Job Overview Export-import specialists do the planning and coordination processes of the business transactions which involves trading. This trading is specifically focused on importation and exportation. As trade specialists, they are being hired by the government and may opt to work for international companies and as representatives of individual proprietors. They are involved in the many aspects and processes of foreign trade to include facilitating negotiations of trade agreements, to planning and doing actual supervision of the delivery of the goods to the its destination.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
If you wish to become an export-import specialist, the most useful subjects that you can focus on as early as high school include English, Social studies, Mathematics, Foreign language and Geography. Today, college degrees are being required to get in the entry level position. This is because employment is becoming more and more competitive. Undergraduate studies in Political Science, Business Management, Customs and Economics are the most preferred courses to be taken. The certification requirements vary by positions. Take for example the custom brokers. Custom brokers have to be licensed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the United States before they will be allowed to practice in the area desired.
Skills and Abilities
To be very successful in this field of profession, the skills that must be honed are the decision making skills, communication skills both in oral and in written form, interpersonal skills, and the ability to undersatnd and speak more than one language. These are needed as export-import specialists analyze purchasing decisions as well as evaluate the products that are being traded and shipped. They also communicate with foreign trading partners, that is why it is required that they speak another language other than their native one.
Duties
There are four types of subprofessions under the title of export-import specialists. These are the following: export managers, freight forwarders, import-export agents, and custom brokers. Export managers are the ones who direct foreign sales activities such as the distribution of contracts and negotiating sales for th exported goods. Import-export agents manage the activities of several import-export firms.
They are independent contractors who coordinate settlements between the foreign and domestic buyers and sellers. Freight forwarders are agents for exporters in moving their cargo to foreign destinations. Custom brokers are intermediaries between the importers and the custom service. They act to promote safety and to check the shipments for security and taxation purposes. These specialists are being employed primarily by the governemtn agencies, large oil companies, trading corporations, trucking firms freight forwarders, airlines, banks, department store chains.
Earnings and Job Outlook
The salary of an export-import specialist is dependent on the factors such as the location of employment, the employer as well as the presence of self employment catering to the individual clients' needs. The average salary ranges from 19,000 U.S. dollars to 50,000 U.S. dollars in a year. Others who are already in the supervisory positions with a name in the industry can earn aroun 115,000 U.S dollars per annum. The job outlook for this specific profession is predicted to grow as fast as the average for the other professions.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.