Purchasing Agent Resume: Examples & Tips
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Purchasing agents work under purchasing managers to identify suppliers, research goods and services, process purchase orders, and verify items on delivery. Tasks for this job include managing transaction records, monitoring inventory, determining purchase requirements, researching and comparing suppliers, requesting best-cost proposals, and negotiating contracts and prices.
To create a resume that shows you’re the right candidate for a purchasing agent job, use our expert resume examples and tips:
Get inspiration from 800+ resume samples and explore our good resume templates to find the best one for you.
Purchasing agent example (text version)
Name: KARISSA STEWART
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Diligent Purchaser regularly maintains inventory to meet vendor product supply requirements and properly fulfill orders. Maintains market awareness by communicating customer needs with buyer and sales teams. Liaises with buyer to determine specialty order pricing and out-of-stock item estimated delivery and freight costs to meet customer expectations.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
- Experienced in exceeding performance goals in fast-paced environments
- Trained in connecting with customers to build positive relationships and strengthen loyalty.
- Self-motivated and independent in sourcing and implementing solutions.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Customer Service
- Helped company maintain exceptional client service ratings on external audits.
- Collected customer feedback and recommended procedural or product changes to enhance future service delivery.
- Maintained customer loyalty by delivering fast, friendly and knowledgeable service for routine questions and service complaints.
Communication
- Explained key information regarding products and services to customers to encourage informed decision-making.
- Worked with vendors and clients to navigate company systems and established frameworks to obtain desired services.
- Handled customers effectively by identifying needs, quickly gaining trust, approaching complex situations and resolving
problems to maximize efficiency.
Account Management
- Kept customer account information current and accurate by preparing, completing and processing forms and database changes.
- Boosted productivity by maintaining accurate production records and using the most current marketing information to formulate ideal purchase requests.
SKILLS
- Account maintenance
- Report preparation
- System documentation
- Quality assurance optimization
- Customer communications
- Call control skills
- Performance monitoring
- Data gathering
WORK HISTORY
Purchasing Agent, 04/2017 – Current
Company Name ,City,State
Account Manager, 01/2014 08/2016
Company Name ,City,State
Assistant Buyer, 03/2013 – 09/2014
Company Name ,City,State
EDUCATION
BBA, Business
Company Name ,City,State
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Purchasing Agent Resume FAQ
1.What skills should I emphasize in my purchasing agent resume?
| Technical skills: | Soft skills: |
| Inventory control | Excellent communication |
| Training and leading | Problem-solving |
| Researching and comparing suppliers, goods and services | Conflict resolution |
| Selecting suitable suppliers | Maintaining company confidentiality |
| Math skills | Listening skills |
| Building and maintaining long-term supplier relations | Negotiation skills |
| Inventory management | Networking |
| Determining purchase needs | Collaboration |
| Requesting cost proposals | Adaptability |
| Negotiating contracts and prices | Initiative |
| Preparing and processing purchase orders | Attention to detail |
| Maintaining records | Customer service |
| Scheduling and verifying purchase deliveries |
| Technical skills: |
| Inventory control |
| Training and leading |
| Researching and comparing suppliers, goods and services |
| Selecting suitable suppliers |
| Math skills |
| Building and maintaining long-term supplier relations |
| Inventory management |
| Determining purchase needs |
| Requesting cost proposals |
| Negotiating contracts and prices |
| Preparing and processing purchase orders |
| Maintaining records |
| Scheduling and verifying purchase deliveries |
| Soft skills: |
| Excellent communication |
| Problem-solving |
| Conflict resolution |
| Maintaining company confidentiality |
| Listening skills |
| Negotiation skills |
| Networking |
| Collaboration |
| Adaptability |
| Initiative |
| Attention to detail |
| Customer service |
2. How do I use my resume as an “elevator pitch”?
As someone involved with sales, you know that “elevator pitches” sum up the value of a product within a few seconds. Do the same in your resume summary, providing an overview of the most valuable product you have to sell: you. Pick out your top two to three skills or personal traits, and then marry them with your top work experiences thus far. For example: “Highly adaptable, enthusiastic Purchasing Agent well-versed in best practices for procurement and sourcing. Experienced in establishing rapport with clients, vendors and suppliers, and large-scale purchasing methods procedures.”
3. What points should I consider while updating my resume for the next step in my career?
- Show examples of being involved with industry professionals and keeping on top of current trends and knowledge (e.g., membership in professional organization, or involvement with networking groups)
- Show increased knowledge of company goods and services, and using this knowledge to improve customer relations and order efficiency
- Stay updated about new and changing trends following your company’s goods and services. This will help you understand customer requirements and preferences
- Gain advanced training or credentials in key areas such as project management, business management, or a purchasing manager certification (e.g., Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification)
4. What’s the right format for my resume?
Your format (or how your resume is organized) will depend on your specific work experience and skills. If you have a few years of purchasing agent experience, consider a combination resume format, which showcases both your key skills and work experiences. If you’re a seasoned professional in the field, go with a chronological resume format that features a substantial work history section — this will enable you to show your career accomplishments and progression. If you’re just starting in this field or have little experience, a functional resume layout lets you focus on your job-ready skills and training, as well as any activities (e.g., volunteer work or internships) that show you know how to successfully use your skills. For more details about formatting your resume, visit our resume format page.
5. Which employers are looking for purchasing agents?
- Manufacturing units
- Production companies
- Purchasing firms
- Government agencies
- Brand agencies
- Fashion houses
For links to job search sites and tips about nailing your job search, use our job search resource center.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO keep your resume concise.The longer your resume, the greater the chance that recruiters may skip over important information, or get caught up on details that don’t matter. Limit your resume to critical achievements, skills and accomplishments that directly apply to the job you want, and only provide work highlights from the past 10 years. Aim for a total length of two pages, at most.
- DO highlight soft skills.While all purchasing agents are expected to have certain professional skills and training, you can set yourself apart by emphasizing important soft skills that show how well you can tackle the job. Feature soft skills such as relationship management, good judgment, initiative, conflict resolution, reliability, customer service and adaptability in your resume, and give work examples of these skills in action. For more advice on soft (and hard) skills, visit our Top Resume Skills page.
- DO use short, peppy phrases and bullet points.In line with making your resume more concise, don’t use over-verbose (or even complete) sentences. Go with punchy bullet points and phrases to describe your skills and work accomplishments, no longer than one line long. For example, instead of writing “I forwarded available inventory items by verifying stock, making sure that scheduled deliveries were made on time,” write: “Managed timely inventory delivery through stock verification and schedule management.”
- DON’T use the same resume for different jobs.Even within purchasing, every job will have different requirements. Always create a different version of your resume for each job you apply to, emphasizing qualifications and experiences that address the specific job description. For example, if the job emphasizes purchase negotiations as a key task, you could write “Negotiated purchases to ensure lowest costs consistent with company standards.” To easily create and save different versions of your resume, use our Resume Builder.
- DON’T forget to proofread your resume before you submit it.Purchasing agents are counted on for being accurate and mistake-free — apply those same qualities to your resume, and review it a few times before you send it in. Nothing can sink your opportunity to get a job faster than a glaring error in your document.
- DON’T forget to quantify your achievements.Describing your work responsibilities and achievements using numbers gives potential employers a better idea of the impact you can bring to a company. For instance, instead of stating “Reduced freight costs,” be more precise: “Reduced freight costs by over 12% from previous year.”
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Purchasing Agent Resume
Summary
Keep this section concise, introducing yourself in terms of your top specialized skills and work experiences that fit purchasing work. For example: “Purchasing Agent with 11 years of purchasing and procurement experience. Solid background in manufacturing and production environments, with ability to successfully communicate with the public.”
Skills
Break this section into two categories: practical skills such as inventory control, EDI experience, report generation, procurement and sourcing, and large-scale purchasing methods, and soft skills such as excellent verbal and written communication, organizational abilities, customer service, or problem-solving.
Work history
For previous jobs, feature duties and achievements that are transferable to purchasing agent work. For example: “Developed, prepared, negotiated and advertised contracts and purchase orders,” or “Coordinated contract administration through acceptance and pay installments.”
Education
In addition to your highest academic credential (e.g., high school diploma or college degree), list any specialized certificates or training you have in fields such as business administration, accounting, finance or procurement, such as completion of a Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM) program.
CV examples for the next step in your purchasing career
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Purchasing Agent Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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