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Buyer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Buyer Example Skills

One of the most important hard skills a buyer can possess is monitoring supplier performance because this skill helps to direct and make decisions for procurement. It's also important for buyers to have the hard skill of great cost reduction strategies.


When it comes to soft skills, buyers should have strong customer service skills above all else. Buyers need to ensure that orders are accurate, so great attention to detail is also crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical buyer skills. We ranked the top skills for buyers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.1% of buyer resumes contained purchase orders as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a buyer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 buyer skills for your resume and career

1. Purchase Orders

Here's how buyers use purchase orders:
  • Review customer orders and as necessary initiate modifications and issue purchase orders to all vendors according to customer requirements.
  • Generate Purchase Orders and schedule inbound material deliveries, balancing component availability while avoiding excessive inventory levels.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how buyers use customer service:
  • Partnered with outside vendors to ensure on-time deliveries and maintained relationships with internal customer service department to resolve trade partner concerns.
  • Direct responsibility for leveraging attention-to-detail, organization and computer skills, and a customer service aptitude to support sales agents.

3. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how buyers use logistics:
  • Coordinated with Logistics & brokerage firms regarding International orders, shipments and paperwork requirements for simplified transition of overseas goods.
  • Communicated with prospective suppliers to determine supply capabilities, transportation logistics, and inventory control and management.

4. Supplier Performance

Supplier performance refers to practices aimed at optimizing a supplier's performance and capabilities.

Here's how buyers use supplier performance:
  • Maintain direct involvement with suppliers in acquiring product information, discussing supplier performance, and recognizing supply conditions and business updates.
  • Monitored supplier performance for compliance with delivery schedules, payment provisions, contract data reporting requirements, and other contractual requirements.

5. MRP

MRP is an abbreviation of Material Requirements Planning and refers to the control system which is implemented in the planning and management of the activities related to manufacturing. Through MRP, manufacturers can easily schedule the production and it can also be used for inventory. MRP systems are mostly software-based but the process can also be carried out manually.

Here's how buyers use mrp:
  • Compile and analyze current and anticipated material requirements consolidating volume wherever possible, using Material Requirements Planning (MRP) System.
  • Created and transmitted purchase orders using MRP methodology for several global manufacturing facilities, including in Canada and Mexico.

6. Commodities

Here's how buyers use commodities:
  • Maintained accurate item buying factors in forecasting system for all warehouses to ensure optimum replenishment levels for highest moving commodities.
  • Evaluated sales records and inventory levels to determine appropriate product requirements for a wide variety of automotive and industrial commodities.

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7. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how buyers use erp:
  • Promoted continuous improvement initiatives designed to support the demands of growth and sustainable business practices utilizing ERP and Project Management software.
  • Implemented numerous cost-reduction programs Implemented new Oracle Procure-To-Pay ERP system Managed multiple centralized and decentralized stocking areas
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8. Cost Savings

Here's how buyers use cost savings:
  • Assist with vendor relations, vendor performance, cost effective-measurements, generated cost savings to assure competitiveness and support business growth.
  • Initiated and performed quarterly supplier evaluations resulting in cost savings by working with suppliers to develop and implement lean manufacturing practices.

9. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how buyers use on-time delivery:
  • Participate in large critical equipment purchase negotiations and follow to successful on-time delivery to facilitate flawless execution of short-window major turnarounds.
  • Improved on-time delivery of finished goods by expediting and rescheduling purchase orders to support changes in manufacturing and piece/part spares schedules.

10. Cost Reduction

Here's how buyers use cost reduction:
  • Negotiated contracts in total cost reduction effort, establishing master purchase agreements and strategic alliances with domestic and international suppliers.
  • Streamlined and consolidated apparel vendor relationships from 30 to 10 resulting in significant vendor cost reductions and increased margins.

11. RFQ

A request for quotation (RFQ) is a document that a corporation submits to one or more potential suppliers obtaining quotations for a service or product. Typically, an RFQ seeks a detailed list of prices for something that is measurable like hardware and it involves more than the price per item. RFQ, call for bids and invitation for bid generally mean the same thing.

Here's how buyers use rfq:
  • Facilitated RFQ s coordinating all communications with potential bidders, evaluating subcontractor bids, bidder sourcing and selection.
  • Complete RFQ for non-contract parts (create, pull drawings, follow up) and Compliance Cost Justification packages as needed.

12. Supplier Relationships

Here's how buyers use supplier relationships:
  • Coordinate vendor and supplier relationships in order to effectively manage performance issues and other difficulties to prevent escalation and resolve problems.
  • Controlled budgets; researched and selected vendors; negotiated contracts and managed supplier relationships for a manufacturer of gasoline dispensing equipment.

13. Delivery Dates

A delivery date is a day on which a stock, bond, or option trade must be finalized. In other words, it is a final date on which the underlying commodities for a forward contract must be delivered for the fulfillment of the terms of the contract.

Here's how buyers use delivery dates:
  • Established and maintained strong relationships with vendors through personal and telephone contact, discussing and resolving problems regarding delayed delivery dates.
  • Place purchase orders and additional related activities for expediting product delivery dates, processing returns and invoice reconciliation as required.

14. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how buyers use pos:
  • Maintained constant communication with the Marketing/Advertising Director regarding in-store POS collateral and items for print and television advertising.
  • Placed POS and assisted multiple locations nationally and internationally.

15. Inventory Control

Here's how buyers use inventory control:
  • Assisted Inventory controlled management/packaged/shipped materials.
  • Advanced inventory control by instigating implementation of warehouse locator system, reducing stock-outs 50% and minimizing over-purchasing of raw materials.
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List of buyer skills to add to your resume

Buyer Skills

The most important skills for a buyer resume and required skills for a buyer to have include:

  • Purchase Orders
  • Customer Service
  • Logistics
  • Supplier Performance
  • MRP
  • Commodities
  • ERP
  • Cost Savings
  • On-Time Delivery
  • Cost Reduction
  • RFQ
  • Supplier Relationships
  • Delivery Dates
  • POS
  • Inventory Control
  • Inventory Management
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • Procurement Process
  • Market Trends
  • RFP
  • MRO
  • Cost Analysis
  • Strong Negotiation
  • Product Quality
  • Price Analysis
  • R
  • ISO
  • Delivery Schedules
  • Quality Issues
  • Product Development
  • Payment Terms
  • Place Orders
  • Kanban
  • Vendor Performance
  • Production Schedules
  • Vendor Relations
  • Product Line
  • Open Orders
  • Capital Equipment
  • Computer System
  • BOM
  • Trade Shows
  • Customer Orders
  • Electronic Components
  • Cycle Counts
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Procurement Sourcing
  • Excellent Negotiation
  • AS400
  • OEM

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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