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Description
Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.
Job Outlook
Employment of procurement clerks is expected to decline through 2014 as a result of increasing automation. The need for procurement clerks will be reduced as the use of computers to place orders directly with suppliers, called electronic data interchange and as ordering over the Internet, known as "e-procurement", become more commonplace. In addition, procurement authority for some purchases is now being given to employees in the departments originating the purchase. These departments may be issued procurement cards, which are similar to credit cards that enable a department to charge purchases up to a specified amount. Although overall employment in the occupation is expected to decline, job outlook varies by industry. For example, employment will decline in manufacturing, the primary employer of procurement clerks in the goods-producing sector of the economy. In contrast, employment of procurement clerks will increase in some industries in the service-providing sector, such as retail trade, professional services, and health care, which are beginning to realize that a centralized procurement department may be more cost effective than units making purchases independently, as many service companies had been doing. However, most job openings will arise out of the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Persons with good writing and communication skills, along with computer skills, will have the best opportunities for employment.
Job Nature
Procurement clerks compile requests for materials, prepare purchase orders, keep track of purchases and supplies, and handle inquiries about orders. Usually called purchasing clerks or purchasing technicians, they perform a variety of tasks related to the ordering of goods and supplies for an organization and make sure that what was purchased arrives on schedule and meets the purchaser's specifications. automation is having a profound effect on this occupation. Orders for goods now can be placed electronically when supplies are low. For example, computers integrated with cash registers at stores record purchases and automatically reorder goods when supplies reach a certain target level. However, automation is still years away for many firms, and the role of the procurement clerk is unchanged in many organizations. Procurement clerks perform a wide range of tasks and also have a wide range of responsibilities. Some clerks act more like buyers, particularly at small to medium-size companies, while others perform strictly clerical functions. In general, procurement clerks process requests for purchases. They first determine whether there is any of the requested product left in inventory and may go through catalogs or to the Internet to find suppliers. They may prepare invitation-to-bid forms and mail them to suppliers or distribute them for public posting. Procurement clerks may interview potential suppliers by telephone or face-to-face to check on prices and specifications and thereby put together spreadsheets with price comparisons and other facts about each supplier. Upon the organization's approval of a supplier, purchase orders are prepared, mailed, and entered into computers. Procurement clerks keep track of orders and determine the causes of any delays. If the supplier has questions, clerks try to answer them and resolve any problems. When the shipment arrives, procurement clerks may reconcile the purchase order with the shipment, making sure that they match; notify the vendors when invoices are not received; and verify that the bills concur with the purchase orders. Some purchasing departments, particularly in small companies, are responsible for overseeing the organization's inventory control system. At these organizations, procurement clerks monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes. They may keep inventory spreadsheets and place orders when materials on hand are insufficient.
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Schools Offering Degrees for
Procurement Clerks |
 | Virginia College | Online | | | Mildred Elley | Campus | Pittsfield, MA 01201 | | The Salter School | Campus | West Boylston, MA 01583 | | Bryman Institute - A Corinthian School | Campus | Brighton, MA 02135 | | New Hampshire Career Institute | Campus | Concord, NH 03301 | | Ridley Lowell Business and Technical Institute | Campus | New London, CT 06320 | | Eastwick Colleges - HoHoKus School | Campus | Hackensack, NJ 07601 | | CDM Institute | Campus | Marlton, NJ 08053 | | College of Westchester | Campus | White Plains, NY 10606 | | Plaza College | Campus | Jackson Heights, NY 11372 | | Business Informatics Center Inc | Campus | Valley Stream, NY 11580 | | Katharine Gibbs School | Campus | Melville, NY 11747 | | Mildred Elley School | Campus | Latham, NY 12110 | | Elmira Business Institute | Campus | Vestal, NY 13850 | | Ridley-Lowell School of Business | Campus | Binghamton, NY 13905 | | Elmira College | Campus | Elmira, NY 14901 | | Newport Business Institute | Campus | Lower Burrell, PA 15068 | | Bradford School | Campus | Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | | Pennsylvania Commercial College | Campus | Washington, PA 15301 | | Business Institute of Pennsylvania | Campus | Meadville, PA 16335 | | Tri-State Business Institute | Campus | Erie, PA 16506 | | Consolidated School of Business | Campus | York, PA 17404 | | Consolidated School of Business | Campus | Lancaster, PA 17603 | | Newport Business Institute | Campus | Williamsport, PA 17701 | | McCann School of Business and Technology | Campus | Sunbury, PA 17801 | | McCann School of Business and Technology | Campus | Pottsville, PA 17901 | | McCann School of Business and Technology | Campus | Mahanoy City, PA 17948 | | McCann School of Business and Technology | Campus | Scranton, PA 18503 | | Pace Institute | Campus | Reading, PA 19601 | | Berks Technical Institute | Campus | Wyomissing, PA 19610 | | Everest College | Campus | Tysons Corner, VA 22102 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Charlottesville, VA 22901 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Martinsville, VA 24114 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Salem, VA 24153 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Lynchburg, VA 24502 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Danville, VA 24540 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Bluefield, VA 24605 | | West Virginia Junior College | Campus | Morgantown, WV 26505 | | Brookstone College | Campus | Greensboro, NC 27409 | | Brookstone College | Campus | Charlotte, NC 28262 | | Advanced Career Training | Campus | Morrow, GA 30260 | | Advanced Career Training | Campus | Atlanta, GA 30329 | | Advanced Career Training | Campus | Jacksonville, FL 32207 | | Virginia College at Pensacola | Campus | Pensacola, FL 32502 | | Virginia College | Campus | Birmingham, AL 35209 | | Virginia College | Campus | Huntsville, AL 35805 | | Virginia College at Mobile | Campus | Mobile, AL 36608 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Madison, TN 37115 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Nashville, TN 37211 | | Virginia College | Campus | Chattanooga, TN 37411 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Bristol, TN 37620 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Knoxville, TN 37919 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Memphis, TN 38118 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Bartlett, TN 38134 | | Virginia College | Campus | Jackson, MS 39211 | | Virginia College | Campus | Biloxi, MS 39532 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Louisville, KY 40216 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Danville, KY 40422 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Lexington, KY 40508 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Florence, KY 41042 | | Southwestern College | Campus | Florence, KY 41042 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Pikeville, KY 41501 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Richmond, KY 41501 | | Ohio Business College | Campus | Lorain, OH 44055 | | National Institute of Technology | Campus | Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Stow, OH 44224 | | Trumbull Business College | Campus | Warren, OH 44484 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Youngstown, OH 44505 | | Ohio Business College | Campus | Sandusky, OH 44870 | | Southwestern College | Campus | Franklin, OH 45005 | | Southwestern College of Business | Campus | Cincinnati, OH 45202 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Cincinnati, OH 45237 | | Southwestern College | Campus | Cincinnati, OH 45246 | | Southwestern College | Campus | Dayton, OH 45402 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Kettering, OH 45420 | | Indiana Business College | Campus | Anderson, IN 46013 | | Indiana Business College | Campus | Indianapolis, IN 46204 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Indianapolis, IN 46250 | | Indiana Business College | Campus | Indianapolis, IN 46278 | | Detroit Business Institute | Campus | Riverview, MI 48192 | | Dorsey Business Schools | Campus | Southgate, MI 48195 | | Aakers College | Campus | Fargo, ND 58103 | | Fox College Inc | Campus | Oak Lawn, IL 60453 | | Northwestern Business College - Southwestern Campus | Campus | Bridgeview, IL 60455 | | Northwestern Business College | Campus | Chicago, IL 60630 | | Metro Business College of Arnold | Campus | Arnold, MO 63010 | | Hickey College | Campus | Saint Louis, MO 63146 | | Metro Business College of Cape Girardeau | Campus | Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 | | Metro Business College of Rolla | Campus | Rolla, MO 64401 | | Metro Business College of Jefferson City | Campus | Jefferson City, MO 65109 | | Vatterott College | Campus | Springfield, MO 65807 | | Northeast Kansas Technical College | Campus | Atchison, KS 66002 | | Career Technical College | Campus | Shreveport, LA 71105 | | American Commercial College | Campus | Shreveport, LA 71105 | | Career Technical College | Campus | Monroe, LA 71201 | | Interactive Learning Systems | Campus | Dallas, TX 75247 | | Career Centers of Texas | Campus | Fort Worth, TX 76103 | | American Commercial College | Campus | Wichita Falls, TX 76310 | | American Commercial College | Campus | San Angelo, TX 76904 | | Career Centers of Texas | Campus | El Paso, TX 78207 | | Career Centers of Texas | Campus | Corpus Christ, TX 78416 | | Virginia College at Austin | Campus | Austin, TX 78723 | | American Commercial College | Campus | Lubbock, TX 79411 | | American Commercial College | Campus | Abilene, TX 79602 | | |
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