Buyer CV examples

A good buyer never makes a blind, impulse purchase – your CV should follow the same principle: carefully considered and optimised for success

This guide will take you step by step through writing a CV, highlighting your key skills, and showcasing your ability to secure cost-effective deals and maintain supplier relationships. You’ll be able to put it all together to create an interview-winning CV.

A well-structured CV ensures that your negotiation skills and cost-saving achievements aren’t buried under unnecessary details. With countless applications to look through, recruiters don’t want to struggle to navigate yours, so stick to a coherent layout with all the key details in the right places.

Here’s the structure you should follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – Craft a short introduction that showcases your professional background and key accomplishments.
• Core skills – Provide a quick overview of your top skills, like vendor management and cost analysis, that show why you’re a great fit.
• Work experience – Outline your career progression in reverse order, emphasising your contributions and successes.
• Education – Provide details on your academic background, including certifications or specialised training.
• Additional info – You can add hobbies or awards here that reflect your skills and enthusiasm for the industry.

A poorly formatted CV is like a disorganised warehouse – nothing is where it should be, and no one has time to figure it out: certainly not a busy recruiter. Your format should be streamlined and clear to easily guide recruiters through the things that make you the right candidate.

Follow these formatting tips:

• Bullet points – Break information into snappy, impactful points that are easy to skim through.
• Divide sections – Use bold headings and consistent spacing to make your CV easy on the eye and even easier to navigate
• Use a clear and readable font – Focus on readability with a professional design and font choice.
• No more than 2 pages – This length ensures that your highlights are front and centre while avoiding unnecessary fluff.

Your CV profile is your executive summary – a quick but compelling introduction to your buying expertise. Your profile should tell employers exactly why you’re the one to trust with their purchasing decisions, backed up with the key skills and experience that prove your expertise.

Here’s what you should include in your profile:

• Procurement experience – Highlight your industry experience, whether in retail, manufacturing, or corporate procurement.
• Cost-saving achievements – Showcase how you’ve negotiated better supplier deals or optimised budgets.
• Supplier relationship management – Demonstrate your ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
• Market analysis skills – Employers value professionals who can anticipate trends and make data-driven purchasing decisions.
• Inventory and budget management – If you’ve improved stock efficiency or reduced wastage, mention it here.

Now it’s time to list your most valuable assets: in a column or two of bullet points, show off the hard, tangible skills that recruiters are looking for. Buyers need a combination of analytical skills, negotiation expertise, and commercial awareness. 

Your CV skills should demonstrate exactly why you’re the best fit for the role: so tailor this section to highlight the abilities that best match the job description.

Employers expect more than just claims about your expertise – they want proof that you can drive cost efficiencies and manage purchasing effectively in the real world. Your experience section should highlight key procurement successes and measurable results.

List roles in reverse chronological order, ensuring each entry is structured with bullet points. If you’re transitioning into a Buyer role, focus on transferable skills from finance, sales, or supply chain roles.

• Outline – Introduce the company, your role, and the procurement functions you were responsible for.
• Responsibilities – List key tasks, such as supplier negotiations, purchase order management, and budget control. Use action verbs like “negotiated”, “optimised”, and “implemented”.
• Achievements – Highlight measurable outcomes, such as cost reductions, improved supplier relationships, or efficiency gains.

While experience is the main selling point for Buyers, relevant qualifications can strengthen your application. That said, your education section should always be concise and only include the relevant certifications.

List any degrees in business, supply chain management, or procurement, as well as industry certifications or training courses that have helped you develop your expertise.