Purchase Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Purchasing managers are responsible for getting the best deals on goods and services for their organization. Purchasing managers study inventory and sales records and then monitor trends that impact the supply and demand of the products and services that they need. The majority of purchasing managers work for manufacturing firms and government agencies, and they are normally responsible for handling complicated purchases. Following are some frequently asked Purchase Manager Interview questions and answers. However, you should be prepared with other questions as well.

1 Q: Say something about yourself.

A: This is one of the most common questions to start the interview. Say about your skills, knowledge and experience which also relate to the requirements of the job. You have to sell yourself in this answer. Try to conclude your answer describing about how you can add value to the company.

2 Q: Why do you want to work for this company?

A: The interviewer wants to find out what interests you about this company that you wish to work here. Show your interest and enthusiasm for working in the company. Relate your skills and experience to the job description of the position.

3 Q: What are your strengths?

A: Describe strengths which relate to the job requirement of Purchase manager. Assess your skills and you will identify your strengths. You need to know your skills before appearing for your interview. You need to give examples to demonstrate where you have shown your strengths.

4 Q: What motivates you?

A: Highlight what motivates you to do your job efficiently. The main motivation to work is money but you should avoid saying this answer. You can describe personal development, new challenges or job satisfaction as your motivation factors.

5 Q: Why should we hire you?

A: You need to make sure that you know about the job description and also know what they are looking for. Mention your achievements in your previous job and say how you will contribute to the company. The interviewer is looking for a candidate who contributes for the benefit of the organization. You need to prove yourself as a suitable candidate.

6 Q: How will you contribute to this company?

A: Say about what you have achieved in the past and relate this to the future. Relate your abilities to the employer’s requirements. The interviewer wants to know how you will benefit the company. Give the answer in a positive and confident tone to have a better impression.

7 Q:. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: the interviewer wants to know about your long term goals so avoid saying anything personal that would affect your suitability to the job. Stick to career related goals and also mention how you plan to achieve them. It is very important to have career goals because that shows how serious are you with your career.

8 Q:. What are your weaknesses?

A: The best way to handle this question is to say about a weakness which can also be looked upon as a positive trait. Also mention the steps you are taking to overcome your weakness. You need not talk much about it. Limit your answer in a few sentences.

9 Q: Can you perform under pressure?

A: A purchase manager may at times have to perform under pressure. You can say about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it. Some people also work effectively under pressure; if this is the case for you then you can very well explain this fact.

10 Q: Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position?

A: It is extremely important that you research the requirements of the position well and match them with your skills. The answer to this question will depend on how well you researched for the position before the interview. Describe about your skills and abilities which make you a suitable candidate for this position. Talk in a few sentences but whatever you say, try to maintain a confident tone

11 Q: Why do you want to leave your present job?

A: You should avoid giving any negative reason about your present job even if it is true. Try to give reasons like new opportunities, growth, change of working environment etc. It’s not necessary to be too honest while answering this question.

12 Q: Do you have any questions?

A: Always have something to ask whenever this question comes up. This shows that you have an interest in the company and the position you are interviewing for. If you don’t have any question then discuss about your role. It is better to ask something than nothing. Limit your questions to three or four.

13 Q: For how long do you expect to stay with our organization?

A: You should ensure the interviewer that you will stay in the organization for a long time. It is better to avoid saying the number of years you expect to stay. You can very well say that as long as there is opportunity for growth and new challenges you would like to continue in the organization. You can also prove your stability from your previous work experience. This will be a good example for the interviewer.