Buyer Resume: Examples and Tips

A buyer is tasked with procuring materials needed for production, and includes activities from preparing and processing requisitions, managing supplies, overseeing deliveries, maintaining records, researching market trends, and identifying opportunities for maximizing profits. To excel in this job, you need to be quick on their feet, an expert communicator, proficient in computer applications, and have negotiation and procurement skills.

Use these resume tips and our resume examples to create a resume that sells you as the right fit for a buyer position:

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Buyer Resume Example

Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Buyer Resume

  1. Summary In a concise two to three sentences, convey your best abilities and work experience. For example, “Detail-oriented buyer with 7 years of experience in the retail and fashion industry and a good knowledge of supply chain management.” Notice that this example displays your areas of expertise, as well as some important personal traits (“detail-oriented”).
  2. Skills Feature your top 8-10 top skills, including both professional skills (such as report management and creation, inventory management, knowledge of software, and logistics process expertise) and soft skills (such as attention to detail, negotiation abilities, and multitasking abilities).
  3. Work History For each prior job you’ve had, come up with three to five bullet points that describe your best accomplishments and most important responsibilities. For example: “Reviewed bid proposals and negotiated contracts with 14 vendors,” or “Monitored the cost, schedule and scope of semiconductor materials projects.”
  4. Education Feature your top academic credential (e.g., high school diploma or college degree), along with any additional training or certifications you have in related areas, such as project management, finance or marketing.

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Find the Right Template for your Resume

Give your resume the professional presentation it deserves by using one of these employer-ready templates:

Original

For a striking yet polished look, use this template, which divides your document into easily readable quadrants, leaving plenty of room to expand on your qualifications.

Essence

This two-column layout provides plenty of space for your skills. The subtle color header differentiates the document from standard black-and-white resumes.

Structured

Elegant resume fonts and lines result in a sleek appearance, while the placement of section headings on the left makes for easy navigation.

For more layouts you can use, visit our free resume templates page.

Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume

  • DO customize your resume for each job. “One size fits all” is definitely not the way to go with a resume. Change up your resume details for each job you apply for. Look for skills and requirements the particular job demands, and customize your summary, skills and work history sections to match as well as you can. For example, if the job requires using product research to fuel future strategies, list skills that play into this need, or a similar responsibility from a previous job. For more pointers, see How to Create a Targeted Resume.
  • DO use your summary as an elevator pitch. To get into the good graces of a prospective seller or buyer, you need a good pitch — think of your summary as a pitch for your abilities as an employee. Get across your total experience and primary areas of expertise, as well as your top skills. For example: “Hard-charging Buyer well-versed in creating systems to efficiently manage records and contracts. Natural communicator with expertise in Fraxion and biology solutions.” See our article How to Write a Perfect Summary Statement for more suggestions.
  • DO proofread your resume. Just as a purchasing order or contract must be precise, so should be your resume. Review your document a few times, to make sure you’re not upended by silly grammar or spelling errors. This is also your chance to double-check your details, and make sure you’re not missing anything. For extra help, use our Resume Builder built-in review tools.
  • DON’T neglect to quantify your accomplishments. Using numbers and metrics to illustrate your achievements makes it easier for hiring managers to understand the impact you bring to a company. For example: “Implemented merchandise price changes based on research, resulting in 18% profit increase,” or “Trained and audited activities of 15 employees in purchasing department.”
  • DON’T skimp on soft skills. While professional knowledge and training is important for purchasing work, the way you interact with people and tackle your duties is also important. Feature important soft skills such as attention to detail, a problem-solving approach, strong organizational and time management abilities, and negotiation skills. Give examples in your work history section that show how you’ve used these skills. Our Top Resume Skills page features plenty more soft skill examples.
  • DON’T forget to use action verbs. Which sounds more energetic and proactive — to say you were “tasked with” something, or you “managed” something? Using action verbs presents you as a person who takes charge. Use verbs such as organized, managed, negotiated, led, monitored, communicated, addressed, executed, operated and oversaw to describe your work duties and accomplishments.

Buyer Resume FAQ

1.What skills should be emphasized in the position of the architect?

Hard skills:Soft skills:
Analytical skillsLeadership
Process managementCommunication skills
Research and developmentConfidence
Policy formationCreativity
ProcurementProblem-solving
Administrative skillsPresentation skills
Report creationAbility to make decisions under pressure
Computer applicationsNegotiation skills
Inventory managementTeam player
Knowledge of market trendsOrganizational skills
 Strong work ethic
 Collaboration
 Business acumen
Hard skills:
Analytical skills
Process management
Research and development
Policy formation
Procurement
Administrative skills
Report creation
Computer applications
Inventory management
Knowledge of market trends
Soft skills:
Leadership
Communication skills
Confidence
Creativity
Problem-solving
Presentation skills
Ability to make decisions under pressure
Negotiation skills
Team player
Organizational skills
Strong work ethic
Collaboration
Business acumen

2. Which format is the best for your resume?

As buyers are typically required to have a few years of industry experience, look to use the chronological resume format, which focuses on your work history and accomplishments. Another option is the combination resume format, which presents a mix of relevant skills and work achievements. This format is best with those with slightly less experience, or moving over from a similar job in another career field. If you’re completely new to purchasing, or are a recent graduate, go with the functional resume format, which emphasizes the job-ready skills and training you already have.

For more information about resume formatting, visit our resume format page.

3. What is ATS and how can I make my resume more ATS-friendly?

Employers often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter through job applications, based on keywords from your resume. Follow these tips to make your resume ATS-ready:

  • Use a straightforward resume template for your resume — fancy layouts or graphics can confuse ATS.
  • Use the right keywords in your resume: Scan the job description for phrases that spell out the job’s major requirements (e.g., “budget development,” “competitive analysis,” “customer negotiation”), and include these phrases in describing your skills and work experience.
  • Use standard fonts and headings (“Summary Statement,” “Work History,” etc.) — this ensures that ATS will recognize these sections of your resume.

4. What are some certifications you can include in a buyer resume?

To add heft to your resume, consider gaining and including certifications like these in your education section (or separate “Certifications” section):

  • Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP)
  • Purchasing and Supply Manager certification
  • Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
  • Certified Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
  • Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)

5. Should you include references in your resume?

While having a trusted, respected professional vouch for your experience and abilities can be a key part of your job application, including references in your resume is mostly a thing of the past. Recruiters will contact you if they need references, and usually ask you to submit them separately. Devote the space in your resume to your important abilities and credentials, and make the case for yourself as an excellent employee; references will help support your claims later.