Tips for getting export experience.

Export and international trade are areas of great interest for those entering the job market or those looking to make a change of career. Where do you start if you don’t have any experience at all?

Recently, several applicants who have applied for roles, have had relatively little or no experience but they are bright, keen and willing to make a career in export and international trade for themselves. I have also spoken to several individuals who have a wide range of skill in export and international trade in their home country but this experience is not deemed to be relevant as it is all gained outside the UK. 

I feel their frustration at having the knowledge and skill and still not being able to get a suitable job in their chosen industry. Maythorne’s practice is to speak to applicants who have not been selected for interview and I have been surprised to find they all asked how they could get into the industry. 

Not expecting to be questioned on this, there wasn’t an immediate answer just a polite ‘Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you’. 

On reflection, it strikes me that there are a number of practical things an applicant can do to start a career in export and international trade. 

Here is a list of practical things you can do to try and get that all important experience: 
1. Speak to your current employer. Are there opportunities there for you? Does your employer export/import goods? If they do, try and see if there are opportunities in those departments that could be useful to you. 

2. Find an administrative role within a freight forwarder, exporter, customs agent and learning the ropes that way. This is the more traditional route to learning the trade. 

3. Look at courses. Speak to your local chamber of commerce and see what courses or introductions they have in export and international trade. This can provide you with an initial insight into the trade and help guide you to where you want to be. 

4. Professional development. Does your employer provide personal professional development? Find out if this is training your current employer would support you with if it is relevant for their business. This could be a real step in the right direction towards getting into export and international trade. 

5. Gain a professional qualification. Take a look at gaining professional qualifications in the industry.  You could take a look at qualifications offered by Chamber International, The Institute of Export and International Trade or your local chamber of commerce.  The IoE qualifications are sought after and well recognised. 

6. Re-structure your CV.If you have experience in the industry but not in the UK, try re-organising your CV to feature the skills and knowledge you have rather than presenting it as a list of your employment history. 

I hope this has provided some useful and practical tips and I look forward to hearing from you. Maythorne-Exportjobsonline is always keen to help individuals looking for roles in Export and International trade.

We place exporters 1st. It is what we are best at. 
Susan Wilson 
susan@exportjobsonline.co.uk
www.exportjobsonline.co.uk
Susan is a director of Maythorne-Exportjobsonline.