21 Authentic Procurement

Interview Questions and Answers

Guide

Since writing a blog on Supply Chain Management interview questions, I received lots of requests
from people seeking to interview Buyer or Commodity Managers within the Procurement Function.
Typically, such jobs are more suited for experienced managers in the field, but as newcomers or fresh
buyers, these procurement interview questions are essential to start out on the right foot. If you are
preparing for the next interview in the procurement function, knowing the answers of some of these
questions will help you prepare better. And if you are looking for top tips how to find your
next career move, you can benefit from reading 10 Ways on How to Successfully Find Supply Chain
Jobs
I hope, almost everyone would agree, that having a list of wide-ranging procurement Manager interview
questions would greatly aid in preparing better. Of the extensive number and types of questions that can
be asked, I will cover 21 Questions and Answers that I regard to be the most commonly asked.
So, ‘The 21 procurement questions and Answers Guide’ can aid both supply chain graduates as well as
experienced procurement professionals. In addition to these, you are guaranteed to be asked a lot
of generic job interview questions too – so check out this Blog for some tips on how to tackle these.
Moreover, please watch this awesome interview of The Supply Chain Show to understand what it takes
to become Supply Chain TOP TALENT. So, wonder no more, check out these interview guides and
practice below Procurement Interview questions!
Moreover, as a hiring manager, you can use the list below of procurement interview questions and
answers if you are planning to recruit buyers and/or commodity managers in the procurement function.
 Why should I read this blog? Well, my advice to anyone looking to get the best out of every
procurement interview is to read this blog and understand the concepts behind each question and the
proper application into the answers offers an insight into the following:
 Predictable Procurement Interview Questions.
 Knowledge-based Procurement Questions and Answers Guide
 Helpful tips for avoiding common mistakes.
 Personalized Procurement Interview Questions for Professionals, Graduates, as well as other
Experienced Managers.
You might also want to refer your logistics colleagues and friends 27 Essential Logistics Interview
Questions and Answers, I am sure they will find it very useful. And don’t miss out on reading 29 Best
Supply Chain Resources & Tools that Help You Learn & Grow.
You can also join our first online Instructor-Led Training – Introduction to Procurement course on 18th
Sep by clicking the below button.

ONLINE INSTRUCTOR LED TRAINING – INTRODUCTION TO PROCUREMENT

 
So, let’s get started with this blog for some tips on how to successfully tackle them. And if you are
looking for Top Tips on How to Prepare for your interview, you must watch Top Tips from Top Supply
Chain Recruiter below!
 
Procurement Interview Questions and Answers Guide:
Q1: As an in procurement, what would you say is the difference between
strategic sourcing and Purchase.
 
For a detailed answer please read my frequently read and quoted blog STRATEGIC SOURCING VS.
PURCHASING – 7 KEY DIFFERENCES
The short answer of this question is as follows:
One of the key difference of Strategic Sourcing in contrast to conventional purchasing is that it extends
beyond purchasing and focuses on converging and sustaining the buyer-supplier-relationships (Skjøtt-
Larsen & Schary, 2001). The objective is to leverage them, exploit their capabilities, integrate and
complement the core competencies of the various partners in the supply chain (interdependence) so as to
provide value and cost efficiencies and uniqueness for the customer.
And you read the comparison between PURCHASING VS PROCUREMENT – KEY
DIFFERENCES, to substantiate the above answer.
Q2: How would you define incoterm using some leading examples?
 
Amongst the Procurement Interview Questions, this is one question every professional needs to nail. You
can learn more by reading LIFETIME BASICS OF FOREIGN TRADE MANAGEMENT – 3
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
This blog has everything you need to know about trade management.
Q3: What approach and definition do you apply to purchasing?
 
Understanding the concept of buying and the processes involved while buying any product or service is
essential. With this Procurement Interview Questions, you should be able to know the difference between
procurement and purchasing with the provided response. Part of your response should include how
suppliers are compared and awarded, specifications, which internal customers are involved, etc. With this,
you also get to know if internal stakeholder’s negotiations are allowed.
AN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT FOR MANAGERS
Q4: Which procurement problem are you currently facing and what solution
have you applied?
 
There is a variety of problems currently facing the procurement division. The mark of excellence here is
how well thought out the response is. You can maintain going deeper and more profound until you get
satisfied. In this question, the interviewer wants to know how broad your experience is in solving
procurement problems. Make sure you think hard and find the best problem you (not your team members)
have solved, what was the scenario, what approach you have taken and what was the outcome. You can
learn more here.
 
Q5: What was your best/favorite negotiation; and why was it your best?
 
The responses you get will tell you more about the candidate’s definition of value. With this Procurement
Interview Question, you get a better view of his/her interpretation of values, style and interpersonal skills.
There are a host of information available on CIPS regarding negotiation or you can find this forbes
article useful to get you thinking outside the box!
LEARN NEGOTIATION: MASTER ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
Q6: Can you describe an experience, buying or selling, you successfully
coordinated its activities?
 
Describing a successful experience in which he/she was a significant partaker in coordinating the
activities speaks volume of his/her style and personal touch. Also, this Procurement Interview Question,
would mainly tell if he/she has the required experience level you are looking for in a procurement
professional.
Q7: What are the logic & Principle of goods and services procurement?
 
There are logic & Principle for goods and services procurement applied by most firms, and you would
want to know how they work to arrive at the best deals.
As a candidate, you can answer this question by using an example of sustainable procurement practices.
For example, you can read further on 10 primary principles of sustainable procurement.
LEARN SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IN SAP MM
Q8: How would you manage your supplier development strategy and
activities. if you have only one in a country?
 
I have written the whole host of articles on Supplier Development, which you can use to answer this
question:
Are You More Like a Reactive or Strategic Supplier Development Professional?
Supplier Development Programme in Lean Six Sigma and SME Context
20 Well Researched & Proven Supplier Development Activities You can Apply.
Brief Guide to Supplier Quality & Supplier Development
5 Supplier Development Initiatives to Create Improvement Projects
What is Direct and Indirect Supplier Development Process?
What is Supplier Development? A Technical Definition
 
Q9: What are your targets and goals if you are hired?
 
In this procurement interview question, the hiring manager wants to learn about your ambition as a
procurement professional or life in general. For me, this is one of the trickier questions and there is no
easy answer. However, I have found this blog which helps steer your thinking process in the right
direction!
GET GOAL SETTING ULTIMATE GUIDE
Q10: What is your procurement risk management strategy
against unreliable suppliers?
 
In this Procurement Interview Question, we want to know how much you estimate your understanding of
what supply chain risk management is for you. There are plenty of useful research and materials
available. I have written couple of blogs on this which you might find useful.
10 Supply Chain Risks You Need to be Mindful of to Avoid Disruption
7 Supply Chain Risk Villains You Might Need to Fight Against [Infographic]
Q11: Are there any challenges with past trends and what action plans do you
offer?
 
This question covers the kind of commodities the procurement expert prefers and what level of
understanding he possesses on past trends which can be applied to the here and now. A good expert
always has a strategy or action plan in place to minimize risk on cost and zero shortage concerning the
plan.
You should be able to pick your list from 17 Most Common Procurement Problems and Their
Solution.

Q12: What are your biggest Procure to Pay challenges?

 
Procure to Pay is an important aspect of the procurement function. The challenge for each procurement
professional is to set-up the most streamline process. Hopefully, you will find this article useful to gather
your thoughts and answer these type of questions.
LEARN ‘PROCURE TO PAY’ OVERVIEW
Q13: Ask them about their Market intelligence and
strategy?
 
This Procurement Interview Question aims to gauge the depth and breadth of information they have
coming in. A Buyer and Or Commodity Manager is only as right as the information they use to lead
financial decisions they are tasked to make. If they just react to demand from a system database and
supplier feedback, you are interviewing a Procurement coordinator not a Buyer. This article briefly talks
about Procurement Strategy Development which could be a good start to gather your thoughts.
 
Q14: How do you manage your relationship with your
supplier
 
If you are a seasoned procurement professional it is very likely that you would know the answer of this
question and may talk for hours, if there is no time limit! However, don’t take this question lightly. Here,
the interviewer is trying to understand your ethos and technical knowledge of how you would manager
supplier relationships. I have written an article on 10 Must Have Customer Supplier Relationship
Areas – How Many You Have? This would give a theoretical framework you need to answer this
question.
Another useful article is Supplier Partnership Vs Traditional View of Supplier Management
You must prepare for this, as this is amongst most frequently asked Procurement Interview Questions.
 
Q15: Give me an example where you have to lead the
cost reduction programme.
 
Since I am a supply chain guy and my focus is primarily on KPI’s like Inventory, On-Time Delivery, lead
time reduction and so on and so forth, which, at times, I find it contradictory to the procurement guys
main aim of cost reduction.
For example, I have gone into battle with some commodity managers who have agreed a very high batch
size of machined parts to get the best price, which throws my Just in Time, lean means supply chain
design out of the window! So, we need to find the right balance between cost reduction and best supply
chain design to meet customer service targets and operational goals. So, to help my procurement friends, I
have written a blog on 27 Uplifting Cost Reduction Strategies You Should Try , which I am sure they
will find useful.
Q16: Ask about CIPS and its importance or any
Procurement related qualification?
 
In my view, asking the candidate if he/she has ever heard about CIPS and its importance or any
Procurement related qualification is also essential.
As an interviewee, if you are thinking between APICS VS CIPS – What Should You Choose? You must
read this blog!
 
Q17: What do you think is the difference between
Strategic Sourcing and Purchasing?
 
The best of this very interesting question is in my very frequently read blog “STRATEGIC SOURCING
VS. PURCHASING – 7 KEY DIFFERvENCES”
LEARN SUPPLY CHAIN SOURCING
Q18: What have been the most significant achievements
in your procurement career?
 
The processes or steps they go through is fundamental, and how they measure their success on the job. A
clear response to this useful statement ensures you are dealing with an expert in the commodity/category.
You can learn more here
Q19: What do you like the most and the least about
procurement?
 
Enjoying the job is one aspect not everyone finds easy. A real expert always loves the job yet would still
have their likes and dislikes about procurement. Also, do not forget to ask questions which could ensure
their integrity of dealings most importantly. You can learn more here.
 
Q20: How would you describe regular day-to-day
activities?
 
I would prefer choosing an activity or item and plan for a negotiation strategy, then negotiate with it. In
my opinion, a practical approach should be evaluated by using an existing practical issue from the
Procurement domain. This will quickly show you their attitude and mindset. You can learn more here
 
Q21: How JIT Purchasing is different from Traditional
Purchasing.
This is the question I am always asking when hiring buyers. And in most cases, people struggle to explain
or they start waffling! There is a difference and you can learn the difference by reading JIT Purchasing –
3 Reasons why it is Different from Conventional Purchasing
CONCLUSION
 
Well, I hope you enjoyed the 21 Procurement Interview Questions and Answers Guide and have
learned something new about it. My desire is for everyone in procurement to get the best deals and have a
better view of what is the likely expectations from a professional.  If you have more Procurement
recruiter Questions or additions to make, feel free to add them. We are open to learning, and hearing
about new ideas too!!
If you are looking for Top Tips on how to find your next opportunity in procurement watch my vlog
below on this topi