Procurement Clerks: Career & Application Guide

What do procurement clerks do?

Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.
Perform buying duties when necessary.
Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.
Calculate costs of orders, and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts.
Compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers.
Approve and pay bills.
Maintain knowledge of all organizational and governmental rules affecting purchases, and provide information about these rules to organization staff members and to vendors.
Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary.
Check shipments when they arrive to ensure that orders have been filled correctly and that goods meet specifications.
Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems.

Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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