09/12/2015 Purchasing ManagerSkills and Knowledge

Purchasing Manager Career

Job Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers,
purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials,
products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising
managers and procurement managers.

Is Purchasing Manager the right career path for you?

Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it fits one of your top recommended
majors!(../college­major­quiz/)

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manager/) manager/education/) manager/schools/) manager/skills/) manager/salary/)

What skills are required for Purchasing Managers? Holland Code Chart for a Purchasin
Importance Skills

Coordination ­ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Artistic
Active Listening ­ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to Social

understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not
interrupting at inappropriate times.
Realistic Conventional
Speaking ­ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking ­ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Investigative

Persuasion ­ Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Negotiation ­ Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. Enterprising

Social Perceptiveness ­ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they
react as they do.

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09/12/2015 Purchasing ManagerSkills and Knowledge

Time Management ­ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Purchasing Manager Career Management of Personnel Resources ­ Motivating, developing, and directing people as
they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Overview(../../../career/purchasing­Education(../../../career/purchasing­Schools(../../../career/purchasing­ Skills(../../../career/purchasing­
Judgment and Decision Making ­ Considering theSalary(../../../career/purchasing­
relative costs and benefits of potential
manager/) manager/education/) manager/schools/) manager/skills/)
actions to choose the most appropriate one. manager/salary/)

Reading Comprehension ­ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work

related documents.

Monitoring ­ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or

organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing ­ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the

audience.

Service Orientation ­ Actively looking for ways to help people.

Instructing ­ Teaching others how to do something.

Active Learning ­ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and
future problem­solving and decision­making.

Learning Strategies ­ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures

appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Management of Financial Resources ­ Determining how money will be spent to get the
work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Systems Analysis ­ Determining how a system should work and how changes in
conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Complex Problem Solving ­ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related

information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Systems Evaluation ­ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the

actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Management of Material Resources ­ Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of

equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Mathematics ­ Using mathematics to solve problems.

Quality Control Analysis ­ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or

processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Operations Analysis ­ Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

What knowledge is needed to be a Purchasing Manager?

Importance Knowledge

Administration and Management ­ Knowledge of business and management principles

involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling,
leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

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English Language ­ Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language
including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Production and Processing ­ Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality

control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and
distribution of goods.

Law and Government ­ Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents,
government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political
process.

Mathematics ­ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their

applications.

Customer and Personal Service ­ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing
customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting
quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Transportation ­ Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by

air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Personnel and Human Resources ­ Knowledge of principles and procedures for

personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations
and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Economics and Accounting ­ Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and

practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Computers and Electronics ­ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic

equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and
programming.

Clerical ­ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as

word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing
forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Psychology ­ Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in

ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research
methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Engineering and Technology ­ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering

science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and
equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Mechanical ­ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair,
and maintenance.

Communications and Media ­ Knowledge of media production, communication, and

dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and
entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Sales and Marketing ­ Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting,
and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product
demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Education and Training ­ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and
training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the
measurement of training effects.

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Telecommunications ­ Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and

operation of telecommunications systems.

Work Styles
Importance Styles

Integrity ­ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Dependability ­ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling
obligations.

Self Control ­ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check,

controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Initiative ­ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Stress Tolerance ­ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively
with high stress situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility ­ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to

considerable variety in the workplace.

Analytical Thinking ­ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work­
related issues and problems.

Leadership ­ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and
direction.

Cooperation ­ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good­
natured, cooperative attitude.

Persistence ­ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Attention to Detail ­ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing
work tasks.

Achievement/Effort ­ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging

achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Independence ­ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding
oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Social Orientation ­ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and
being personally connected with others on the job.

Innovation ­ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and
answers to work­related problems.

Concern for Others ­ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and
being understanding and helpful on the job.

Work Values

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Importance Values

Working Conditions ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good
working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence,
Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Support ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that
stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision:
Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on
their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and
Autonomy.

Recognition ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for
leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are
Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Relationships ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide
service to others and work with co­workers in a friendly non­competitive environment.
Corresponding needs are Co­workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement ­ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow
employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

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