Purchase Trainee

The job starts with purchase requisitions: you review and process them, then collect quotations from vendors and put together comparative statements. Once a vendor is chosen, you prepare the purchase order and send it to the supplier.

After that comes the chasing. You coordinate with vendors so materials arrive on time, and follow up on order status and pending deliveries. You also assist with vendor negotiation and cost-effective purchasing, and you work with the Stores and Accounts departments to keep things running smoothly.

The record-keeping is a real part of it: purchase records, documents and reports, purchase data updated in ERP or Excel systems, and a vendor database. You also support vendor development activities.

• Experience: the posting lists 0 years, so no prior work is needed.
• Location: the role is based in Pune and is onsite.
• Type: it is a full-time job.
• Skills tied to the role: negotiation, purchase orders, order fulfillment and training.

The posting does not name a degree or a specific stream, so check the original posting before assuming either way.

• Get comfortable with Excel. Practise building a simple comparison sheet of three vendor quotes on price, delivery time and payment terms, since comparative statements are part of the work.
• Learn what a purchase requisition and a purchase order are, and how one leads to the other. Being able to explain the flow in a few sentences helps in an interview.
• Read up on basic negotiation. Think of an example where you got a better deal or a better deadline, and be ready to describe it.
• Show that you are organised. Follow-ups and record-keeping reward people who track things carefully, so mention any time you managed a list, a schedule or a budget.
• If you have used any ERP software, even in a course, say so.