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Purchasing involves the procuring of goods and services, and includes tasks such as monitoring supplies, negotiating contracts with vendors, and managing transportation and storage. To excel in this industry, you need a strong work ethic, as well as data and math skills, good interpersonal skills and the ability to function well in fast-paced work environments.

Use these resume examples, templates, tips and suggestions to build a stand-out resume that gets you ahead in your purchasing career.

Top purchasing resume examples

Contract Manager

Procurement Manager

Purchase Agent

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How to build your resume for a purchasing career

We’ve assembled some prime resume examples and tips for popular professions in the purchasing industry — use them to build your own superior resume.

Career Track: Purchasing Management

Companies in virtually every industry carry out purchasing activities, and managing those activities require the right kind of professionals. According to BLS, available jobs for careers in this area are decreasing, so stand out in a tight job market using these tips.

Assistant Buyer$44,541 Median Salary

Resume Format

Functional Resume

For this job, emphasize practical skills and intangible skills that show you’re ready for the job, using a function format, which stresses abilities and training. Give examples of previous internships or professional activities in which you carried out tasks such as sourcing new products, writing purchase orders, or conducting vendor research.

Summary statement tip

In a few sentences, describe your abilities and qualifications, “pitching” yourself as the right fit for what the specific job needs. For example, if the job stresses inventory management, you could write: “Well-qualified purchasing professional with experience in merchandise inventory and managing incoming and outgoing shipments.”

Skills to feature

  • Presentation skills
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Knowledge of job-specific software applications, such as Excel or Microsoft Word
  • Excellent verbal and written communication
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Good planning skills
  • Vendor management
  • Detail-oriented
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Multitasking
  • Collaboration

Get to the next level

Take the next step in your purchasing career by getting the following into your resume:

  • Examples of successful work projects or processes outside your ordinary tasks that you contributed to
  • Get additional training or certifications in important areas, such as a financial certification
  • Recognition from your manager or clients for excellent work or service (e.g., employee of the month)
  • Showcase your ability to be a self-starter and “run the show” in making purchasing and establishing new vendor contacts and contracts

Buyer $62,120 Median Salary

Resume Format

Combination Resume

This role favors a bit of experience, so use a combination format that highlights both your work achievements and relevant skills. Feature your ability to work with vendors to resolve issues, reduce costs and shorten lead times, as well as your skills with planning and inventory analysis.

Summary statement tip

Emphasize particular areas of expertise and experience that match up with the job you want, in the space of 2-3 impactful sentences. For example, if you’re creating a resume that targets a buyer position in the manufacturing field, mention experiences you’ve had in buying raw materials at previous jobs.

Skills to feature

  • Making budgeted purchases
  • Negotiating with sellers and vendors
  • Inventory management
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Product price and quality knowledge for specific industries
  • Strong work ethic
  • Multitasking
  • Account management
  • Collaboration
  • Organizational skills
  • Self-starter

Get to the next level

Take a step further in your purchasing by emphasizing the following in your resume:

  • Responsibilities and achievements that show you keep up to date with industry standards and norms in prices, goods and services
  • Examples of successful processes and projects where you took a leadership role
  • Experience supervising and managing teams
  • Advanced degree in business or sales, as well as training or certifications in important areas such as supply chain management training or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification

Purchasing Manager $121,110 Median Salary

Resume Format

Chronological Resume

Managerial positions often require a high level of experience, which means featuring an impressive work history in your resume. The chronological format, with its expanded work history section, is therefore your best bet. Emphasize responsibilities and projects that show you know how to efficiently handle large operations, and improve a company’s bottom line.

Summary statement tip

Treat your summary as an “elevator pitch” that provides a quick, punchy rundown of your strengths and key experiences, stressing your leadership qualities in areas such as team training and development, strategy, problem-solving, and managing vendor relationships.

Skills to feature

  • Leadership
  • Analytical skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Bid management
  • Report creation and presentation
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Purchasing strategies
  • Metrics analysis
  • Risk mitigation
  • Vendor management

Get to the next level

Further your career by getting the following qualifications in to your resume:

  • Examples of leadership, especially in growing and managing teams
  • Advanced degree or certifications in business or sales-related fields
  • Examples of projects and tasks that have received recognition or show that you’re capable of handling deadline-intensive assignments effectively

Career Track: Materials Management

Materials management covers the acquiring, storage and distribution of products — everything from foods to research substances to materials for high-tech development. With materials sector performance staying solid over time, opportunities to grow a solid career in this field should remain constant.

Materials Clerk $67,117 Median Salary

Resume Format

Functional Resume

Use the functional format to display your best skills that fit the job, as well as training and other activities that related to materials work. Emphasize inventory management and recordkeeping, a keen attention to detail, and your knowledge of how to send packages using various shipping companies.

Summary statement tip

Give hiring managers a quick rundown of your best capabilities and work history, with an emphasis on qualifications and past experiences that match the job. For example if the job places heavy emphasis on data recording and management, you could write: “Enthusiastic graduate with hands-on experience in collecting, analyzing and recording data, and utilizing database applications.”

Skills to feature

  • Clerical and administrative support
  • Shipping and receiving procedures
  • Recordkeeping
  • Typing and filing skills
  • Communication and writing abilities
  • Proficiency with software such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Gmail, and Clerk of the Works
  • Critical thinking
  • Organizational skills
  • Time management
  • Data entry
  • Attention to detail
  • Strong work ethic
  • Team player

Get to the next level

Want to grow in the purchasing industry? Add the following to your resume:

  • Obtaining an advanced degree in Business, Managerial Economics, or related field
  • Experiences working in all aspects of the purchasing process, assisting buyers
  • Proven ability to lead and manage inventory, and increase company efficiency
  • Work responsibilities and projects that display financial administration, marketing and trend analysis expertise

Materials Manager $85,709 Median Salary

Resume Format

Combination Resume

A combination (or hybrid) resume shows both your abilities and top work experiences, which makes it a good fit for this supervisory position. Stress your experiences in successfully managing processes and teams, as well your technical acumen, and your ability to administer budgets and schedules.

Summary statement tip

Give a quick overview of your top professional and soft skills, focusing on particular areas of expertise that match up with the requirements of the potential job. For example, if the job calls for managing large budgets, you could write: “Dedicated Materials Manager specializing in automobiles, logistics coordination, vendor relations, and inventory management. Proficient in managing $400k+ budgets.”

Skills to feature

  • Materials management
  • Leadership skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication capabilities
  • Adaptability
  • Finance and marketing
  • Analytical skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Team management
  • Logistic operations
  • Budget management
  • Schedule management
  • Report creation and presentation

Get to the next level

If you’re looking to move up to a senior managerial position, look to add these qualifications in your resume:

  • Advanced degree in merchandising, supply chain or related field
  • Proven experience handling materials management, and procurement of goods and services
  • Work responsibilities and projects that show your ability to handle all aspects of the purchasing process, including buying, selling, and distribution
  • Proficiency in computer software, including Excel
  • Certifications and advanced training in related areas, such as supply chain management

Director of Purchasing$111,782 Median Salary

Resume Format

Chronological Resume

As the name implies, a chronological resume features previous job responsibilities and accomplishments, listed in reverse chronological order. Highlight your successes in fast-paced, metrics-driven environments, working with vendors and bid proposals, managing large quantities of inventory and improving purchasing processes.

Summary statement tip

The summary is your first chance to make the right impression, so come up with strengths and experiences you have that best fit with the job’s primary requirements. For example, if the job stresses working with subcontractors and suppliers on purchasing materials and maintaining accurate contracts, mention any experience you have in these areas here.

Skills to feature

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Contract negotiation
  • Knowledge of P&L metrics
  • Analytics management
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Procurement expertise
  • Reporting knowledge
  • Strategic planning
  • Bid coordination
  • Business administration
  • Profit and loss understanding
  • Strategy creation
  • Critical thinking
  • Mathematical skill

Get to the next level

If you’re aiming to elevate your career, look into adding the following to your resume:

  • Work projects and accomplishments that prove your ability to plan and make effective decisions, negotiate with clients, analyze technical data, and manage teams
  • Certification in related areas, such as training as a Purchasing Professional (CPP) or in the Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM)
  • Membership and participation in professional associations such as the American Purchasing Society

Purchasing resume FAQ

What industry-specific qualities and traits should be highlighted in your purchasing resume?

Feature soft skills such as a positive attitude, strong communication abilities, and the leadership ability to supervise teams, and industry-specific abilities such as report creation and presentation, collaborating with internal teams to determine purchasing requirements, and knowledge of supply chain software and processes. For more suggestions on in-demand skills, visit our page Top Resume Skills.

How can I get the right keywords into my resume?

Your resume should be revised for every job you apply to, with each version of your resume containing the right keywords to appeal to the job. To find appropriate keywords, look through the job description for the position you’re interested in, and note specific phrases that spell out job requirements and needed skills. For example: “work with company representatives to discuss price quotations and technical specifications,” or “Proficient in Microsoft office-based programs with an emphasis on Excel.” Then match your own skills and experiences with these keywords, and update your resume accordingly. For example, you could list “Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel” as a skill, or mention a previous work experience in which you successfully collaborated with external companies on purchasing agreements. See our article  How to Use Keywords Effectively for more keyword tips.

What are some other useful skills to put on a purchasing resume?

Soft skills:Technical skills:
DiscretionComputer Skills
NegotiationPurchase negotiations and agreements
Industry awarenessReport creation and presentation
LeadershipProduct database management
Team-buildingMS Office
ConfidentialityMathematical skills
CommunicationKnowledge of ERP systems such as Netsuite, Coupa and Nvoicepay
MultitaskingData analysis
Strategic thinkingInventory management
Attention to DetailProduct and vendor research
Organizational skills 
Customer service 
Problem-solving 
Dynamic personality 
Knowledge of company standards 
Soft skills:
Discretion
Negotiation
Industry awareness
Leadership
Team-building
Confidentiality
Communication
Multitasking
Strategic thinking
Attention to Detail
Organizational skills
Customer service
Problem-solving
Dynamic personality
Knowledge of company standards
Technical skills:
Computer Skills
Purchase negotiations and agreements
Report creation and presentation
Product database management
MS Office
Mathematical skills
Knowledge of ERP systems such as Netsuite, Coupa and Nvoicepay
Data analysis
Inventory management
Product and vendor research