Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Career Description: Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.

Industry: Business and Financial Operations

Other Job Titles for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
• Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
• Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
• Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
• Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
• Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
• Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
• Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
• Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
• Maintain and review computerized or manual records of items purchased, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
• 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.
• Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
• Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
• Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
• Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
• Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
• Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
• Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
• Address civic and social groups and attend conferences to disseminate information concerning possible job openings and career opportunities.
• Collect information from students to determine their eligibility for specific financial aid programs.
• Interview, hire, and train new employees.
• Petition courts to transfer titles and deeds of collateral to banks.
• Review accounts to determine write-offs for collection agencies.
• Locate debtors using post office directories, utility services account listings, and mailing lists.
• Arrange for maintenance and liquidation of delinquent properties.
• Authorize and sign mail collection letters.
• Open accounts for clients and disburse funds from clients' accounts to creditors.

Emerging Tasks

• Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees, and overseeing facility needs/requirements.
• Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
• Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• analyze financial data
• analyze sales activities or trends
• communicate technical information
• compute financial data
• confer with sales or purchasing personnel
• confer with vendors
• determine reasonable prices
• develop purchasing policies or procedures
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• fill out purchase requisitions
• follow contract, property, or insurance laws
• hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
• identify supplier with best bid
• inspect merchandise to determine value
• locate sources of supply for purchasing
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make presentations
• manage contracts
• mediate or arbitrate disputes
• monitor consumer or marketing trends
• monitor contract performance
• negotiate business contracts
• obtain information from individuals
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• process account invoices
• use appraisal techniques in purchasing
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business correspondence
• write business project or bid proposals
• supervise clerical or administrative personnel
• understand government labor or employment regulations
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use government regulations
• use information from previous employers to determine applicant acceptability
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• review loan applications
• select applicants meeting qualifications
• use computers to enter, access and retrieve financial data
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of relevant laws
• use negotiation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• verify information for credit investigations
• write legal correspondence

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$25.22
• Average annual wage (2007) - $52,460.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 0.13%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 381
• Employment (2006): 287,429

• Cost Estimators
• Credit Analysts
• Customer Service Representatives
• Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
• Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
• Procurement Clerks
• Sales Agents, Financial Services
• Technical Writers
• Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
• Tellers