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Tradd
6-2-12, 9:10pm
For once!

I was told late in the week that once I get my customs brokers license I *will* be promoted to a "lead" among the folks in my department. But that's probably about 16-18 months off. If I pass the October exam, it still takes 9-12 months to get your license due to the intensive background investigation by Homeland Security.

I've also been getting a lot of very positive notice and comments from senior management at the national level. :cool: The company we merged with is implementing the same industry-specific software we're on. I've been told I'm the guru among the people at the operations level. Our national compliance person (on the customs side) was in my office for a week and a half recently. She sat with me a lot, as well as doing files and having me check them. She goes back her office elsewhere, and all of a sudden, I'm getting emails from folks across the country. My name has gotten around from the national compliance person, and so folks are coming to me for help. I told my boss and our regional GM that I don't mind being the national trainer, but the brokerage exam comes first.

Eventually, I might even end up the #2 in my department, rather than just the "lead." Brokerage manager (#2) has been with us for two years, knows her stuff inside and out, and is great to work with. But she has some chronic health issues exacerbated by stress, and a family situation that would be helped with less stress on the job, as well. She sat down with me this week and told me once thing settle down a bit (newly widowed coworker just returned this week from a month off and is still getting up to speed), brokerage manager is going to begin instructing me on the customs compliance issues (record keeping/document retention, supervision of employees to make sure they're following proper procedures, accounting issues with payment of customs duties, how to handle a customs audit, etc.) Only the licensed broker who is the licensee for the office needs to be up to speed on this stuff. No real promises, but the experience will be invaluable if I switch companies. No one else in the department is interested in getting their brokers license, at least not with the amount of time you have to spend studying.

And remember me talking about maybe eventually moving down to Atlanta? The national compliance person is based in our Atlanta office. Has spoken very highly about me to lots of folks. So, if I want to move to Atlanta, there's a big in there. :D

razz
6-2-12, 9:25pm
Congratulations on doing so well.!!!!!

Simpler at Fifty
6-2-12, 9:41pm
Fantastic news Tradd.

JaneV2.0
6-2-12, 10:37pm
What spectacular news--just wonderful!

Float On
6-2-12, 10:45pm
That is good news! Congrats!

sweetana3
6-3-12, 5:09am
My husband's favorite business saying is "Good Luck is the intersection of Preparedness and Opportunity".

mtnlaurel
6-3-12, 7:51am
This is great Tradd!!!

Yossarian
6-3-12, 9:59am
Don't know if they are a good fit for you but they throw a great festival every year: http://www.atlgoc.org/

Blackdog Lin
6-3-12, 9:27pm
I wish you well, Tradd.....and kudos on all you've accomplished so far.....

Tradd
6-3-12, 10:09pm
Don't know if they are a good fit for you but they throw a great festival every year: http://www.atlgoc.org/

Thank you. My friends in Atlanta confirm the festival is wonderful, but it's not a fit for me. If I moved, I'd either attend my friends' parish or another one.

Tradd
6-4-12, 8:15pm
I've been talking about the exam so much, I thought you might get a kick out of actually SEEING how crazy this stuff can get! ;) Just posted on the Custom's website:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/exam_and_key_downloads/

kitten
6-5-12, 12:43pm
Wow, it's so great to have your leadership qualities recognized and officially acknowledged. So envious. Go girl!

Tradd
6-29-12, 8:36pm
Well, it's gotten even better. My mouth just hung open today when manager told me that once I get my license - if I want it - I will be the customs compliance person/#2 in import department (#2 was let go about a month ago, due to some issues with a major customer or two).

And I just had my sight set on being the senior or lead import person. I will have a LOT to learn before that, but after I pass the exam and before I have my license, I'll have time, due to the background check, etc., CBP does.

JaneV2.0
6-29-12, 11:03pm
You've worked hard for the recognition; bet that exam can't come fast enough for you. What outstanding news!

Zoebird
7-1-12, 11:53pm
Awesome stuff! :D

Tradd
7-2-12, 12:05am
And it will come with a significant raise since my license will be on the wall, as the supervising broker inthe office. Lot of responsibility since you have to make sure everyone is doing stuff properly so Customs doesn't come down on you, so you're paid accordingly. From what I can gather, the pay increase would be somewhere around $10K or so. :)

razz
7-2-12, 6:43am
What a great goal to have to look forward towards.

Tradd
7-2-12, 9:33pm
Thanks! And I got some better news today!

Dependent upon approval of my company's U.S. CEO, I will be offered the customs compliance position NOW with additional moola because of added responsibility! Once I get my license, I would be #2 in dept. (brokers license required to be supervisor), as well. More moola when my license is on the wall. I should find out in the next several weeks. Several small customers will come off my desk. AND they're hiring another person for the dept. ASAP as we're so busy.

chrisgermany
7-3-12, 6:12am
It is great to hear that your hard work is appreciated.
Congrats!

SteveinMN
7-3-12, 7:44am
Great news, Tradd!

Lainey
7-3-12, 8:42am
Tradd, congratulations. I know from your work ethic that you would work hard anyway, but when it's recognized and rewarded that's what turns a job into a career.

frugalone
7-5-12, 7:05pm
This is great! I hope it works out for you!

Tradd
7-5-12, 9:42pm
Thank you!

I had the talk with the import manager and our GM today. I'll officially assume customs compliance duties beginning in about two weeks when it's announced, but I'm going to begin training on something someone does that is really part of the compliance duties. This someone else was doing it due to a variety of circumstances I don't need to go into. I won't be import supervisor which is fine with me! Dept will be structured a bit differently. There will be 2-3 other leads with a certain number of people under each lead. I'll become the license qualifier once I get my license. Got a raise now! :D

Today I got a raise that amounts to 5%. I was told it was for my extremely hard work, especially over the past several months. This is not an across the board raise for everyone. I will get a substantial raise once I get my license, as that is a huge amount of responsibility to qualify the license for the office. I will be responsible for keeping everyone on the straight and narrow so no red flags go up with Customs. I'll be auditing something like 10% of files to make sure they're done correctly, have all the necessary documents, be in charge of any training (new people or remedial for current folks to correct any issues), make sure our files are kept in decent order, easily accessible, etc. Deal with any Customs-related issues that come up, acting as a go-between between Customs and the customers.

My writing skills and journalism degree were specifically mentioned as icing on the cake for me being in this position, as there is a ton of writing, especially in dealing with Customs and customers. They don't have to worry about my spelling at all, they said. Hee! :cool:

I will still handle three of my largest customers in addition to the customs compliance duties. These are customers who've all said that me handling their shipments and customs clearances is necessary if my company wants to keep their business. 3-5 smaller customers are going to other coworkers or will go to others. We've got a new girl starting in several weeks - we're just overloaded.

iris lily
7-5-12, 9:44pm
This latest salary increase is great!

Tradd
7-5-12, 9:53pm
Tradd, congratulations. I know from your work ethic that you would work hard anyway, but when it's recognized and rewarded that's what turns a job into a career.

Yep!:)

Thanks! I'm giddy!