Purchasing agents ensure that companies and organizations.

Have the materials and services they need to function on a day-to-day basis.

These may include farm or retail products.

Chemicals, manufacturing equipment or office supplies.

Purchasing agents do extensive research.

To find the most cost-effective products and sources.

Which requires that they stay up-to-date on marketing and pricing trends.

Additional responsibilities may include attending trade shows.

Meeting vendors, negotiating contracts and record keeping.

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3. Get the Education Required

A high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement.

For obtaining a job as an entry-level purchasing agent.

However, distributors and large retail establishments.

May look for candidates with a bachelor‘s or master’s degree in applied science.

Accounting, business, economics or engineering.

Optional certifications are available from several professional organizations.

Such as the American Purchasing Society or the Institute for Supply Management.

New purchasing agents typically train on the job for a minimum of one year.

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4. Get the Skills Required

Purchasing agents should be accomplished.

And decisive negotiators and buyers with good analytical and math abilities.

According to the Water Environment Federation.

They should also have strong people and communication skills.

Which can be useful in developing relationships and solving problems (www.wef.org).

Agents must be computer literate.

And proficient in the use of word processing and spreadsheet programs.

The ability to speak a foreign language.

Enables purchasing agents to search for products from around the globe.

What makes a Good Purchasing Agent?

5. Career and Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2016, 309,400 purchasing agents.

Except for wholesale, retail, and farm products, held jobs.

According to the BLS, jobs for these.

Individuals are expected to decrease by 6% nationwide between 2016 and 2026.

Contributing factors include the automation and outsourcing of jobs.

In 2018, buyers, and purchasing agents earned a median annual salary of $62,750 (www.bls.gov).

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6. Goods Purchasing Agent

The Purchasing Agent reports to the Purchasing Manager.

And is responsible for identifying suppliers.

Researching goods and services.

Processing purchase orders, and verifying delivered items.

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7. Goods Purchasing Agent

To be successful as a Purchasing Agent.

You should be able to critically assess suppliers.

Products, and services, and negotiate the best possible deals.

Ultimately, an outstanding Purchasing Agent has a keen sense of business.

And maintains meticulous transaction records.

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8. Purchasing Agent Requirements:

• High school degree/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.

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What makes a Good Purchasing Agent?

9. Purchasing Agent Responsibilities:

• Researching and comparing suppliers, goods, and services.
• Selecting 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.

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10. Knowledge and Organization

Understanding the data and having the accurate knowledge to complete the job is obviously important for purchasing agents to have.

However, it goes a little deeper for them.

They should know more about what they are buying than the person they are buying it from.

They have to be able to get the lowest prices and negotiate whenever possible.

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11. Anticipation

In a career like purchasing, a lot of things can go wrong.

It’s unsettling how easy it is to waste valuable time trying to fix problems that occur.

Purchasing agents, however, should be able to anticipate those problems.

Instead of reacting to issues, they should proactively be solving them before they happen.

This can save a company a lot of time, money, and hassle.