Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy

The Responsibilities of the Purchasing Agent

As a purchasing agent, you won’t be working closely with the purchasing manager all day. You also have other duties and responsibilities to perform.

Some of those responsibilities include the following:

• Researching and comparing suppliers, goods, and services.
• Select the most suitable suppliers in terms of reliability, product quality, and cost-efficiency.
• Monitoring inventory levels and determining purchase needs.
• Requesting cost proposals and negotiating contracts and prices.
• Preparing and processing purchase orders.
• Maintaining records of all transactions, purchase orders, receipts, and payments.
• Scheduling and verifying purchase deliveries.
• Building and maintaining positive, long-term supplier relations.

Salary Rate and Requirements

Purchasing agents enjoy a considerable salary rate, starting at $66,000.  Meanwhile, their purchasing managers have a higher salary rate, at around $125,940 per year.

If you’re excited about the salary rate, then you should be. As of last year, procurement remains a strong industry and it should remain that way throughout 2023. Overall employment of purchasing managers buyers and purchasing agents is projected to decline 7 percent from 2019 to 2029.

The outsourcing and automation of less complex procurement functions are among the contributing factors causing employment declines for these occupations.

However, employment for purchasing managers is projected to increase because they will continue to be needed to help procure goods and services for business operations or for resale to customers.

Given the case, you’re probably excited to learn how to become a purchasing agent. Here are the requirements that you need to have in order to become one:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Degree in business administration, procurement, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience as a purchasing agent or in a similar position.
• Proficiency in CRM and inventory management software programs.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong organization and documentation skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills.

Purchasing Agent Interview Questions

You’ve already checked the requirements and you are definitely sure you want to be a purchasing agent. You immediately submit your resume and a few days later, you get a message and an appointment for an interview. 

You are excited but nervous at the same time. You begin to wonder what you should be answering once the interview starts. 

Don’t worry about that because we got you covered.

Always expect that companies will be employing difficult but fair questions to assess if you can do the job. 

A helpful tip would be to get yourself familiarized with the STAR method. If you’re not familiar with the STAR method, it’s the acronym that stands for the following:

Situation: Setting the scene and then give the details of your example

Task: Describing what you need to do during that situation

Action: This means your explanation on what were the steps you took to address the problem.

Result: Share what the outcome was for the actions you achieved

That said, it’s now time to review some of the most common questions that you might encounter during your purchasing agent interview:

1. “If there’s a Need to Buy Equipment That’s Beyond Company’s Budget, What Will be Your Take?”

Scenario: For this question, the interviewer is trying to check on how good you are at managing a critical situation while ensuring that the project receives everything that it needs.

How to Answer: First, explain the importance of proper resource planning. Make sure to list down the techniques needed to handle the requests.

2. “Explain the Purchasing Process?”

Scenario: This question is often asked to assess if you are familiar with the general purchasing process.

How to Answer: Enlist every step. However, do not start explaining each step unless it is required by the interviewer.

3. “What Negotiation Skills and Tactics Do You Possess?”

Scenario: This is often asked by most interviewers. Negotiation is always an important aspect of becoming a procurement manager, so your skills and negotiation tactics will be required once you are chosen for the role.

How to Answer: Explain the factors that negotiation depends on. Remember to list down the important skills and negotiation tactics to show your expertise.

4. “What are Some Important Procurement Metrics?”

Scenario: This is a question that will test your understanding of key procurement metrics and how you intend to use them,

How to Answer: Explain the factors that performance metrics depend on. List down some of the standard indirect procurement metrics that you know and follow.

Where can They Apply?

Purchasing agents may apply by checking some job opportunities within their city or they can search via the internet. 

If you are going to search for a job online, we recommend that you visit these websites:

1. Indeed

It is no surprise that our first pick will be Indeed as it is one of the best and most popular job websites. Indeed was founded in 2004 with a mission to help people find jobs. 

Indeed also posts listings for job seekers in every industry, every job level, and every job type. Indeed is free to use which is why it is loved by many. 

If you want to be notified of the latest jobs on Indeed, you will need to create an account. Although you do not have to worry as making an account is free. 

Furthermore, Indeed has a review section for companies so you can read the opinions about your prospective employers before applying. 

2. Foundit

Foundit, formerly known as Monster, was founded in 1994 to bring talents and companies together. Like Indeed, you can see many job opportunities. 

However, in order to apply for a job listed in Monster, you need to create an account. You do not need to worry as creating an account is free. 

Additionally, once you have created an account, you will be able to save job positions and search queries as well as be notified of new job listings available on the website. 

3. Glassdoor

Glassdoor was founded in 2008 aiming to help bring salary transparency and honest company reviews to millions of its users. Just like Indeed and Foundit, Glassdoor is free to use for job seekers. They can also simultaneously search for open jobs and read detailed information about the company they are going to apply to. 

However, to start your job search, you must create a profile, upload your resume, and sign up for email notifications to receive the latest job postings on the website. 

Conclusion

The role of a purchasing agent in the dynamic field of procurement is both intriguing and increasingly lucrative. This article has shed light on the responsibilities, salary rates, and requirements for aspiring purchasing agents.

With a focus on key interview questions and the STAR method, it equips individuals with the necessary insights to navigate the hiring process successfully. The article emphasizes the resilience of the procurement industry despite projected declines, making it an opportune time for those considering a career as a purchasing agent.

Finally, it provides valuable tips on where and how to apply for these positions, highlighting popular job search websites for prospective applicants. Armed with this knowledge, readers are now well-prepared to embark on a fulfilling journey toward becoming a purchasing agent in the thriving realm of procurement.