I consult business customers on their negotiation strategy and how to structure their agreements with potential suppliers. I draft, review, and negotiate contracts. I advise my peers on common push back I see on certain contract provisions. I participate in training my peers and business customers on negotiating technology-specific contracts.
CAREER
Procurement Clerks
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$44,740
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-7.5% (decline)
Most Common Level of Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Procurement Clerks Do
Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.
Other Job Titles Procurement Clerks May Have
Buyer, Procurement Assistant, Procurement Officer, Procurement Specialist, Procurement Technician, Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Associate, Purchasing Clerk, Purchasing Specialist, Warehouse Clerk
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I meet with several different teams of people to understand their supplier needs and work with them on developing a strategy to find the right companies to work with while obtaining the best deal.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Perform buying duties when necessary.
- Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.
- Compare suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy.
- Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists.
- Check shipments when they arrive to ensure that orders have been filled correctly and that goods meet specifications.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Procurement Clerks
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (34%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Business Administration and Management, General
Doctorate
Law
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Leadership, presence (how you show up to others), project management (helps with efficiency).
Communication (written, verbal, presentation, etc.) skills are extremely important as you interact with several different audiences in many different ways. It's necessary to be able to convey messages in a clear and concise manner!
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Focus on graduating high school while finding a university you are interested in that has a supply chain management program.
Work hard, and start early in deciding where you want to go to school and what is needed to get there. The sky is the limit, use your resources- internet, guidance counselor- and never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. Find out what it takes to get there, pay attention to the details (i.e. financial aid procedures, registration dates, etc.). Keep going until ALL your questions are answered (even the smallest).
College Students
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
