Resume guide · Job Zone 3

Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Productsresume guide.

Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable A strong Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products resume shows critical thinking, negotiation and active listening, and names the tools you have worked with, such as SAP software, Microsoft Access and Oracle Database.

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01Also called

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Bakery BuyerBuyerDeli BuyerFrozen Food BuyerGourmet Food BuyerGrocery BuyerPurchaserRetail BuyerWine BuyerBuying Professional

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
Critical ThinkingVery highAdvanced
NegotiationVery highAdvanced
Active ListeningHighIntermediate
PersuasionHighAdvanced
SpeakingHighIntermediate
Reading ComprehensionHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighAdvanced
Judgment and Decision MakingHighIntermediate
MonitoringHighAdvanced
CoordinationHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Administration and Management
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Administrative
  • Education and Training
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Public Safety and Security

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
  2. Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
  3. Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices.
  4. Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
  5. Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
  6. Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
  7. Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
  8. Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
  9. Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory.
  10. Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.

05Software and tools

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49 tools across 24 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Enterprise resource planning ERP software8
  • SAP softwareHotIn demand
  • Oracle PeopleSoftHot
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Sage ERP Accpac
  • Biztrak Business Solutions Biztrak
  • JDA Software Group Advanced Warehouse Replenishment by E3
  • JDA Software Group Assortment Planning by Arthur
  • Product development management software
+ 3 more
Point of sale POS software8
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • Millennium Software Atrex
  • Advanced Retail Management Systems Retail Pro
  • CAM Commerce Solutions Retail STAR Point of Sale POS
  • POSitive Software POSitive for Windows
  • SAP POS Data Management
  • Specialized Business Solutions Keystroke POS
  • Windward Software Windward System Five
+ 3 more
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software4
  • Materials requirement planning MRP software
  • Infor Supply Chain Management
  • Kliger-Weiss Infosystems
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Planning Multi-Site Material Planner
Procurement software3
  • Purchasing softwareIn demand
  • Oracle Advanced Procurement
  • Sourcing Simulator
Calendar and scheduling software2
  • Scheduling software
  • Contact management software
Data base user interface and query software2
Electronic mail software2
Human resources software2
  • Applicant tracking softwareIn demand
  • Oracle Taleo
Internet browser software2
Web page creation and editing software2
Accounting software1
Business intelligence and data analysis software1
  • Qlik Tech QlikView
Customer relationship management CRM software1
  • Claritas ConsumerPoint
Development environment software1
  • Eclipse IDEHotIn demand
Document management software1
Graphics or photo imaging software1
  • Graphics software
Inventory management software1
  • Inventory control systems
Office suite software1
Operating system software1
Presentation software1
Project management software1
Risk management data and analysis software1
  • Enterprise risk management software ERMS
Spreadsheet software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
56% of surveyed workers. Others report Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (22%) and High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (16%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 3 · Medium preparation
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or a few years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with the credential and the record. Job Zone 3 roles usually ask for training, a license or a few years of related experience. Put those on the first screen, then show what you did with them.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "SAP software, Microsoft Access, Oracle Database, Microsoft Outlook" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show negotiation and active listening, not just critical thinking. Negotiation and active listening rank close to critical thinking for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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