Ocean Export Agent

As an Ocean Export Agent at Expeditors, your primary responsibilities include ensuring timely and accurate movement of freight, tracking and tracing ocean export files, managing data entry in the operational system, and maintaining compliance with both internal and external regulations. You'll also handle customer communications and work closely with internal teams to create efficient operational processes.

To qualify for the Ocean Export Agent position at Expeditors, you should possess 6 months to 1 year of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and training. Familiarity with ocean documentation processes, strong computer skills, and effective interpersonal abilities are essential. A Hazardous Materials certification is desirable but not mandatory.

Expeditors strongly believes in the growth of its employees, offering a robust training and personnel development program to help Ocean Export Agents enhance their skills and professional knowledge. This commitment to development is part of what makes Expeditors a top employer in the logistics industry.

A typical day for an Ocean Export Agent at Expeditors involves tracking the movement of freight, entering data accurately, responding to customer inquiries, and collaborating with your team to ensure processes are running smoothly. You'll also be involved in problem-solving and improving operational efficiencies as you encounter challenges throughout your day.

Expeditors provides an attractive benefits package for Ocean Export Agents, including paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, along with comprehensive health plans covering medical, dental, and vision. Additional benefits include life insurance, long-term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, and an employee stock purchase plan.

In answering this question, highlight any experience you have with ocean documentation processes. If you have relevant experience, discuss specific tasks you handled, such as preparing bills of lading or ensuring compliance with customs regulations. If not, express your eagerness to learn and mention any related coursework or training you have completed.

Discuss your strategies for effective communication, such as utilizing email, phone calls, and follow-ups. Emphasize the importance of active listening and how you would keep customers informed about their shipments while building a rapport to encourage future business.

Frame your response to highlight your problem-solving skills. Provide a specific scenario where you effectively resolved a customer’s concern while maintaining professionalism. Focus on the steps you took to understand their issue and find a satisfactory solution.

Emphasize the importance of being detail-oriented and staying updated on industry regulations. Discuss your approach to reviewing documentation carefully, conducting regular audits, and contributing to maintaining a compliant environment within the organization.

Share your organizational strategies, such as using task management tools or prioritizing tasks based on deadlines. Illustrate how you maintain productivity while remaining adaptable to changes or unexpected issues that arise during your workday.

Focus on accuracy and attention to detail. Discuss the importance of double-checking entries, understanding the operational systems, and making use of features within software to streamline data input, ensuring a smooth freight process flow.

Express the idea that teamwork is essential for effective communication and collaboration among departments. Emphasize how working together allows for sharing knowledge and resources, which leads to improving overall operational efficiency.

Discuss your passion for logistics, problem-solving, and customer service. Share any personal anecdotes or experiences that inspired you to pursue a career in supply chain management, particularly in the ocean export sector.

Acknowledge that mistakes can happen, and emphasize your proactive approach to addressing them. Describe your process for identifying errors, correcting them, and communicating with relevant parties to ensure that everyone is informed and any potential impact on the shipment is minimized.

Mention your commitment to continuous learning through attending industry seminars, subscribing to relevant publications, and being part of professional networks. Highlight how you actively seek updates on compliance regulations and best practices to enhance your work efficiency.