Purchase Requisition
A Purchase Requisition is a formal document used in businesses to request the buying of goods or services. Think of it as an internal 'shopping list' that employees submit when they need something for their work. It's the first step in the purchasing process, where someone in the company details what they need, how much it costs, and why they need it. This document helps companies keep track of spending, maintain proper approval processes, and ensure that all purchases are necessary and within budget. Similar terms you might see include Purchase Request, PR, Material Request, or Procurement Request.
Examples in Resumes
Managed over 500 Purchase Requisition approvals monthly in SAP system
Streamlined the Purchase Requisition process reducing approval time by 40%
Created automated Purchase Requisition workflow for department needs
Processed PR and Purchase Request documents for manufacturing supplies
Typical job title: "Procurement Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Procurement Specialists
Professional Associations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you improve a company's purchase requisition process?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss implementing automated workflows, establishing approval hierarchies, creating clear policies, integrating with accounting systems, and measuring process efficiency through metrics like processing time and error rates.
Q: How do you handle emergency purchase requisitions while maintaining proper controls?
Expected Answer: Should explain balancing urgent needs with company policies, implementing special approval processes for emergencies, and ensuring proper documentation while maintaining efficiency.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What information should be included in a complete purchase requisition?
Expected Answer: Should mention item descriptions, quantities, estimated costs, delivery requirements, department information, justification for purchase, and required approval levels.
Q: How do you prioritize multiple purchase requisitions?
Expected Answer: Should discuss evaluating urgency, business impact, budget availability, and supplier lead times to create a logical processing order.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between a purchase requisition and a purchase order?
Expected Answer: Should explain that a purchase requisition is an internal request for approval to buy something, while a purchase order is the actual order sent to suppliers after approval.
Q: Describe the basic steps in processing a purchase requisition.
Expected Answer: Should outline receiving the request, checking for completeness, obtaining necessary approvals, and converting to a purchase order if approved.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic purchase requisition processing
- Data entry in procurement systems
- Document organization and filing
- Communication with department requestors
Mid (2-5 years)
- Managing multiple requisition sources
- Budget checking and validation
- Supplier coordination
- Process improvement suggestions
Senior (5+ years)
- Process optimization and policy creation
- Team training and supervision
- System implementation and integration
- Strategic procurement planning
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic procurement processes
- Unfamiliarity with common procurement software
- Poor attention to detail in documentation
- Lack of understanding of approval workflows
- No experience with vendor communication
