Interview Guides
Interview Questions
Buyer
Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers
at the wholesale or retail level including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.
Download below a PDF version of interview questions for Buyer
Top Interview question for "Buyer"
Purchasing
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Tell me about your experience purchasing commodities including volume and lead-time information.
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Tell me about some of your most successful purchases.
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How do you identify and research products/suppliers?
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What are your criteria for selecting the best suppliers?
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Tell me about your process for conducting market research to aid purchasing decisions?
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Have you ever had to end a long-term partnership with a supplier? How did you go about it?
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How do you organize your day? How do you handle interruptions?
Customer Service
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How do you determine your customer’s needs?
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Tell me a time when you struggled to find a product for your customer.
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How do you get up-to-date information from customers and what do you do with it?
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What would you do if a frustrated retailer complained about a product they just received?
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Tell me about a time you had to deal with an unjustified complaint from a retailer.
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Tell me about a conflict you handled well and one you didn’t handle well.
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Tell me a time when you deviated from standard procedure when addressing a retailer’s concern.
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What process do you use to calm an upset retailer?
Negotiations
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Tell me about a contract you negotiated that you are particularly proud of.
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What terms do you negotiate with vendors/suppliers?
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Tell me a time you had a dispute with a vendor. What did you do and how did things turn out?
Administrative Knowledge and Technology
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What software programs have you used?
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What online tools do you use to find unique or quality suppliers?
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