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Are you good at finding things other people want?

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Why not be a purchasing specialist?

A purchasing specialist is responsible for finding and purchasing supplies, materials, and products for their company or organization.

If you're resourceful, good at thinking ahead, and have a keen eye for details, this could be the right career for you!

A Day On The Job

Although purchasing specialists vary in their roles, they're often responsible for:

  • Finding and contacting prospective vendors/suppliers

  • Negotiating with suppliers on price, quality of goods, delivery, and deadlines

  • Creating purchase orders and agreements

  • Monitoring inventory to ensure they're adequately supporting demand

  • Liaising with internal teams and suppliers

  • Maintaining records of purchase orders, contracts and invoices

A person working hard at their desk

Did you know?

The type of goods a purchasing specialist sources depends on the type of company or organization and varies from one industry to another.

Where Do Purchasing Specialists Work?

Retail & Shopping

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  • Purchasing inventory for merchandise

  • Monitoring and maintaining inventory throughout in-store promotions

Medical Supplies

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  • Ordering medical supplies and products to hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and healthcare organizations

Automative

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  • Sourcing automobile parts from suppliers

  • Shipping these parts to manufacturers where the vehicles are then assembled

Food & Beverages

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  • Ordering food products and packaging/cooking materials for restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

Quiz

Which other industries might a purchasing specialist be able to work in?

Purchasing Specialists In The World

Purchasing is part of the larger supply chain network.

As competition in the global market becomes more fierce, the need to save costs, serve customers/clients, and efficiently utilize resources (including employees!) becomes more challenging.

A woman working out math equations in her mind

Some of the challenges that purchasing specialists might face:

  • Balancing cost tradeoffs

  • Keeping up with changing trends and market demands

  • Delays in production and delivery

What About Pay?

Flaticon IconThe average annual salary in the United States is $56,121.

Flaticon IconThe average annual salary in Canada is C$54,194.

Is This The Right Career Choice For Me?

Consider becoming a purchasing specialist if you're good at (and enjoy!):

  • Numbers. You'll specifically analyze costs and quantities.

  • Negotiation and conflict resolution. Working with several parties can get complicated. Remember to maintain a good relationship with everyone!

  • Decision-making and problem-solving. These skills get easier with experience. Keep calm and be confident in yourself!

  • Keeping up with market trends and changes. You'll need to be informed to stay competitive!

  • Lack of routines. Each day won't be the same. You'll deal with a lot of different challenges and needs.

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Take Action

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If you think this is the career path for you:

License:

This Byte has been authored by

FA

Frances Amilhasan

Supply Chain Analyst

English

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