What is an associate merchandise buyer and how to become one

Key steps to become an associate merchandise buyer

1. Explore associate merchandise buyer education requirements

   Most common associate merchandise buyer degrees

   Bachelor's

   71.1 %

   Associate

   17.8 %

   Master's

   5.6 %

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2. Start to develop specific associate merchandise buyer skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Customer Service	22.80%
   Market Trends	15.02%
   Open-To-Buy	13.48%
   Product Line	12.25%
   Competitive Analysis	7.98%

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3. Complete relevant associate merchandise buyer training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate merchandise buyers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate merchandise buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate merchandise buyer resumes.

4. Research associate merchandise buyer duties and responsibilities

   • Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
   • Work closely with the logistics department and internal warehouse to coordinate just in time deliveries and maintain daily inventory reconciliation.
   • Create facebook posts and design customer email newsletters.

5. Apply for associate merchandise buyer jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for an associate merchandise buyer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams