View Full Version : Work update/brokers exam
Forgot to add - J's definitely not sleeping anymore. That's something...
It's interesting to me that you object to being called "Little Tradd" yet you refer to your co-workers as "girls". I'm assuming these "girls" are at least past high school age, which would make the "girls" moniker as inappropriate as the "Little Tradd" one. I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but it comes across as demeaning and condescending to refer to other women as "girls". JMO.
It's interesting to me that you object to being called "Little Tradd" yet you refer to your co-workers as "girls". I'm assuming these "girls" are at least past high school age, which would make the "girls" moniker as inappropriate as the "Little Tradd" one. I'm sure you don't mean it that way, but it comes across as demeaning and condescending to refer to other women as "girls". JMO.
I was posting late at night and wasn't clear enough. The Little Tradd set me off laughing, not objecting. I thought it was amusing. Everyone in the dept. refers to the "girls."
I'm surprised that "girl" referring to any woman over 18 hasn't yet died out--especially in a professional setting. I thought we killed it in the seventies. Two steps forward, one back.
goldensmom
9-24-12, 10:20am
In my mind, referring to employees as ‘girls’ by management in an official capacity is inappropriate but when a co-worker asks a female peer to go to lunch with the ‘girls’ I see it as a term of inclusion and not objectionable at all. Cattle auction sales around here start with the auctioneer saying ‘okay, boys…let’s start the bidding’. Depends on the work situation and intent.
It's an all female department. For those who don't know, I'm a chick myself.
Mighty Frugal
9-24-12, 12:26pm
Thanks for the update Tradd! Seems like a lot is going down in your world! Fingers crossed for you! I think I would buckle under the pressure:~)
you've done really well. (pat pat pat) that's me patting you on your back!
Thanks for the update Tradd! Seems like a lot is going down in your world! Fingers crossed for you! I think I would buckle under the pressure:~)
you've done really well. (pat pat pat) that's me patting you on your back!
Thank you! I've been having to do a lot of prioritizing of things. There's some stuff that just gets pushed down the list. My manager knows exactly what gets pushed down the list, and she is more than willing to run interference if someone gets their knickers in a twist.
I HOPE YOU ACE YOUR EXAM, TRADD! AS THEY SAY IN THEATER, "BREAK A LEG!"
rodeosweetheart
10-1-12, 3:24pm
Good luck on your exam, Tradd!
Thank you, RS. Doing a lot of review today. The trade agreements are enough to make my eyes cross!
I HOPE YOU ACE YOUR EXAM, TRADD! AS THEY SAY IN THEATER, "BREAK A LEG!"
Thanks, Jane!
We are rooting you on!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOO TRADD!!!!!!!
Thank you, mtnlaurel, although my stress level is ramping up dramatically. See my post in The Daily Peeve. My car, hit late at night in my parking lot two weeks ago this past Thursday, was not ready today. They're now saying TOMORROW. And tomorrow is when I have to drive the 90 minutes to my friends' home, who are putting me up for the night. I could go in rental, which isn't a problem, but this uncertainly about MY car, well, it's making me nuts. I was actually pacing the floor today!
Wishing you well on your exam!!!!
chrisgermany
10-2-12, 5:05am
Good luck, I am knocking on wood....
UPDATE:
This was much better than April's exam. I felt much better going in AND coming out of the exam. I think I passed, but I will have to wait 6 weeks for written notification of score. I might have verbal confirmation in 4 weeks.
Simpler at Fifty
10-3-12, 7:30pm
I hope you can relax a bit tonight Tradd. I bet you did pass. You sound more confident than the last time.
Oh, I most definitely am relaxing. I'm going to listen to the presidential debate on the radio, or perhaps watch online. I'm sure that will put me to sleep! I've been up since a bit before 5 am. I go back to work tomorrow. I got takeout for dinner and I'm just going to veg.
Way to go Tradd...I certainly hope that your hard work pays off in every way that you want it to!
Tussiemussies
10-3-12, 9:17pm
Glad that you can now relax after your stressful time period!:).
So glad you feel better about it this time around.
I'm so happy I have my brain back! I'm going to wallow in books this fall & winter. The first up? Reading through all of Jane Austen again. :)
Unofficial score based on unofficial answers from test prep place: 86.25%
Minimum needed: 75%
In other words, I passed!
Unofficial score based on unofficial answers from test prep place: 86.25%
Minimum needed: 75%
In other words, I passed!
This is thrilling! Hard work rewarded.
WOO HOO! Congratulations. So now what big project are you going to tackle now that this one is over with? :laff:
:cool::D:):+1::cool:
In other words: CONGRATS!!!!
WOO HOO! Congratulations. So now what big project are you going to tackle now that this one is over with? :laff:
Thank you, all! I'm freakin' thrilled!
NO big projects - at least through the spring. I want to veg, wallow in books, and just take it easy!
YEAH! I have been waiting to hear, so glad you are getting some much needed relax and time-off time
That's really fab news. But when the official notice comes in, I want to know. From the numbers it looks like you've got a pretty good margin for error, but then, I don't know how these things are scored.
That's really fab news. But when the official notice comes in, I want to know. From the numbers it looks like you've got a pretty good margin for error, but then, I don't know how these things are scored.
A lot of the questions are very cut and dried, straight from the import regs. There is at least one question that looks like it will probably be voided by Customs and credit granted to everyone. Customs made a very obvious error on a question that is totally at odds with the tariff. Someone screwed up big time.
My test prep place has been very, very close to the official answers (98-99%) the past few years. They only missed one question for April's exam. So my score might vary a bit, but I've got enough of a cushion for it to not make a difference.
I'm so glad that you feel so confident in your performance on the exam, and I also look forward to hearing the "official" confirmation!
Way to go!
Miss Cellane
10-5-12, 7:55am
Congratulations! It's nice to see hard work getting rewarded.
And I think a re-reading of Jane Austen is a wonderful way to relax.
rodeosweetheart
10-5-12, 8:18am
Wonderful to have it completed--and congratulations on getting through the ordeal!
Whoo hooo! Hope the prediction is accurate. You've worked hard for this and deserve the boost.
lhamo
Hee! I'm celebrating this weekend by pitching a boatload of paper. I'm reclaiming my apartment!
awakenedsoul
10-5-12, 9:57pm
Congratulations Tradd! That's so exciting. Glad you are going to take some time to relax.
What I'm doing my on first study-free Friday evening in months: my favorite Bach violin concertos on loud, Stoli, and declaring war on the paper that had overtaken my place. Should shredders carry a warning to not operate under the influence? :D
Tradd, Haha on the shredders. I actually looked into the tiny scanner you can get to keep all those reciepts and papers on your computer instead of taking up paper space. I am at constant war with paper and I don't have a shredder but I have no patience to bring things into work or feel it is appropriate to bring that much. So I started tearing into strips and putting into cat litter bags. That should be as safe as anything.
I received a very nice email from my exam prep materials provider, asking me to write (anonymously) about my experience with both exams for their website, particularly since I was working so many hours this summer, while still managing to study. I've already got in mind what I would like to say and will enjoy writing it up.
I'm looking forward to returning to my old habit of a Sunday afternoon nap, without having to worry about studying. :)
...I'm looking forward to returning to my old habit of a Sunday afternoon nap, without having to worry about studying. :)
gads, how long HAS it been since you were not studying for one effort or another? If not US customs, then theology stuff. That's such diverse subject matter, your brain is stretched in different directions.
gads, how long HAS it been since you were not studying for one effort or another? If not US customs, then theology stuff. That's such diverse subject matter, your brain is stretched in different directions.
It's been since June 2009. Seriously! Aside breaks over the holidays, and maybe a month in between classes, the theology program was year round.
So, it's been a little more than three years. And you have to remember that the customs exam prep and theology program overlapped last fall/early this year. I also had to move out of my apartment for three weeks last December. Then the merger and accompanying mayhem this past month. It's been quite the year. Such a year, in fact, that it may actually warrant a letter (done up on computer) to accompany Christmas cards this year for folks I don't often see.
Tradd:
Where did you took the prep course??? Cause i took the exam too....
Blackdog Lin
10-7-12, 6:16pm
Oh Tradd, how awesome. Very happy for you.....
Tradd:
Where did you took the prep course??? Cause i took the exam too....
www.logisticsts.com
Self-study course. But any prep materials are only as good as the effort you put into it.
On a very positive note, the coworkers with organizational issues have vastly improved. I was very surprised when I returned from being off almost a week due to exam. The worst case had someone assigned to work with her (her issue was disorganization). The second-worst case has very few piles (since her issue was apparently too much of a workload, a few smaller customers have come off her desk, which has helped). The borderline case has improved some, as well. Our new girl has been with us about 8 weeks now and is settled/familiar enough with our systems to really take on a hunk of work. Thank goodness - it has been too crazy for a long time
www.logisticsts.com (http://www.logisticsts.com)
Self-study course. But any prep materials are only as good as the effort you put into it.
Yeah i took that one too, i have 58 questions right! I hope that cbp gives two, or just one, and the other one i will protest it
!!!
Thanks,
Update:
Customs posted exam and official answer key on their website today. Looks like I walked away with an 82.5%. That's still pretty danged good.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/exam_and_key_downloads/
This is pretty close to official notification.
Yippee! I passed! :)
Tussiemussies
10-16-12, 11:58pm
Update:
Customs posted exam and official answer key on their website today. Looks like I walked away with an 82.5%. That's still pretty danged good.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/exam_and_key_downloads/
This is pretty close to official notification.
Yippee! I passed! :)
That is excellent news Tradd. Congratulations...
Well done -- congratulations!
lhamo
chrisgermany
10-17-12, 3:41am
Isn't it good to know that hard work and persistence pays off?
Congratulations!
Simpler at Fifty
10-17-12, 6:06am
Congratulations Tradd.
mtnlaurel
10-17-12, 10:17am
And the crowd goes wild!
+1
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs23/f/2008/029/8/5/Emoticon___Cartwheel_by_dancing_rene.gif
SteveinMN
10-17-12, 11:37am
Good on ya, Tradd!
Very very awesome. I am still in awe of how much work you have put in the last few years towards this and your religious education.
rodeosweetheart
10-17-12, 6:08pm
Way to go, Tradd!
Congrats, Tradd! Time to celebrate!!!
Thank you, all! I'm giddy!:D
To treat myself after passing: I bought a nice black pant suit from Macy's. Really on sale. Several tops to go with it. I'm going out on a lot more customer calls, plus I will have an interview with Customs for my license. Also a nice black tote/laptop bag. And some Clinique makeup to fill in the holes in my makeup bag. In other words, even though we've got a casual office, I need to REALLY look like a manager occasionally. ;-)
jennipurrr
10-27-12, 3:11pm
I haven't been checking the boards as much, but I wanted to say Congrats Tradd!
Thank you, Jennipurr!
I called the Customs office through which I took the exam yesterday, thinking that since the answer key was online so soon that perhaps scores might be available sooner than after April's exam. Nope! However, the contact was helpful and told me to call back early next week, since scores are sent to the individual Customs' offices on Friday afternoons.
ETA: The lovely suit and tops had to go back since none fit. The shoulders on the suit were much too large! But I'm very happy with my new everyday bag.
rosarugosa
10-27-12, 6:53pm
I can't believe I didn't see this until now, but better late than never.
Congratulations, Tradd! So glad that your hard work paid off!
!pow!
I can't believe I didn't see this until now, but better late than never.
Congratulations, Tradd! So glad that your hard work paid off!
!pow!
Thank you, Rosa! My manager is planning a party at her place for entire department in several weeks. Several folks we used to work with are coming as well.
A friend called DC and was told results letters will be going out this week! :)
Got verbal confirmation today from Customs.
I passed!!!
Yippee!
Work party tonight.
Great news, Tradd! Enjoy the party and take a moment to savor the results of your hard work!
Woo Hoo!!! Congratulations!!
Miss Cellane
11-9-12, 6:58pm
Ta-Da!
Congratulations!
Can you relax a tiny bit now, or is work still crazy?
That must feel so good- you worked so hard and now its finally a reality. Congrats!
Fantastic news, Tradd - well deserved. Make them update your business cards! :-)
iris lily
11-9-12, 10:15pm
YAY Tradd!
I've been (only a little) worried about this and wanted to hear confirmation. What a relief!
Simpler at Fifty
11-9-12, 10:18pm
Congratulations Tradd.
Right on, Tradd! I'm so happy for you! Woo HOO! :)
Can you relax a tiny bit now, or is work still crazy?
Work is still somewhat crazy, but I'm not working quite so many hours!
Make them update your business cards! :-)
Heck, I don't have business cards yet. I'm not "official" until I get my letter. I should have it by Wednesday. And frankly, I'd much rather wait the 3-4 months, so I can have those lovely three letters after my name! LCB - licensed customs broker.:)
Work party tonight was lovely. Tons of food - shepherd's pie even. Yum! We played Pictionary and laughed so hard we cried several times. Our national compliance manager sent me a lovely flower arrangement today for passing.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5SFeeEbudiY/UJ32HQgEdhI/AAAAAAAAFoc/6ACIsPggZog/s640/20121109_123112.jpg
I have a bottle of my favorite "Soviet Champagne" (sparking wine from Ukraine) in my fridge to pop when I get my letter. My license application is ready to go and will be dropped off at Customs locally (very close to office) in person the next business day after I receive my letter. One of the trucking companies I deal with almost daily promised back in March that when I passed they will bring in lunch for the entire office. Even if it's just pizza and salad, that's nice. Owner said he wanted to see my letter, so I'll black out my address and scan it to him. :) The office is looking forward to that lunch!
Now, I've got a wide variety of duties that are keeping me busy, in addition to the two customers I'm still handling, and the one I'm doing some complicated stuff for. Our local brokers association has a seminar pretty much every month, so I'm doing a lot of learning. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on. I've got some standardization of procedures and remedial training to do with a few folks.
A little late to the party (no pun intended, I was on vacation) but congratulations!
Congratulations, Tradd! You are so deserving of your success. Look at those flowers! Gorgeous!
What a nice bouquet, wonderful that they appreciate the work you did to pass that exam.
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