advantage for landing the job. Despite what a newly hired individual has attained in college though, he or she will still require lots of time to learn all the ins and outs, and all nuances involved in the company.

It is required for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents to be familiar with spreadsheet and word processing software. Knowledge of the internet is also a must. Aside from that, he or she must try to excel in the mathematical, negotiation, and communication department. Analysis of technical data is also a necessity as well as financial analysis.

The employment outlook for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents are projected to be slower than the average growth. Manufacturing industries and retail trade industries employ a large percentage of individuals for these positions. Others work in service establishments and government establishments. Others still are self employed.

The earnings received by purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents vary of course depending on the level of responsibility and the status of the firm he or she is involved with. Individuals working for these positions can expect the standard benefits such as insurances, sick leave, vacations, and pension plans. Aside from these standard benefits, a purchasing manager, buyer, and purchasing agent can receive performance-based bonuses.