Top Buyer Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Buyer interview by going through these most asked Buyer interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: Are you willing to relocate?
  • Question Overview: If your company is looking to hire a buyer, you may need to consider candidates who are willing to relocate. If you have a location in a different city or state, you may want to ask your candidate if they are willing to move. If they are, you can then ask them about their plans for the future.

    Sample Answer: I am willing to relocate if it means that I can help your company grow. I would like to continue my education in business and accounting so that I can be an asset to your company for many years to come.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Plans for the future
    • - Willingness to relocate
    • - Plans for continuing education

  • Question: What does customer service mean to you?
  • Question Overview: When you ask your candidate about customer service, you want to hear about their professional approach to the buying process. A good candidate will be able to explain how they have helped their company to succeed in the past.

    Sample Answer: I always try to make sure that my customers are happy with their purchases. I take the time to understand their needs and work with them to find a solution that works for everyone involved.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A willingness to help customers
    • - A professional attitude
    • - A willingness to go the extra mile for their customers

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team.
  • Question Overview: The best candidates are always willing to work with others. When you ask about a time when they worked as part of a team, you can learn about their ability to collaborate with others. This is especially important if your company is a small business that relies on teamwork.

    Sample Answer: I have always been a team player, and I have worked with people from all walks of life. I have also been able to work with people from different cultures, and I have learned how to communicate effectively in those situations.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to work with others
    • - Ability to work with people from different backgrounds
    • - Experience working with different types of people

  • Question: How do you handle stress?
  • Question Overview: This is a common question that most interviewers ask, and it's important to have a response prepared. The interviewer is looking for a potential employee who can handle pressure and remain calm in the face of challenges.

    Sample Answer: I have learned to recognize stress as a sign that I need to take a step back and reevaluate my situation. I have also learned to take time off when I need to relax and refresh myself.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of stress
    • - Plans for dealing with it
    • - Acknowledgement of the need for stress management

  • Question: What makes you think that you are a good candidate for this position?
  • Question Overview: This is a good way to learn more about your potential candidate's self-confidence. If they are not confident in their abilities, they may not be the best fit for your company. If they are confident, you can feel more comfortable about their ability to succeed in the role.

    Sample Answer: I have been working in this industry for over eight years, and I have extensive experience with the software that you use. I believe that I am a great candidate for this position because I am a quick learner and I am always willing to help out wherever I can.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their experience and skills
    • - A positive attitude toward the company
    • - Willingness to learn new things and adapt to new situations

  • Question: What is your biggest weakness?
  • Question Overview: This is a common question that is asked to see how well the candidate can handle themselves in an interview. A good answer is one that shows that they are aware of their flaws and are working on improving them.

    Sample Answer: I have a tendency to get wrapped up in my work and lose track of time. I have been working on setting aside time for myself to relax and unwind.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of a weakness
    • - A plan to improve it
    • - A positive spin on the weakness

  • Question: How would you handle a situation where material did not deliver on time?
  • Question Overview: When you're interviewing a candidate for a buying position, it's important to learn how they would respond to a common problem. You want to know that they are able to think on their feet and find a solution to any problem that arises.

    Sample Answer: I would contact the seller and find out what happened. If the delay was due to an error on their part, I would make sure that they understood the importance of meeting our deadlines. If it was our fault, I would work with our logistics team to find a solution.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to work with multiple sellers
    • - Willingness to negotiate in a difficult situation
    • - Plans for any future contingenc

  • Question: How would your current manager describe you?
  • Question Overview: You want to learn about your candidate's reputation in the workplace. If they have a good one, then you can expect that they will be a good fit for your company. If they have a bad one, then you can look for other candidates who have better reputations.

    Sample Answer: My manager would describe me as a hard worker who is always willing to pitch in when needed. I have a great deal of experience working with others to get the job done.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive reputation among co-workers
    • - A willingness to help others
    • - A history of working well with others

  • Question: Why do you want to work with us?
  • Question Overview: This is a great opportunity for your candidate to show their enthusiasm for your company. They should be able to explain why they're interested in the position and how they can contribute to the company's success.

    Sample Answer: I am very interested in your company because of its reputation for excellence. I have always wanted to work with a team that is committed to providing excellent customer service, and I know that I can make a positive impact on your business.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A clear understanding of the company's mission and goals
    • - A desire to work with the company's products or services
    • - An interest in working with the company's employees

  • Question: When can we schedule a phone interview?
  • Question Overview: The best candidates will be eager to get the ball rolling on the hiring process. If your candidate is willing to schedule a phone interview, you can feel confident that they are interested in the job and want to move forward.

    Sample Answer: I have a few meetings this week, but I can schedule a phone interview on Thursday afternoon.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A willingness to set up an interview
    • - A desire to learn more about your company
    • - A willingness to travel or work overtime if necessary

  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This is a simple question that can reveal a lot about your potential candidate. You want to make sure that they are a good fit for your company, and it's hard to tell if they will be without knowing more about their personality.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who always strives to do my best. I'm also very friendly and enjoy interacting with customers and coworkers.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A sense of humor
    • - An understanding of the company's mission
    • - A willingness to work hard

  • Question: What would you do if you were the only candidate?
  • Question Overview: This is a good way to learn about the candidate's confidence level. If they are confident in their ability to succeed in the role, then you can be confident in their ability to succeed in your company.

    Sample Answer: I would be confident that I could do a great job for your company. I have extensive experience with the software you use and would be able to learn any new programs quickly.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their ability to succeed
    • - A desire to work with your company
    • - Willingness to learn new things and adapt

  • Question: How would you handle the conflict with the supplier?
  • Question Overview: A good candidate will be able to handle any conflict that arises with a seller. When you ask them about a situation where they had to deal with a difficult seller, you can gauge their level of professionalism and how they would handle a similar situation in the future.

    Sample Answer: I would first try to understand the seller's perspective and then work with my team to come up with a solution that works for both of us.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to negotiate with a difficult seller
    • - Willingness to take the initiative
    • - Ability to work with other employees to resolve the issue

  • Question: Tell me about a difficult situation you were in and how did you overcome it?
  • Question Overview: Difficult situations are a part of every business, and they can be especially challenging for new buyers. When you ask this question, you want to hear about how the candidate handled a situation that they didn't have much experience with. The best candidates will be able to explain their thought process and how they were able to overcome the challenge.

    Sample Answer: I once had to negotiate with a seller who was very difficult to work with. I had to use my negotiation skills and come up with a solution that was beneficial for both of us.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A willingness to take on new challenges
    • - A willingness to learn from mistakes
    • - A desire to help their company succeed

  • Question: What would you do if your customer is in urgent need of a task to be done?
  • Question Overview: This is a great way to find out how your candidate will react to a stressful situation. When you ask them about a customer who needs something done right away, you learn about their ability to prioritize and manage their time.

    Sample Answer: I would immediately contact my team and see what we could do to help. I've worked with a number of suppliers who have delivered on short notice, and I know that it's possible to get the job done.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to prioritize tasks
    • - Willingness to work overtime
    • - Ability to work under pressure

  • Question: Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how did you handle it?
  • Question Overview: Mistakes happen to everyone, and it's important to know how your potential candidate reacts to them. When you ask about a mistake they made, you can learn about their character and how they deal with failure.

    Sample Answer: I once made a mistake in the accounting department that caused us to lose money. I was able to fix the problem before it became too big, and I learned from my mistake so that it wouldn't happen again.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to learn from their mistakes
    • - Willingness to admit their own errors
    • - Ability to move on from a mistake

  • Question: What do you find challenging?
  • Question Overview: A good way to learn more about your potential candidate's personality is to ask them about their weaknesses. This question is a bit of a double-edged sword, though, because it can be difficult to answer. The best way to respond is to discuss a challenge that they overcame and how they plan to improve in the future.

    Sample Answer: I have a tendency to get too focused on the details and lose sight of the big picture. I'm working on developing my ability to see the big picture and make decisions based on that information.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of a weakness
    • - A plan for improvement
    • - A willingness to work on that weakness

  • Question: What is an example of a current economic, either global or domestic, issue or initiative that could drastically impact someone in your future role and how would you react to this?
  • Question Overview: It's important to learn about your candidate's ability to react to a variety of situations. When you ask them about a current economic issue that could affect their role, you can get a feel for how they would handle it. The best candidates will be able to explain how they would react to the situation and how they would help their company.

    Sample Answer: I would look for ways to minimize the impact of any economic changes on our company. I would work with our marketing department to ensure that our products were still in demand, and I would work with our shipping department to ensure that we were still able to deliver our products on time.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to anticipate and react to economic changes
    • - Willingness to work with other departments
    • - Ability to work with multiple sellers

  • Question: Who are your influencers?
  • Question Overview: This is a good way to learn more about your potential candidate's professional network. You can learn about their relationships with other buyers and sellers, as well as their contacts in the industry.

    Sample Answer: I have a lot of respect for my former boss, who is now a senior buyer at another company. I also have a lot of respect for my former boss's boss, who is now a senior executive at another company.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Influencers who are also in the industry
    • - Influencers who are not in the industry
    • - Influencers who are not in the industry but are still relevant to the candidate

  • Question: How will you contribute to the company?
  • Question Overview: The answer to this question will tell you a lot about your potential candidate's personality. You want to hire someone who is a good fit for your company's culture and values. When you ask this question, you want to hear about the candidate's willingness to work hard and help out in any way possible.

    Sample Answer: I am a hard worker who always strives to do my best. I am also very personable and enjoy working with others. I will contribute to the company by helping it grow and thrive.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to work hard
    • - Ability to work well with others
    • - Desire to help their company succeed