Customs Brokers
Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
- Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
- Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
- Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
- Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
- Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
- Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.
- Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
- Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters.
- Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds.
- Quote duty and tax rates on goods to be imported, based on federal tariffs and excise taxes.
- Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products.
- Monitor or trace the location of goods.
- Confer with officials in various agencies to facilitate clearance of goods through customs and quarantine.
- Inform importers and exporters of steps to reduce duties and taxes.
- Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes.
- Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads.
- Contract with freight forwarders for destination services.
- Apply for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks and other refunds.
- Insure cargo against loss, damage, or pilferage.
- Prepare papers for shippers to appeal duty charges.
- Suggest best methods of packaging or labeling products.
- Maintain relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite clearing of cargo.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Customs Brokers
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
100%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
100%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
98%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
96%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
95%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
93%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
93%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
83%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
82%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
80%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
79%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
78%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
74%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
74%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
74%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
71%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
66%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
63%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
63%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
61%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
61%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
59%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
59%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
56%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
54%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
44%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
41%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
34%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
33%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
29%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
28%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
24%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
19%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
19%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
16%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
10%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
10%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
9%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
9%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
9%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
9%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
8%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
8%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
6%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
6%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
4%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
3%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
1%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
1%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
1%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
1%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
1%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
1%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
1%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
1%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
0%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Bachelor's degree
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
Ready to pursue a career as Customs Brokers?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now