What is the first step to be a professional buyer?

The first steps to become a professional buyer are:

Education and related diplomas and degrees

Training with professional experienced buyers in the specific domain where you intend to specialize as buying is a very specialized profession – For example: Buying in FMCG is very different from Buying in construction.

Knowledge of the specific business sector you will be dealing in

Negotiation skills

Flair 

If you have experience i would recommend that you get certification.

I am a certified professional purchasing manager by the american purchasing society.

I recommend that you get certified as a CPP first and with managerial experience you can get the cppm.

Good luck

First, need to gain a good experience, and once you reach to that level then you can keep improving your skills and certificates to support that experience (as Mr. Amer suggested).

I am working on that advanced purchasing level.

Best Regards,

In addition to expereince and a  good academic degree, certifications play a very important role for getting recognition as a professional buyer.

I would like to add to certificates some personal aspects Enhance your planning skills, negotiation skills.be proactive be aggresive ( positively )the more problems you solve the more experience you gain.

Attitude. 

Being a professional buyer is possible after gaining experience in the procurement process. The first step towards the target is the appropriate guidance from experienced professionals either through professional training or through on-site supervision; And, another important aspect is to be thoroughly knowing the company procedures before hitting the operations to avoid any conflicts or violations.

He must be educated and get some professional degree in sales and marketing.

With regards

Kn0wledge of procurement to be crowned by practical Depth experience

in addition to being certified

you have to know about commercial business law, and cost accounting 

you have to good communication skills especially with your internal clients

you have to improve your negotiation skills especailly with your suppliers

you have to know what are the items purchased regularlry and  what is the forecasted quantity so you can arrange tender , contract.

for the miscelenaus  or the small value items , it would be better if you have arranged  fixed price list agreed with a supplier

you have to know the suppliers and contractors

you have to know about INCOTERMS , import and export and vustoms clearnace in your country

you have to know what ar

Clearly define what you are buying then define competitor suppliers.