Purchasing Agents
The job of a purchasing agent is very important. These individuals have an important role within a company. The purchasing agent is responsible for buying goods and services for the company to use. The purchasing agent will be responsible for buying a wide range of products, including raw materials and office supplies. However, some people may have a special purchasing role to play, such as purchasing computers and software.
The job of purchasing agents is not only concerned with purchasing the goods. They also have to negotiate prices and be aware of quality and availability while ensuring that they offer reliable and helpful technical support. The purchasing agent has to try to secure a good deal for his or her company and keep the costs as low as possible while maintaining the quality. Purchasing agents also have to keep track of sales and stock levels.
Some purchasing agents also assist managers with planning and running a successful sales campaign. Purchasing agents are employed within a vast range of businesses, including schools, offices, and hospitals.
The job of a purchasing agent is to balance the cost of the goods with their quality and ensure that the company is paying a fair price for the goods. A supplier who is charging too much or selling poor quality goods will damage the funds of the company that the purchasing agent is working for.
It is very important that purchasing agents keep themselves up to date with an overall picture of what is happening in the market. This will help them with making good negotiations and deals and getting the best price possible, which is one of the key areas of their jobs. The purchasing agent spends a lot of time on the Internet researching prices and suppliers, so a key skill for a purchasing agent is to be good with computers and have good numeric skills. It is also important for purchasing agents to be able to anticipate any delays with deliveries, and to try to find a way around these delays.
There is an increasing trend for companies to employ purchasing agents, as they are usually skilled people who are able to save money, despite the fact that the company has to pay the wages of the purchasing agent.
IT Purchasing Jobs
IT purchasing jobs are usually found within large companies that need to employ a specialist who can be in charge of purchasing computers and computer software for use within the business. This job can be very rewarding. However, it can also be very stressful and demanding and very often includes tight deadlines for the purchaser to meet. This purchasing job does not only involve buying things for the company. It also involves negotiating with the relevant companies to get the best deal possible on things that the company has to buy in relation to information technology.
Medical Purchasing Jobs
The medical purchasing job involves purchasing the things that are required within a hospital or chemist’s lab. Many medical purchasing jobs are found within specialty hospitals. The job of medical purchaser can be very rewarding. However, it can also be very stressful as those holding it have to ensure that there is an adequate supply of medical provisions and equipment. As a hospital’s budget is usually very tight, the purchaser also has to try and negotiate the best deal that they can with the providers to try and maximize the budget.
Qualifications and Pay
Although some companies will take on purchasing agents who have no formal qualifications, some companies do prefer to give the job to people who are qualified. Many employers look for people who have a bachelor’s degree. However, some companies are willing to take you on and train you via the on the job training scheme within a master’s degree course.
There are some purchasing agents who can make as much as $122,000 per year. When you first start out in the world of purchasing agents, it will be normal to be paid about $41,000 per annum, which will rise to about $95,000 through time and experience. Purchasing managers can earn anywhere between $72,000 and $121,600. The amount that you are actually paid may vary from these amounts, as the amount that you are paid will depend on what sector you are working in, the amount of responsibility you have, the length of time that you have done the job, and what qualifications you have. The highest-paying sector for purchasing agents is within the large companies and enterprises, and the lowest-paid sector usually tends to be grocery stores and similar institutions.
Purchasing agents usually receive the same benefits as other employees in terms of sick leave, insurance, and pensions. Some companies award the purchasing agent a cash reward every six months or so as an extra incentive for them to save the company money. The bonus is worked out over how well the purchasing agent is doing.
The job of a purchasing agent is a very worthwhile and enjoyable job to do. However, it can sometimes get stressful and you have to pay a lot of attention to even the minor details involved in the job. There is a lot involved in the job of a purchasing agent; however, it is a very well-paying job, and that means that you are well-rewarded for all of your hard work.
