How to become a Purchasing Manager
A purchasing manager can be the job title, or it can be a part of another position. In large companies, it is cost effective to have a single person designated as the professional buyer for the entire company. In smaller companies, the purchasing manager may also be the office manager or some type of departmental director. If your intent is to become a purchasing manager, there are two general routes that can be followed to arrive at the position. Both require some of the same preparation to land the job.
Get a business education.
Whether you get your start in a small office or become part of a financial team in a major corporation, a business education will be needed to get your foot in the door. You should take some accounting, marketing, economics, and management course work to prepare for a purchasing manager position. A degree in accounting or a similar field will serve you well. Getting a four year degree will have an advantage over a two year degree.
If you are a driven type of individual, you can start big.
Climbing the ladder in a large business environment can be hazardous to your career. Often in a large office, many people are trying to climb to the top by taking advantage of limited opportunities. These individuals can make it extremely difficult for someone with a passive personality to be promoted. However, if you do not mind fighting your way to the top, starting out in these tough surroundings may be just what you are seeking.
For the more relaxed person, starting in a smaller company can be best.
Regardless of the size of the office, the functions that you need to learn are similar. In the small office setting, the numbers will be smaller and some of the ledger entries may be a little more limited. You will be able to be exposed to a wider array of office operations in a shorter period of time in the small office. Many times, everyone in the office will learn how to do every accounting-oriented job in the place. This type of experience can provide a great foundation for vaulting yourself to the larger office setting after a few years.
One of the best ways to become a purchasing manager is to apply for the job after you have already performed many of the functions in a small office.
It is easier to get any position if you can demonstrate some form of experience in the job. Coming from a small office, you should know the language of the purchasing manager’s position. Purchase orders, requests for proposals, bids, and vendors are terms that are used at every level in the business purchasing field. Even a small office will do business with many vendors, receive bids for work, and have purchasing agreements. As long as you can connect the dots, you can do purchasing in large and small environments.
Starting in a large corporation, you will need to try to learn as many jobs as possible as you work toward a purchasing manager position.
In any large work setting, the employee who learns a lot about the operation will get prime consideration when promotions are handed out. If you can prove your worth in several jobs within the accounting department, you should be able to get involved with purchasing. As you learn the ropes concerning how your specific company handles purchasing decisions, it will become a natural step for you to become someone who assists with the purchasing functions of the office. When the purchasing manager position becomes vacant, you can take advantage of your training and move up.
If your purchasing manager is young and efficient, you may have to change employers to get the job that you want.
The preparation is the same. You need to be able demonstrate to a prospective employer that you are ready for the step up to the purchasing manager’s slot. With plenty of office experience and a strong educational background in business, it will not take too much work to accomplish this.
