Here are a few procurement interview questions that you should be prepared for!
Generic Questions
- Tell me about yourself
- Where do you see yourself in five years time
- What do you see as your greatest strength/weakness
- Why do you want to move on from your current role
- What is the biggest challenge you have faced
- Why do you want to work for us?
- How do you deal with conflicts give me an example
Procurement specific questions
- What is the biggest achievement in your procurement career?
- Do you prefer tactical or strategic procurement?
- How do you deal with difficult stakeholders who don’t value procurement input?
- Explain what category management means and your experience of using it
- What is the most difficult challenge you have faced in your procurement career
- Give me an example of a contribution you made as a procurement manager
- What continuous learning do you undertake are you studying for your CIPS
- What differentiates you from the other candidates I am interviewing
My Top Tips for preparing for killer interview questions
- Make sure you know your boilerplate I have been asked a question to test me on my understanding of contract terms
- If you work in the public sector they sometimes like to ask questions to test your understanding of the remedies directive!
- Use the STAR technique and have a mini case study in mind for different scenarios
- Bulletproof your CV statements and as above link to the star technique and practice articulating your response
- Research the values of the company and reiterate them in your own words
- Practice and remember the steps in a sourcing strategy
- Give examples of how cost reduction i.e the steps you took to achieve X not just I saved X
- Wow them with your skills, make a mental list and drop them in throughout your interview
- Demonstrate how you can to adapt to different situations and procure in all types of categories and work under pressure
Going for a strategic role:
What is the procurement representation across the organisation and how have you influenced this?
Prepare some answers for the degree of influence of the procurement function and where you might have influence over major and routine procurement activity in your organisation and what does it deliver?
In what way is the Procurement Strategy linked to the organisation’s corporate strategy and is it delivering the strategic objectives relevant to the sector? e.g. Local Economic Agenda, National Outcomes etc (for private sector link back to a competitor advantage.)
How did you resource and identify skills level requirements to deliver the procurement strategy, associated strategic objectives and business needs?
How have you contributed to developing existing procurement individuals and future talent?
Explain what you have done to ensure that the internal control systems for procurement processes and systems, including delegated procurement and financial authority, are adequate and effective?
What is your approach to managing risk and contingency planning within procurement activity?
What steps has have you taken to counteract fraud & reduce risks?
How have you developed commercial competence and ensure it is embedded within its organisation and culture?
What steps have you put in place to drive continuous improvement, including continually improving procurement activity?
Explain how procurement contributes to understanding organisational spend and spend profile in order to drive best value and collaboration?
Explain how you have used commodity strategies developed using best practice in order to deliver benefits and strategic objectives?
In what ways are specifications for procurement exercises being developed to maximise value for the organisation and its customers?
What do you do to efficiently use implementation plans and exit strategies?
What processes have you put in place to manage contracts and suppliers?
Provide examples of how you work with suppliers throughout the life of a contract to ensure contractual obligations are met and to identify and deliver additional benefits to both parties?
Check out the competency framework for the GCF
Purchasing and purchasing professionals work in the field of supply chain management to find and initiate deals with suppliers to obtain the materials their organizations need for business operations. If you are interviewing for a supply or purchasing position, it is important to demonstrate your ability to perform a wide range of jobs. To better prepare for your interview, practice answering common questions from buyers and managers.
Additional Examples of Procurement Interview Questions
| Tell me about yourself. How did you hear about this job? What do you know about our company? What qualifies you for this job? | |||
| What do you know about our company? What qualifies you for this job? | |||
| What are your values in relation to stakeholder management? | |||
| How well do you work in a team? What is your ideal work environment? How do you feel about professional development? | |||
| What do you hope to achieve in the first months of operation? | |||
| How would past managers describe you? | |||
| How do you manage competing priorities? | |||
| Have you ever had a disagreement with a colleague? (that’s a common theme- interviers often ask about dealing with difficult stakeholders. | |||
| What is your experience with developing and managing departmental budgets? What product categories have you managed in the past? |
During the interview, prepare for questions that will help the interviewer assess your qualifications, past work, and ability to contribute to their organization. How long have you been a procurement specialist?
- You might get asked if you have professional certifications?
- How do you stay up to date with changes in shipping rates and industry prices? Have you ever made changes or suggestions that resulted in improvements? Detailed interview questions help employers understand how you approach different aspects of the job.
- What is your market analysis method? What step-by-step procedure did you follow to initiate a purchase transaction? On what criteria do you evaluate potential suppliers and suppliers? What method do you use to evaluate a company’s purchasing patterns? Have you ever signed a contract with a demanding supplier?
- Do you have experience with third-party management or vendor management software? How do you determine if a transaction requires a contract of sale? How do you assess product quality and deal with defective products? Have you ever terminated a contract with a supplier?
- Describe your processes for developing and implementing sourcing strategies. What key purchasing metrics do you track? The interviewer can ask this question to get an idea of how progress is measured, changes are made, and solutions are implemented when difficulties arise. Use your answer to highlight how you use quantitative information to track key performance indicators such as pricing, shipping costs, and other important purchasing metrics.
- How to handle purchase requests? This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to follow established business procedures for documenting, submitting contracts, and transacting with suppliers. In your response, provide an example of how you handle these types of documents in accordance with your organization’s protocol to highlight your attention to detail, decision-making skills, and written communication skills.
- How do you ensure timely delivery of essential items? The interviewer may ask questions that evaluate your ability to arrange multiple shipments, manage multiple schedules, and meet important delivery deadlines. Use your answer to demonstrate your organizational skills, time management skills, and ability to control multiple activities in your schedule.
How might an interviewer prepare? Perspective from the interviewer
This interview template covers various aspects of a procurement role, including skills, experience, problem-solving abilities, strategic thinking, communication, and adaptability. Interviewers can use these questions to assess the candidate’s suitability for the position and their ability to contribute effectively to the procurement function of your company.
Introduction:
· Welcome the candidate and introduce yourself and any other interviewers present.
Provide a brief overview of the company and its procurement function.
· Explain the structure of the interview and the topics that will be covered.
Background and Experience:
Can you please walk us through your background and experience in procurement?
What motivated you to pursue a career in procurement?
Can you highlight some of your key achievements or projects in previous procurement roles?
Procurement Skills and Knowledge:
What specific procurement methodologies and frameworks are you familiar with?
How do you approach supplier selection and evaluation?
Can you discuss your experience in negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships?
How do you ensure compliance with procurement policies and regulations?
What tools or software have you used for procurement activities, such as sourcing, contract management, or spend analysis?
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making:
Can you provide an example of a challenging procurement situation you encountered and how you resolved it?
How do you prioritize competing demands and make decisions in a fast-paced procurement environment?
Have you ever faced a situation where you needed to resolve a conflict with a supplier or internal stakeholder? How did you handle it?
Analytical and Strategic Thinking:
How do you conduct market research and analysis to identify potential suppliers and market trends?
Can you discuss a time when you developed and implemented a procurement strategy aligned with organizational goals?
How do you assess total cost of ownership (TCO) when evaluating procurement options?
Communication and Stakeholder Management:
How do you effectively communicate procurement requirements and decisions to internal stakeholders?
Can you discuss your experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as finance, legal, and operations?
How do you establish and maintain positive relationships with suppliers?
Adaptability and Continuous Improvement:
How do you stay updated on industry trends, regulations, and best practices in procurement?
Can you discuss a time when you had to adapt to changes in procurement processes or priorities?
How do you approach continuous improvement in procurement processes and practices?
Questions for the Interviewee:
· Do you have any questions about our procurement function or the role?
Conclusion:
· Thank the candidate for their time and participation in the interview.
· Provide information about the next steps in the hiring process and when they can expect to hear
Get prepared ,with information of Strategic Sourcing or get more from Agencies that hire for procurement roles