Purchasing and Negotiation Training

Robert Menard, Certified Purchasing Professional, Certified Professional Purchasing Consultant, Certified Green Purchasing Professional

Editor’s Note:  This interview of Mary Walker stems from our years relationship in which I have come to admire, benefit by, and utilize Mary’s talents.  I am fortunate to call her a friend and proud to write this story about her. This interview is presented in question and answer fashion in two parts.  This is Part 2.  Click here for Part 1

 Menard          You also wrote an online course.  Pleasse tell us about that.

 MW     To write a course, first you must be interested in the topic.  I have been reading for years on diversity in the workplace, not only about suppliers but also with the mix of your employees.  So many great ideas are brought to the table from a diverse work force.  So many large companies have a very detailed diversity program.  They encourage a percentage of their business to be with these suppliers.  They go to great lengths to help and support them and to grow their business.  Companies are expanding in having one or more employees versed in this area and in charge of the operation.  It is becoming a specialized field in purchasing. 

Menard          You are a student, an author or, and a recognized expert in the purchasing profession.  How has education and training in the professional helped you?  

MW     My long term employer Hagemeyer  was a great one for shaking up the process.  With hundreds of suppliers and probably 30 buyers, they were continually changing our product lines. I was a private branded product buyer, an abrasives buyer, a packaging buyer and several other commodities.  Taking on line courses, reading articles and magazines, and constant learning eased the challenges in changing categories.    

Menard          How has your professional education and training impacted your earnings? 

MW     Our company used a ranking system for buyers.  I was assigned as a Buyer III and in part due to my certifications and continued training in our profession.  This put me in a higher pay bracket. 

Menard          What advice do you have for those newer to the purchasing profession? 

MW     Sometimes you do not have a lot of choices in the job market.  Three things to think about when seeking employment are:

1. Does the employer recognize professional certifications as a benefit for you and the company
2. What type of training is offered to employees in the purchasing department
3. If you are just starting out in the field, try to find a company that uses major computer programs, like SAP or etc.  If you work for a company that has written their own programs and has their own system, if you want to change jobs down the road, this is a limitation on your qualifications.