How to hire a purchasing/receiving

How to hire a purchasing/receiving, step by step

Here's a step-by-step purchasing/receiving hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a purchasing/receiving job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new purchasing/receiving
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The purchasing/receiving hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A purchasing/receiving's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, purchasing/receivings from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of purchasing/receivings.

   Type of Purchasing/Receiving	Description	Hourly rate
   Purchasing/Receiving	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-17
   Shipper	A shipper is an employee who is responsible for filling customer orders and ensures that the quality of these orders meets the company standards. Shippers are tasked with locating items in a warehouse and preparing them for shipping while completing all the transportation procedures so that no complications arise during the cargo-sending process... Show more	$12-18
   Distribution Clerk	A distribution clerk is in charge of processing and managing products for shipments and deliveries, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They work at warehouse facilities responsible for monitoring shipments, participating in loading and unloading packages, and inspecting them to ensure their quality and quantity... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Purchase Orders
   • Shipping Receiving
   • Computer Programs
   • Delivery Schedules
   • Inventory Reports
   • Safety Policies
   • Inventory Counts
   • Inventory System
   • Place Orders
   • Data Entry Devices
   • Fed-Ex
   • Customer Orders
   • QuickBooks
   • Computer System

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the outgoing FTL and LTL shipments.
   • Monitor and manage inventory levels after final assembly and inspection to ensure on time delivery in a warehouse setting using WMS.
   • Work with owner to set-up and analyze QuickBooks accounting package.
   • Update BOM of vendors, dates, prices and add product.
   • Prepare documents for inventory adjustments, RMA's, and vendor returns.
   • Coordinate with shipping and receiving department on incoming supplies and RMA's.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your purchasing/receiving job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A purchasing/receiving salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, purchasing/receivings' average salary in mississippi is 32% less than in nebraska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level purchasing/receivings earn 24% less than senior-level purchasing/receivings.
   • Certifications. A purchasing/receiving with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a purchasing/receiving's salary.

   Average purchasing/receiving salary

   $15.64hourly

   $32,524 yearly

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   Entry-level purchasing/receiving salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

4. Writing a purchasing/receiving job description

   A job description for a purchasing/receiving role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a purchasing/receiving job description:

   Purchasing/receiving job description example

   Do you enjoy helping customers, but prefer to be on your feet rather than sitting at a desk? Our Customer Pick Up team is looking to add a hard working, motivated, friendly employee to their team.
   
   Customer Pick up employees are responsible for picking orders and helping customers load onto their vehicles, as well as receiving and general warehouse work.
   
   Essential Functions and ResponsibilitiesPerform all job operations in a safe manner in accordance with company safety policies.Unload vendor trucks based on 1st come 1st serve basis using necessary equipment. Use required chock blocks and safety measures when operating equipment.Retrieve hardware for the ease of loaders and drivers, using hardware pick tickets or requested ship dates by sales staff and mark with appropriate door opening number - as required daily by project ship date.Inspect material for quality, quantity, size, style and color using packing slips and acquired knowledge of product line.Palletize, stage all hardware by customer orders or project name, wrap and prepare larger orders for shipment to jobsite and record location of material for sales and loaders. Daily as required by project ship dates, using knowledge of appropriate storage locations and all necessary supplies and equipment needed.Store all inventory using necessary equipment and knowledge of appropriate storage locations.Mark packing slips with product locations, date received, receiver initials and discrepancies. Compare packing slips to companies' computerized order information using mainframe computer. Receive paperwork in system.Print tickets needed for special orders using mainframe computer and printer.Tag special order material using printed tickets.Retrieve inventory for the use of production and shipping using the necessary equipment and work tickets specifying products to retrieve.Maintain warehouse area for effective storage, i.e., sweeping, cleaning and organizing material using necessary supplies and equipment. Daily as needed on a continuous basis.Report all damaged material to the Inventory Manager so that it may be recorded, in order to maintain accurate inventory records. Mark damaged material with labels supplied.Employee will operate a forklift in a safe manner (if certified to use). Assist as needed with loading of trucks for customer delivery using delivery tickets and necessary equipment.
   
   Company Mission and Continuous ImprovementMission Statement - lives up to the company mission, values and strategic goals. “Provides exceptional products and services to every customer, every time.Always promote a positive image of our company and our employees.Continuous Improvement- gets involved on teams or individually to make and implement suggestions. Uses reliable methods to improve the efficiency of his/ her job method or the department to make small improvements to our business every day. Maintain work areas to 5s standards (Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, Sustain & Safety)
   
   Required Education & ExperienceMust be at least 18 years of age High School diploma or general education degree (GED) Ability to use measuring devices such as a tape measure and transfer them to a production piece within 1/16"Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions; deal with problems involving a few concrete variables and standardized situation.Must be able to work overtime when needed and some Saturdays to satisfy production schedule demands Must have prior experience in warehouse receiving or loading Knowledge of general safety guidelines in carpentry or construction field Some product knowledge Experience working in a team environment
   Tool and Machine ExperienceForklift Box knife Screw GunStaple GunRadial Arm Saw
   Physical DemandsMust take and pass post-offer screening drug test, physical and consent to a background check Standing/Walking: 8 hours repetitive on feet on concrete floor Stooping/Reaching/Bending: continuous to gather items and fabricate Overhead Lift: up to 30 lbs. without assistance and up to 60 lbs. w/ assistance.Lift/Grasp: with dominant hands and fingers up to 60 lbs. without assistance and up to 120 lbs. with assistance holding woodworking or steel components in fabrication Carry/Grasp: with dominant hands and fingers up to 40 lbs. without assistance and up to 80 lbs. with assistance Push/Pull: with dominant hands rolling carts of interior door products up to 500 lbs. without assistance and up to 1000 lbs. with assistance Vision: must see near and far sighted Hearing: must hear machinery sounds
   Work EnvironmentShop warehouse building Must be able to work in varied temperature hot or cold depending on the weather and how it effects the shop temperature Extended work day (overtime) as needed
   Required Tools or ClothingWork Boots with unworn treads Tape MeasureLunch box or lunch tote to bring lunch No hooded sweatshirts with strings

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right purchasing/receiving for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with purchasing/receivings they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit purchasing/receivings who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your purchasing/receiving job on Zippia to find and recruit purchasing/receiving candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with purchasing/receiving candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new purchasing/receiving

   Once you've found the purchasing/receiving candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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