Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Procurement Clerk
What procurement clerks actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a procurement clerk?
Review purchase requests. From there, the day usually includes prepare purchase orders, request quotes, and track deliveries. Full-time business hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a procurement clerk working full time.
- Review purchase requests.
- Request quotes.
- Create purchase orders.
- Track late deliveries.
- Match invoices.
- Update supplier records.
- Answer a department’s question.
Where procurement clerks work
Clerks work in offices for companies, hospitals, schools and government.
Hours and schedule
Full-time business hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Prepare purchase orders
- Request quotes
- Track deliveries
- Match invoices to orders
- Maintain supplier records
- Answer order questions
- Update inventory data
Tools you’ll use every day
- ERP systems
- E-procurement platforms
- Excel
- Supplier portals
- Inventory systems
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Steady office work
- No degree needed
- Entry to purchasing careers
- Clear tasks
What’s hard
- Declining employment
- Repetitive
- Chasing late orders
- Paperwork
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m organized
- I like tracking details
- I follow up well
- I like steady work
- I want a path to buying
- I don’t need a degree
Not sure? Take the free Procurement Clerk fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow purchasing policies
- Prevent fraud
- Protect supplier data
- Report conflicts of interest