Is being a buyer a good career? (2024)

FAQs

Is a buyer a stressful job? ›

Hardest part of being a Buyer

There's a lot of responsibility on Buyer's shoulders, so expect to have a few stressful days, especially if you end up picking the wrong products and the store makes a loss.

An experienced purchasing agent or buyer may become an assistant purchasing manager before advancing to purchasing manager, supply manager, or director of materials management. There are several certifications available for buyers and purchasing agents. Although some employers may require certification, many do not.

A difficult aspect of being a buyer is that they might be asked to work long and sometimes unusual hours. Travel might also be involved since they might attend trade shows, conferences, or fashion shows.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to decline 6 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 45,000 openings for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What Type of Degree Do I Need to Become a Buyer? Typically, you need a bachelor's degree to become a buyer. A major in business may be applicable, but bachelor's degree programs in retail merchandising and management are also an option for aspiring buyers.

An excellent buyer builds quality relationships and leverages those skills for negotiations with vendors (to get the best products, prices and terms). They also build quality relationships in order to deal with the sales and marketing people (to acquire the sales support materials needed to market their lines).

The average age of first time buyers is now 37, research from Money Supermarket reveals. The comparison site asked those who don't currently own a property when they hope to be able to buy and found 35% do not think they'll ever be able to buy their own home.

What is buyer anxiety? ›

The buyer feels anxiety and psychological discomfort because their behavior (the purchase of the item) does not match their attitude (their expectation of the purchased item).

Buyers choose which products their stores should sell, understanding customer needs and buying habits to maximise profits. They can work for retailers of all sectors and sizes, and their skills are vital in ensuring that a store's stock resonates with its customers.

Purchasing Managers often navigate high-pressure environments, balancing cost control with quality procurement to meet organizational needs. Stress can arise from negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring timely delivery of goods.

You need to research the products that you buy well so you get the best price for the quality of item available. Decision making. This may not seem like a skill at first but it's actually a very important part of working as a buyer. You need to make big decisions for a company, sometimes over short deadlines.

It's no wonder why: Buying a home is one of the most stressful life events. It combines high emotions, an often-finicky housing market, and a process that can seem difficult to understand. It's also a significant financial transaction for most people — perhaps the biggest of their lives.