Buyers

Get at least some short-term experience in retail sales. It can give you important insights into the nature of consumer preferences and the importance of marketing in shaping those preferences.

Ask contacts who have jobs in retail sales or other aspects of sales and marketing what they have learned from their jobs.

Examine the Career sections of the Web sites of organizations like the American Purchasing Society or the Institute for Supply Management and see what they have to offer to help you plan a career path as a buyer.

Consider that all the things you think about when you are thinking about making a new purchase—such as price, quality, availability, reliability, and customer service—are also things that a buyer must consider as part of that job.

Consider specializing as a buyer in the areas of either health care or computer systems design, and their related services firms. These two areas are projected to show more growth than other sectors in buying or purchasing.