From the pens and chairs in the office to the computers and catering company the company uses; procurement professionals make sure a company gets everything they need to operate while still keeping an eye on the budget. Most procurement professionals have an educational background in accounting, finance, procurement, or management and have a bachelor’s degree at the least. Many procurement professionals follow that up with a master's or procurement certification. Your specific role in the procurement process will determine which educational past is most preferred to a recruiter.
However, degrees are only half of what recruiters look for. Arguably even more important is a procurement professional's communication skills. Relationship building with vendors and other internal departments is essential. People need to want to work and negotiate with procurement professionals for the department and company as a whole to succeed. So any experience that highlights your communication strengths is key.
Jump to a template:
Jump to a resource:
Get advice on each section of your resume:
A director of procurement is responsible for leading and managing the procurement process. This can involve creating purchasing policies, ensuring the budget is respected, and making sure the team is working efficiently. Most employers will therefore be looking for evidence that you can provide a vision and strategy for the department and manage people effectively.
This resume does a great job of emphasizing the applicant's managerial skills and ability to initiate processes and strategies to make staff work more effectively.
A director of procurement needs to lead the department to get things done. So make sure to include all relevant experience where you initiated a strategy or change that helped elevate your department's productivity and/or where you were a successful manager of a group.
You want an employer to see that you understand and have experience in all levels of the procurement process and have risen through the ranks. This will indicate that you will be able to relate to your subordinates and also that you have excelled enough to deserve promotions.
The main difference between an E-procurement manager and a normal procurement manager is that the former's procurement process takes place on the internet. While this automates some parts of the process, a manager would still need to be a great communicator and leader to effectively manage the team entrusted to them.
Because this position requires a lot of work on the internet, having an educational background and experiential competency in IT or computer science, as seen in this template, would be very attractive to employers.
Prospective employers need to know that you know how to effectively work with the technology used for e-procurement. So use words like ‘networks’ ‘electronic’ ‘troubleshoot’ where possible.
Because of the electronic nature of the job, employers need to know that you have experience with an array of systems and software. So list those you have experience with to show your competency.
Procurement engineers handle the procurement process for technical equipment needed in their relevant industry. They are in direct and constant contact with both vendors and internal departments to make sure they get the correct equipment for a reasonable price.
Employers will be looking for evidence of your ‘people skills’ and ability to negotiate and build relationships with vendors; which this template does a great job of emphasizing. This template also emphasizes the applicant's ability to handle multiple procurements projects and transactions over the years which positively speaks to their level of experience and capabilities.
Because you will be dealing with a wide array of vendors and suppliers, show your prospective employer that you would be the right person to make these connections. So clearly list any extra languages you speak or any other accomplishments or skills that would make you a better and more effective communicator than your counterparts.
Your employers are looking for someone who is a pro at procurement, so repeating keywords in your previous positions will help emphasize your level of experience. E.g if you have negotiated significant deals in all your previous positions, mention your negotiating experience in each one. Looking at your resume, a prospective employer will immediately classify you as a very experienced negotiator.
Senior director of procurement is a multifaceted position needing a multifaceted skill set. Internally, you will be creating the strategy for your department that will allow them to work effectively and collaboratively with all other departments that will require procurement. On the other hand, you will be dealing directly with vendors, especially on significant purchases.
You, therefore, need to emphasize your successes with negotiating and dealing with vendors, as well as your skills and successes at leading a team and positively affecting strategy. The following does both very effectively.
Because procurement is effectively in charge of negotiating with and eventually paying a large number of vendors, an employer is always looking for someone who will make the most cost-efficient choices. So if you have saved your previous employer a lot of money on a certain deal or by instituting a certain policy or strategy, make sure to highlight it in your resume.
Procurement managers deal with the supply side of a company. Your goal is to make sure the company has everything they need to operate effectively. These could include raw materials for manufacturing products, machinery for manufacturing, chairs, tables, pens, papers, and other office necessities, etc. You may even be in charge of procuring contractors needed for training and other functions.
To do this job you will need to be in constant communication with all departments to understand their needs so strong interpersonal skills are essential. Those skills are also essential when developing relationships with suppliers and negotiating good rates. As you are a manager, you will also need strong management skills to lead your team well, and you will likely be in charge of developing strategy and goals for your team. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.
Certifications show recruiters that you are qualified and knowledgeable in a field. For this position, you will want to show recruiters any certifications in procurement or management. Note that some companies require certain certifications so include yours to avoid your resume being filtered out by ATS resume filters.
Show recruiters that your work stood out and earned you recognition in previous positions. It is an easy way to indicate your skill level and to present yourself as the best among your peers.
A procurement specialist makes sure a company has all the supplies they need. You will be locating supplies, negotiating deals with suppliers, doing quality control on supplies, handling the administration for procuring supplies, etc. You need to be a strong communicator, have excellent negotiation skills, and have great project management skills. Recruiters will also be looking for a long history in the supply arm of a company. Here is a successful resume sample.
Recruiters want to see that you are an expert in supply acquisition. Being able to show career progression indicates that not only are you experienced but also that you have excelled in each position hence the upward progression.
Grab recruiters’ attention from the very beginning of your resume. Because they may not have time to scrutinize the hundreds of resumes they get, it’s advantageous to include impressive achievements and metrics in the introduction section as this applicant has done.
Procurement analysts work to get their employers the most favorable supply contracts. Some of your responsibilities include analyzing your company’s needs, researching potential suppliers who can meet your company’s needs, negotiating for a great deal for your company, and testing product samples.
Recruiters will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or a similar field, and will prefer to see a master’s degree in supply chain management or a similar field. Interpersonal skills and negotiation skills are also essential. Look at this strong resume sample for inspiration.
Metrics are a great way to give recruiters a better idea of your capabilities and highlight your achievements. For this position, it would be beneficial to use metrics to highlight the kinds of budgets you have worked with and the amount of money you have saved your company. Look at this candidate's use of metrics to elevate their resume.
Technology is always coming out with new more efficient tools to help businesses operate. Your tools list must reflect the most current technologies, so keep updating it when necessary. We have included some tools in the skills section of this guide. Take a look.
As the name suggests you will be working to revamp and improve a company’s sourcing and procurement processes. You will analyze a company’s needs, develop long-term relationships with key suppliers, adjust the procurement process or replace vendors to save money and make procurement more cost-effective.
As a consultant, you may be working as a freelancer or you may be working in a consulting firm that offers procurement services. Your success with previous clients will be of particular importance to recruiters so make sure the experience section of your resume is strong and impressive. Take a look at this recruiter-approved resume sample.
Because you are working as a consultant, you will be working with multiple companies that use a variety of tools. You should therefore list all relevant tools you are experienced with. It might also help you bypass ATS resume filters if companies are only looking for consultants who use the tools they use.
Show recruiters that you are a hardworking and successful procurement professional by showing upward moves in your career. It will also show recruiters your dedication to your profession. This applicant started as a sourcing intern and moved their way up to a sourcing and procurement consultant position.
We interviewed hiring managers from top procurement companies like Amazon, Honeywell, and General Electric, who shared their best tips for creating a procurement resume that will get you hired. The key is to focus on your specific procurement experience and skills, and to quantify your achievements whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you create a strong procurement resume:
Employers want to see that you have the specific skills and knowledge required for the job. Be sure to highlight your experience with:
For example:
Managed supplier relationships and contracts for $50M+ annual spend, negotiating an average of 10% cost savings per year.
A resume summary for procurement roles is optional. It's a short paragraph at the top of your resume that provides an overview of your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experience. While not required, a well-written summary can help you stand out to hiring managers by highlighting your key strengths upfront.
However, avoid using an objective statement instead of a summary. Objectives are outdated and focus on what you want from an employer, rather than what you can offer them. If you choose to include a summary, make sure it's tailored to the specific procurement role you're applying for and doesn't just repeat information from other sections of your resume.
The work experience section is the heart of your procurement resume. It's where you'll highlight your procurement career journey, key accomplishments, and the skills that make you a strong candidate. Let's break down step-by-step how to write a compelling work experience section that will catch the attention of hiring managers.
The education section of your procurement resume should be concise and highlight your most relevant qualifications. This section is especially important if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience. Here are some tips to help you craft a strong education section:
Strong action verbs tell a recruiter your role in a specific accomplishment. Procurement resumes should use action verbs that are relevant to communication, management, and fiscal responsibility. Action verbs like "Negotiated", "Managed" or “Streamlined" are strong action verbs that effectively showcase procurement skill sets.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
When writing your resume for a procurement role, remember to research the industry the company you are applying to is in, and try to tailor your listed skills to the requirements of that specific industry. Likewise, make sure you research the procurement processes of the company so you can speak to your experience using similar processes or technologies.
Here are some hard skills suggestions from procurement job postings.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Procurement job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
