How to Become a Procurement Agent?
Steps to Become a Procurement Agent
Procurement agents are responsible for purchasing the products and services that companies and other organizations need to conduct business. Procurement agents have to speak to suppliers on phone calls and video calls daily, so if you don't enjoy communicating via phone or the internet, you may want to consider a different career path. However, if you have excellent communication skills, love to negotiate, and are good at crunching numbers, then you're ready to take the following steps to become a procurement agent.Pursue a bachelor's degree relevant to procurement.
Procurement agents typically hold a bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field. If you obtain a master's degree after completing your bachelor's, you stand a better chance of being considered for managerial positions. Learning a second language is another qualification that can give you a leg up because many procurement agents have to communicate with international suppliers and travel to trade shows.
What type of degree should you pursue to become a Procurement Agent?
89% of people working as a Procurement Agent earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Procurement Agent?
- Microsoft Office Suite
- SUPPLIERS
- Excellent Communication
- Interpersonal and Communication
- Powerpoint
- Negotiation
- MS Office
- Problem Solving
Apply for a procurement agent internship.
As you complete your degree, consider applying for available procurement agent internships, especially if you're in your junior or senior year of college. Procurement agent interns typically assist with inventory, search supplier catalogs, and create spreadsheets. An internship can give you practical experience and help you build your professional network. You might even be able to turn your internship into a permanent position.
Earn professional certifications in procurement.
Earning a professional certification can help you expand your procurement knowledge and skills while proving to potential employers that you know how to implement those skills. The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) offers a Supply Chain Procurement Certificate program that teaches participants how to develop sourcing strategies, establish procurement policies, and review procurement metrics. These skills not only make for an effective procurement agent, but they can also save a company money when it comes to procuring supplies and materials.
Apply for procurement agent positions.
After completing your degree, gaining experience as an intern, and earning your professional certification, it's time to apply for procurement agent positions. If you have a bachelor's degree, it's best to start in an entry-level procurement role. If you've completed your master's degree, it won't hurt to apply for managerial positions. Many companies are willing to hire post-graduate degree holders for leadership positions, such as procurement manager jobs, even if they don't have much previous experience.
Continue to develop your procurement agent career skills.
No matter how far along you are in your education or career, there's always room to grow. Join a professional organization such as the ASCM to continue to expand your professional network and procurement skills. These organizations hold conferences and publish newsletters to help members keep up with developments in the field of procurement. You can also earn additional certifications that will help you earn promotions.
Procurement Agent Career Path
Procurement Agent
Senior Procurement Agent
Procurement Agent IV
Total Pay Trajectory
Procurement Agent Career Path
Related Careers in the Business Industry
Interested in other Business careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Procurement Agent skills. Discover some of the most common Procurement Agent career transitions, along with skills overlap.