Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Correspondence Management • Document Formatting • Office Supplies

Purchase Orders

Term from Clerical Services industry explained for recruiters

A Purchase Order (PO) is an official document that a company uses when buying goods or services. It's like a formal shopping list that includes details about what is being bought, the price, quantity, and delivery terms. When someone mentions handling Purchase Orders on their resume, they typically mean they've worked with these documents to help their company buy things, track spending, and keep financial records organized. Similar terms include "procurement documents," "buying orders," or "POs." This is a key responsibility in many office, administrative, and accounting roles.

Examples in Resumes

Processed over 200 Purchase Orders monthly for office supplies and equipment

Managed and tracked PO approvals in company accounting system

Created and monitored Purchase Order documentation for vendor payments

Typical job title: "Purchase Order Clerks"

Also try searching for:

Purchasing Clerk Procurement Clerk Administrative Assistant Accounts Payable Clerk Purchasing Coordinator Office Coordinator Administrative Coordinator

Where to Find Purchase Order Clerks

Professional Networks

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a situation where there's a discrepancy between a Purchase Order and an invoice?

Expected Answer: A senior professional should explain the process of reconciliation, including checking original documents, communicating with vendors, and following company procedures for resolving discrepancies while maintaining accurate records.

Q: Describe your experience with implementing or improving Purchase Order systems.

Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with organizing filing systems, creating efficient workflows, training others, and possibly selecting or improving software systems for PO management.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What information must be included on a Purchase Order?

Expected Answer: Should list key elements like PO number, vendor information, item descriptions, quantities, prices, delivery terms, and approval signatures, showing understanding of proper documentation.

Q: How do you prioritize multiple Purchase Orders that need processing?

Expected Answer: Should explain organizing by urgency, value, delivery requirements, and company priorities, while maintaining good relationships with vendors and internal departments.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the basic Purchase Order process?

Expected Answer: Should explain the basic flow: receiving purchase requests, creating POs, getting approvals, sending to vendors, and filing documentation.

Q: How do you ensure accuracy when entering Purchase Order information?

Expected Answer: Should discuss double-checking numbers, verifying vendor information, and following checklists or standard procedures to avoid errors.