Purchasing Agent Resume: Examples, Objective, Skills

What will the “R” in “ROI” stand for if you invest in finding the best way to write a purchasing agent resume? The answer is rather obvious—your dream job.

First, you need to prepare the assets for your investment. So get to it!

This guide will show you: 

• A sample of a purchasing agent resume better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a purchasing agent resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put an objective and skills on a resume for a purchasing agent.
• How to write a purchasing agent job description on a resume to get any job you want.

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Want to read a general guide for purchasing jobs? There you go: Purchasing Resume Example and How to Write

Check out other guides related to a purchasing agent job:

• Buyer Resume Example
• Clerical Resume Example
• Insurance Agent Resume Example
• Manager Resume Example
• Office Assistant Resume Example
• Sales Representative Resume Example
• Real Estate Agent Resume Example
• Leasing Agent Resume Example
• Social Work Resume Example
• Resume Examples for 500+ Professions

Purchasing Agent Resume Sample

Every purchase is based on a promise. I also made you one to help you write a successful purchasing agent resume.

So, without further ado—

This is how to write a resume for a purchasing agent:

1. Format Your Purchasing Agent Resume

A purchasing agent buys products or services of quality, builds and manages the company vendor and supplier portfolios, and negotiates contract terms dictating deals. So, in your purchasing agent resume, make sure to say how well you handle customer service, supply chain management, and contract negotiations.

Speaking of—

Reading and understanding contracts is not easy-peasy. Yellow-dogs, ratification, waivers… 

But not for you. 

You’re well versed in legalese and contract layout because your time is of the essence.

So, instead of letting your recruiter lose time deciphering your resume, have them think of reasons to hire you. Make that happen by following these simple resume format rules:

• Pick the best resume template.
• Space out your contents. Set 1–1.15 line spacing and 1” resume margins on all sides.
• Choose a professional resume font, such as Calibri or Verdana. Make it 12pt in font size.
• Go for a chronological resume and start with the most recent items in every section.
• Add your detail in resume bullet points. It’s easier to scan it that way.
• If you’re wondering how long your resume should be, stay on one page.
• That means, don’t go far back in work history with your resume. 

Read How To Create a Resume to get the big picture

2. Write a Purchasing Agent Resume Objective or Summary

Just like you need sugar for sweetness, a purchasing agent needs negotiation skills to achieve goals.

And because making an elevator pitch is part of every resume, now you have a chance to persuade the hiring manager that you know what’s what already in the resume introduction:

• Write a career summary where you summarize your experience and qualifications. Make them sound solid by mentioning one or two achievements that you’re most proud of. Drop a certification and a few skills in between.
• A career objective, though, works better if you don’t have years of experience to show off. Include your skills and aspirations toward becoming a purchasing agent, and prove your enthusiasm for the new opportunity.

See how to highlight your strengths in our Summary Of Qualifications Example

3. Balance Your Purchasing Agent Duties on a Resume

To sign the deal, you’ll have to take it down a notch.

“What exactly do I need to take down?”

Your confidence. 

You don’t win a deal with strong opinions about your readiness to succeed. That way, you underestimate the whole preparation process, which, instead, will take you down.

Instead, you would use solid arguments backed up with quantifiable data. 

So—

This’s how to prepare for and write a purchasing agent job description on a resume:

• Read and reread the job ad. 
• Look for resume keywords regarding the job requirements, such as qualifications, experience, and skills.
• Mark them so that you don’t miss a thing.
• When thinking about which of your responsibilities to write about, lean towards those that match your resume to the job description. The rest is irrelevant.
• Transform the list of your duties to a list of accomplishment statements.
• Add quantifiers and power words to your statements to show you brought results.
• Write 4–5 bullets for the most recent position and single out your key professional accomplishment. For the rest of your resume entries, 3 bullet points are enough.

There are other items equally worth including in your resume. See What To Put On A Resume to land the job

4. Include Your Business Education

Having no higher education won’t rob you of the job, but requirements vary from company to company. Holding a degree in finance, business administration, or supply management will come in helpful.

Yet, if your experience proves you outperformed your competitors, there’s nothing to be worried about.

Now see how to include your degree on a resume:

• If you have years of experience, mention only the name of your degree, university or college, and graduation date.
• But, if you’re writing an entry-level resume, add an unexpected (but relevant!) extra to your resume education section to turn it into an even bigger asset. Relevant coursework, student club memberships, or group projects are a great addition to your portfolio.

Here you’ll find all the answers to What Is A Good Resume

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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5. List Your Purchasing Agent Resume Skills

I spoke about negotiation skills and contract law knowledge already.

But what else is there?

What else do you need to make recruiters sure you excel at what you do?

• The only way to find out is to read the job description again.
• Seek professional skills in responsibilities and candidate requirements. 
• Make sure to mark both soft and hard skills, like communication and software.
• Now compare the desired skills with what you can do, and there you go.

Now see a list of potential skills for a purchasing agent resume:

Purchasing Agent Resume Skills

• Database software: Oracle
• ERP: NetSuite
• Financial analysis
• Microsoft Office skills
• Strategic planning
• Resource allocation
• Economics and accounting
• Contract law
• Negotiation
• Purchasing
• Research and data gathering
• Sourcing
• Delivery scheduling and monitoring
• Reporting
• Account management
• Quality assurance
• Interpersonal skills
• Customer service skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Decision-making skills
• Analytical thinking skills
• Active listening skills
• Administrative skills
• Organization skills

There’s a whole universe of skills you can explore. See 99+ Skills To Put On A Resume

6. Get Bonuses for Additional Sections

Who are you?

The king of deals! 

What do you want?

A job!

How do you get it?

With a giveaway!

Give away your key strengths in resume additional sections to make recruiters buy your story.

• There are many associations and societies you can join as a purchasing agent. Think of APS, ASCM, NLPA, or NIGP as highlighting markers of your qualifications.
• If you’re not only a member but an awarded professional with CPP, CSCP, CPPO, or CPO certifications, then that’s a win. Again.
• Perhaps you took internships or volunteering work in the industry. If so, don’t be afraid to include them on your resume. Employers appreciate efforts put into gaining knowledge outside of school and work.
• Hobbies & interests in resumes aren’t dead. They never should’ve been. If you’re spending your free time using the skills needed for the job, then your hobby becomes your asset.
• What about awards? Did you receive any? Mention them in a separate section to show off.
• Foreign language skills are also important for a purchasing agent. Plus, they add to your communication skills.

Additional sections aren’t the only way to add value to your resume. Check other possibilities for a Resume Improvement

7. Write a Purchasing Cover Letter for Your Resume

People will always need things, buy things, and sell things.

You can change industries, but being a purchasing agent gives you a sea of opportunities anywhere in the world. 

And so it does to your competition.

Don’t waste your time wondering whether you need a cover letter for your resume (because the answer is ten times yes), but get down to writing it.

Here’s how to do it for a purchasing agent resume:

• Copy the cover letter design off of your resume.
• Insert your resume contact information in the header.
• Address the hiring manager by name. Always.
• Start by saying something out of the ordinary about yourself, your achievements, or your skills. Hook the reader with the cover letter opening.
• Move on to reinforcing your fit by presenting your experience and qualifications.
• Finish your cover letter with a call to action and your signature.

Learn everything you need to know about How To Write A Cover Letter

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Bang on.

You’re ready to smash the job application process now. Good luck!

Please tell us—

What do you think about the writing guide? Do you appreciate the tips for writing a purchasing agent resume objective? Is explaining purchasing agent duties on a resume clear enough? Or maybe we missed things?

Give us a shout in the comments section!

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Sources

• https://www.ubalt.edu/campus-life/career-center/career-services-online/career-cycle/documents/Writing%20Accomplishment%20Statements.pdf
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/purchasing-managers-buyers-and-purchasing-agents.htm
• https://www.ascm.org/
• https://www.ascm.org/learning-development/certifications-credentials/cscp/
• https://uppcc.org/Certification