Import/Export positions - trade jobs advice

I realize many of the posters on this site live in Vancouver, Seattle and LA (port cities) and I suspect some of you may be involved with trade/shipping logistics. This is an industry I am passionate about and desperate to break into.

I just graduated (Dec. 09) with a degree in International Economics and have internship experience with the Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration at the local level and at HQ in DC. I am familiar with most export documentation and am considering getting my Customs Brokers license (is a license advisable or necessary?). Willing to relocate.

Would anyone currently in this line of work please offer some advice of how to break into it? I am willing to take an internship with the possibility of a job if that is what it takes. What are typical entry-level job descriptions (export documentation manager??) I am most interested in Freight Forwarding or a Customs Brokerage firm.

Thanks!

Look into jobs at Customs and Border Protection.

I would rather work in the private sector. My time at Commerce was enjoyable, but it was also enough to realize i don't want to work for Uncle Sam. Do you need to cut your teeth as a customs agent before you can jump to the private sector? I know it would not hurt, but is it entirely necessary?

1. its sort of a tough time right now, a lot of people I know have gotten laid off
2. most of the people I know in international shipping aren't as well educated as you, even the bosses.

3. there are lots and lots of companies. most of the people I know in the field started pretty low end and worked their way up. you might want to talk to a few companies to see if they are looking for people, and if so, what they are looking for.

do you speak spanish? and willing to accept a reasonable paycheck by mexican or panamanian standards? your chances of finding jobs mayeb greater inj those areas, the busisness has been affected greatly but theere have not been big layoffs in the logisots sector as gt describes, but eh pay will be alot less than what you are proabably hoping.

Originally Posted by scarphe

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do you speak spanish? and willing to accept a reasonable paycheck by mexican or panamanian standards? your chances of finding jobs mayeb greater inj those areas, the busisness has been affected greatly but theere have not been big layoffs in the logisots sector as gt describes, but eh pay will be alot less than what you are proabably hoping.

No and No.

I have student loans that cant be paid in pesos.

My ultimate goal is Hong Kong. Once I get there and hooked up with a good job doing logistics I will burn my passport cause im never coming back! Goodbye USA!

Not exactly what you are looking for but look into companies that facilitate currency exchanges for international transactions. I almost worked for a company in DC that did this on behalf of art dealers, 2nd home purchases, etc. The pay was 36K plus commission (in 2006), laid back office, very young staff. So you'd be working with importers/exporteres but really more currency trading I guess.

^^interesting.....

Finance is a little foreign to me. i know enough to know i know nothing (like most people on wallstreet and in the Fed). what was the companies name? I want to say it sounds very familiar to a place i was checking out when i spent some time there.

I work alot with international shippers and have a headcount that does international paperwork. what kind of advice are you looking for? where to look for a job?

Originally Posted by zeroconspiracy

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^^interesting.....

Finance is a little foreign to me. i know enough to know i know nothing (like most people on wallstreet and in the Fed). what was the companies name? I want to say it sounds very familiar to a place i was checking out when i spent some time there.

I have an email from the company somewhere in my records, I'll have to look it up tomorrow.

Def get your customs brokers license. And look for a real job in thjat field. NOT an internship...unless you are 20!
EVERY major company in the US imports/exports some commodity. And even if you don't work for a public/private company, you can work for a customs broker/freight forwarder until you get some more experience. You can also break into that field looking at logistics positions in your area.
Those jobs are available!