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Purchasing managers, buyers,

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and purchasing agents

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have two major goals:

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to buy goods

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their company can sell at a profit,

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and to increase their customer base

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by offering products that consumers want.

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Purchasing agents buy items

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that support an organization’s operation,

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such as chemicals or industrial equipment

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for a manufacturer.

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Buyers purchase goods for

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resale to consumers,

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such as clothing or electronics.

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Purchasing managers oversee

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the work of buyers and agents,

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and handle more complex tasks.

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The most challenging part of the job

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is predicting which items will be popular,

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and which might end up

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left unsold in a warehouse

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or hanging on a store’s markdown racks

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which takes a combination of

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good planning, decisiveness,

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and the confidence to trust their intuition.

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Buyers and purchasers

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research industry trends, study past sales,

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and listen to customer feedback

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to identify buying patterns.

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They carefully select product suppliers

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that will meet the quality, cost,

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and delivery date promised.

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Most buyers, purchasing agents,

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and managers work in offices full time,

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with some travel to see suppliers.

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Overtime is common.

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The largest employers of these positions

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are in the manufacturing industry,

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wholesale and retail trade,

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and the federal government.

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Buyers and purchasing agents

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often need a bachelor’s degree

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and related experience,

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though a high school diploma suffices

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for some positions.

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Purchasing managers usually have

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at least a bachelor’s degree,

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and several years’ work experience

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as a buyer or purchasing agent.