Are you seeking to enter the shipping industry, or to progress your career within this sector? The following might be skills and attributes that employers in this field are looking for:
- Honesty and integrity – remember that you are being entrusted with potentially valuable cargo
- Ability to embrace change – the shipping industry is forever changing, and shipping staff must adapt to these changes. Where possible, you should always be on the lookout for better or more efficient ways to do things
- Flexibility – particularly with regard to working hours. The shipping industry is not always a nine-to-five environment, and your role may include significant amounts of evening and weekend working, and possibly round-the-clock shift patterns in some roles
- Ability to maintain accurate and comprehensive records – you will need to keep track of all the goods with which you have been entrusted, and locate them easily when required
- Attention to detail – there will be a raft of legislation and other requirements relating to health and safety and other issues that you need to follow. Any working environment must of course be kept safe for its employees and anyone else who may visit. Risk assessments must be carried out regularly and appropriate action taken to mitigate the risks identified. Meticulous attention to detail is also important to ensure documentation is in order, goods are delivered as required etc. Remember also that the shipping industry is subject to extensive legislation, and you and your company will need to comply with every relevant law
- Customer service skills – shipping industry workers often find themselves liaising with customers and other third parties. A courteous manner is required at all times, as is the ability to listen carefully to exactly what the other party’s needs and demands are
- Organisational skills – you may well have a varied workload and will therefore need to learn how to prioritise the various tasks in your in-tray
Available roles in the shipping industry are many and varied, and include:
- Freight forwarding
- Transport planning & logistics
- Customs clearance
- Import and export co-ordination
