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Make Decisions
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$71,000
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Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products.
DutiesBuyers and purchasing agents typically do the following:
Buyers and purchasing agents buy farm products, durable and nondurable goods, and services for organizations and institutions. They try to get the best deal for their organization: the highest quality goods and services at the lowest cost. They do this by studying sales records and inventory levels of current stock, identifying foreign and domestic suppliers, and keeping up to date with changes affecting both the supply of, and demand for, products and materials.
Purchasing agents and buyers consider price, quality, availability, reliability, and technical support when choosing suppliers and merchandise. To be effective, purchasing agents and buyers must have a working technical knowledge of the goods or services they are purchasing.
Evaluating suppliers is one of the most critical functions of a buyer or purchasing agent. Many organizations run on a lean manufacturing schedule and use just-in-time inventories, so any delays in the supply chain can shut down production and cause the organization to lose customers.
Buyers and purchasing agents use many resources to find out all they can about potential suppliers. They attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers.
They often interview prospective suppliers and visit their plants and distribution centers to assess their capabilities. For example, they may discuss the design of products with design engineers, quality concerns with production supervisors, or shipping issues with managers in the receiving department.
Buyers and purchasing agents must make certain that the supplier can deliver the desired goods or services on time, in the correct quantities, and without sacrificing quality. Once they have gathered information on suppliers, they sign contracts with suppliers who meet the organization’s needs and they place orders.
Buyers who purchase items to resell to customers may determine which products their organization will sell. They need to be able to predict what will appeal to their customers. If they are wrong, they could jeopardize the profits and reputation of their organization.
Buyers who work for large organizations often specialize in purchasing one or two categories of products or services. Buyers who work for smaller businesses or government agencies may be responsible for making a greater variety of purchases.
Wholesale and retail buyers purchase goods for resale to consumers. Examples of these goods are clothing and electronics. Purchasing specialists who buy finished goods for resale are commonly known as buyers or merchandise managers.
Purchasing agents and buyers of farm products buy agricultural products for further processing or resale. Examples of these products are grain, cotton, and tobacco.
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products buy items for the operation of an organization. Examples of these items are chemicals and industrial equipment needed for a manufacturing establishment, and office supplies.
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Although a high school diploma may be sufficient for some positions, many employers require buyers and purchasing agents to have a bachelor’s degree. Most entry-level positions require some form of on-the-job training.
EducationEducational requirements usually vary with the size of the organization. Although a high school diploma may be enough at some organizations, many businesses require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. For many positions, a degree in business, finance, or supply management is sufficient.
For those interested in a career as a buyer or purchasing agent of farm products, a degree in agriculture, agriculture production, or animal science is often beneficial.
TrainingBuyers and purchasing agents typically get on-the-job training for more than 1 year. During this time, they learn how to perform their basic duties, including monitoring inventory levels and negotiating with suppliers.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsThere are several certifications available for buyers and purchasing agents. Although some employers require certification, many do not.
Most of these certifications involve oral or written exams and have education and work experience requirements.
The Institute for Supply Management offers the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) credential, which covers a wide scope of purchasing professional duties. To receive the CPSM credential, candidates must pass three exams and those with a bachelor’s degree must possess at least 3 years of relevant work experience while those without a bachelor’s degree must have at least 5 years of relevant work experience.
The American Purchasing Society offers the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification. The CPP certification is valid for 5 years. Candidates must earn a certain number of professional development “points” to renew their certification. Candidates initially become eligible and can renew their certification through a combination of purchasing-related experience, education, and professional contributions (such as published articles or delivered speeches).
APICS offers the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential. Applicants must have 3 years of relevant business experience or a bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for the CSCP credential. The credential is valid for 5 years. Candidates must also earn a certain number of professional development points to renew their certification.
The Next Level Purchasing Association offers the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) Certification. Although there are no education or work experience requirements, applicants must complete six online courses and pass an SPSM exam. Certification is valid for 4 years. Candidates must complete 32 continuing education hours in procurement-related topics to recertify for an additional four-year period.
The Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) offers two certifications for workers in federal, state, and local government. The Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credential requires applicants to have earned at least an associate’s degree, possess at least 3 years of public procurement experience, and complete relevant training courses. The Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) requires applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree, possess at least 5 years of public procurement experience, and complete additional training courses.
Those with the CPPB or the CPPO designation must renew their certification every 5 years by completing continuing education courses or attending procurement-related conferences or events.
The National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP), Institute for Public Procurement offers preparation courses for the UPPCC certification exams.
AdvancementAn experienced purchasing agent or buyer may become an assistant purchasing manager before advancing to purchasing manager, supply manager, or director of materials management. Buyers and purchasing agents with extensive work experience can also advance to become the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for an organization.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. When evaluating suppliers, buyers and purchasing agents must analyze their options and choose a supplier with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service.
Decisionmaking skills. Buyers and purchasing agents must have the ability to make informed and timely decisions, choosing products that they think will sell.
Math skills. Buyers and purchasing agents must possess basic math skills. They must be able to compare prices from different suppliers to ensure that their organization is getting the best deal.
Negotiating skills. Buyers and purchasing agents often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a supplier. Interpersonal skills and self-confidence, in addition to knowledge of the product, can help lead to successful negotiations.
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Average Length of Employment | |
Senior Agent
3.6 years
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Operations Agent
3.0 years
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Contract Agent
3.0 years
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Fuel Technician
2.5 years
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Agent
2.1 years
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Fuel Agent
2.0 years
|
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Scheduling Agent
1.6 years
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Top Careers Before Fuel Agent | |
Ramp Agent
17.8%
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Cashier
14.0%
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Package Handler
8.4%
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Mail Clerk
4.7%
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Sales Representative
3.7%
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Mail Processing
3.7%
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Service Agent
3.7%
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Assistant Manager
3.7%
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Supervisor
3.7%
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Account Manager
3.7%
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Material Handler
2.8%
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Assembly Member
2.8%
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Loader
2.8%
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Cook
2.8%
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Warehouse Associate
2.8%
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Warehouse Worker
2.8%
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Security Officer
2.8%
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Top Careers After Fuel Agent | |
Ramp Agent
9.5%
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|
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Security Officer
8.1%
|
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General Manager
5.4%
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Agent
5.4%
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Coordinator
5.4%
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Supervisor
5.4%
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Sales Associate
5.4%
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Stocker
4.1%
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Cleaner
4.1%
|
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Operations Manager
4.1%
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Data Entry Clerk
4.1%
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Machine Operator
4.1%
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Support Team Member
4.1%
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Tax Preparer
4.1%
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Fueler
4.1%
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Package Handler
4.1%
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Forklift Operator
2.7%
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Have you worked as a Fuel Agent? Help other job seekers by rating your experience as a Fuel Agent.
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Gender | |
Male 72.7% |
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Unknown 18.7% |
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Female 8.6% |
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Ethnicity | |
White 57.2% |
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Hispanic or Latino 19.2% |
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Black or African American 12.7% |
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Asian 6.1% |
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Unknown 4.7% |
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Foreign Languages Spoken | |
Spanish 66.7% |
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Arabic 33.3% |
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Schools | |
Houston Community College 8.3% |
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Strayer University 8.3% |
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Kaplan University 8.3% |
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West Chester University of Pennsylvania 5.6% |
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ITT Technical Institute-Torrance 5.6% |
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College of Southern Nevada 5.6% |
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Bauder College 5.6% |
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University of Phoenix 5.6% |
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Miami Dade College 5.6% |
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale 5.6% |
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Georgia State University 5.6% |
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Vermilion Community College 5.6% |
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Merritt College 5.6% |
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Montana State University - Bozeman 2.8% |
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National Aviation Academy of New England 2.8% |
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Georgia Perimeter College 2.8% |
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Prince George's Community College 2.8% |
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Bob Jones University 2.8% |
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Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Philadelphia 2.8% |
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Orange Coast College 2.8% |
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Majors | |
Business 21.4% |
|
Accounting 10.0% |
|
General Studies 7.1% |
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Aviation 5.7% |
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Information Technology 5.7% |
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Criminal Justice 5.7% |
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Construction Engineering Technologies 5.7% |
|
Automotive Technology 4.3% |
|
Medical Technician 2.9% |
|
Nursing Assistants 2.9% |
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Computer Information Systems 2.9% |
|
Culinary Arts 2.9% |
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Finance 2.9% |
|
Photography 2.9% |
|
Heating And Air Conditioning 2.9% |
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Health Care Administration 2.9% |
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Pharmacy 2.9% |
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Communication 2.9% |
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Dietetics 2.9% |
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Education 2.9% |
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Degrees | |
Other 40.2% |
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Bachelors 25.8% |
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Associate 17.5% |
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Certificate 10.3% |
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Masters 3.1% |
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Diploma 2.1% |
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License 1.0% |
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Are you working as a Fuel Agent? Help us rate Fuel Agent as a Career.
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