Purchasing Manager

Review the job description for the Purchasing Manager position.  The underlined keywords link to interview questions for that keyword or job function.

Description:  A Purchasing Manager plans and directs the activities of a group of employees whose primary function is to obtain materials, supplies and equipment; may also direct activities involved in obtaining services through contract and may arrange for sale of obsolete or scrap materials; applies sound management principles in building and maintaining an effective work force.

Additional supply chain interview resources:

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You have the supply chain and and supervisory experience and skills.  Now put it all together and get the edge in the job interview with the Complete Interview Guide with Supervision Interview Guide including behavioral/situational questions for supervisors and answers to the toughest supervisory questions.  Answer questions naturally without sounding rehearsed and build confidence for the interview.

• Learn how to practice right for the interview.

• Good or bad?  I wish, I think, I feel.

• How can hand gestures improve your interview performance?

• Why are mock interviews important?  Why isn't one mock interview enough?

• Why you shouldn't use limiting words such as "only" or "just"?

Plus:

• Answers to the toughest interview situations - follow-up letters, illegal questions, salary, job history questions and more!

• How to answer and how not to answer

• Questions to ask the interviewers

• What should you do the day of the interview?

• Identify possible interview questions

Review these critical interview tips before your interview:

• Interview Etiquette

• How to Dress for Your Interview

• Questions to Ask the Interviewers

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Practice Purchasing Manager Interview

1. Tell us about yourself.
   Focus on the aspects of your experience that apply to this position.  Tips on your interview opening.

2. What tools/techniques do you use in motivating employees?
   Two of the steps that you can take are to establish expectations, get employees involved by making them part of the improvement process.

3. How would you go about establishing a strategic plan for the organization?
   Make the distinction between strategy and tactics.  Align your plan with the objectives for the overall organization.

4. Let's assume you've been hired.  Your assignment is to maintain or improve current service levels while reducing the budget by 10%.  What steps will you take?
   Be sure to include maintain support for mandatory activities, eliminating unnecessary processes, and prioritizing.

5. What aspect of supervision do you find most difficult?
   Be careful.  If you have a number of choices to choose from, try not to choose one of the essential tasks of supervision.

6. Tell us about your experience in negotiations.
   Use an example that provided a tangible benefit to the organization.  Tell the interview board about the tangible benefit.

7. If you could change one aspect of the purchasing process, what would you change?
   Try to pick an aspect that is easily understood.  Provide a constructive means of changing or improving the process.

8. Do you have anything to add?
   Tips on your interview closing.