Strategic Sourcing Supply Chain Intern (Summer 2027)
Posted Aug 31, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a time you negotiated something, even something small. How did you prepare?
What they are checking: Whether they understand that preparation and knowing the other side's needs make negotiation work.
Tell me about a time you had to influence someone more senior than you.
What they are checking: Whether they can lead stakeholders through clear thinking and respect, which the posting stresses.
Why supply chain, and why a company that builds fire trucks?
What they are checking: Whether they have real interest in the field and connect with the mission behind the products.
What would you do
Engineering wants a specific supplier, but purchasing thinks another is a better deal. How would you help sort that out?
What they are checking: Whether they can bring different groups together around data rather than taking sides.
A supplier tells you a part will be three weeks late. What would you do?
What they are checking: Whether they act quickly to protect production by looking for options and telling the right people.
About the work
What do you think the difference is between strategic sourcing and simply placing purchase orders?
What they are checking: Whether they see sourcing as long-term decisions about suppliers and cost, not just transactions.
If you were asked to compare three suppliers for a part, what would you look at besides price?
What they are checking: Whether they weigh quality, delivery, capacity, location and risk in a total cost view.
What does lean thinking mean to you, and how could it apply to buying parts?
What they are checking: Whether they connect lean ideas like waste and flow to purchasing decisions.
Pierce buys from a global supply base. What risks come with sourcing parts from overseas?
What they are checking: Whether they think about lead times, tariffs, shipping disruption and quality control at a distance.
How comfortable are you analyzing spend data in Excel? What would you look for first?
What they are checking: Whether they can find patterns like supplier concentration and price changes in raw data.
Practice this interview out loud.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Oshkosh Corporation.