As Vice-President of the NY Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade, I'm pleased to announce our upcoming holiday party.
Members of the New York Chapter are part of a worldwide network of more than 3,000 professionals whose involvements in OWIT enhance their knowledge of current global trade issues.
Hope you can make it!
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Place: Investment & Trade Office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States
1 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Cost:
$20.00 OWIT-NY members
$25.00 non-members
Price includes catered food from Evergreen Restaurant, wine, beer and soft drinks.
All participants will be entered into a drawing for a set of Tiffany goblets.
In the spirit of the holiday, the evening will include a brief introduction to the international charity work of Handcrafting Justice which is a Fair Trade, economic justice project that partners with women in developing countries. They market women’s handcrafts and raise awareness about the root causes of poverty, gender inequality and social issues. A representation of these goods will be available for sale throughout the evening.
Register online or send a check to:
OWIT-NY
P.O. Box 68
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Chemistry Lands the Job
At last week’s lecture at Queensborough Community College, many students expressed a lack of knowledge as to actual jobs within the International Trade arena and wanted to learn more about how to get one.
Keep in mind that irrespective of your experience, it will be your personality and ability to convey the message that you have a good attitude, are flexible/work well with others, and want to contribute to meeting the goals of the organization that will ultimately get you that job offer. That is, do you have chemistry with the interviewer and potentially with the company (or the department, anyway) as a whole?
Whether dealing with imports or exports, and irrespective of the industry be it apparel, pharmaceuticals, or otherwise, professionals under the international trade umbrella largely seek opportunities in the areas of
Planning and forecasting
Supply chain management
Logistics and transportation
Trade compliance
Sales
Marketing
Accounting
So where do you look for these jobs?
If you know of companies you are interested in, or come across a job listing on www.monster.com that peaks your interest, go directly to its website to read its listings.
Where you do not know the names of companies but have a particular sector in mind that you want to find work in, websites like www.hoovers.com, have listings by industry of companies. For example, going from the “Industry Overviews” tab (listed on the left hand side under “Hoover’s Directories”), clicking on the “Beverages” industry tab, and then clicking on “winemakers” specifically, will lead you to a listing of the most viewed winemaker companies, and from there you can search those individual wine websites for job listings.
Hoovers also has a link to news and press releases by these companies. Learning more about a company will help you in both tailoring your resume and cover letter (and you always want to send both), as well as performing during an interview.
These news pieces can also provide you with the name of the author, and if you like what they have written about, you can likely find them on websites like www.LinkedIn.com and make direct contact with them, perhaps even complementing them on their ideas in the article.
Different online newspapers offer an ability to search by keyword, such as the New York Times, and others, like the Washington Post, allow you to search by sector.
Dues paying membership organizations with a particular focus, such as the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-NY), have job listings around the globe (student membership is $25).
Ethnic based organizations such as Asian Women in Business, also have resources for job seekers as well as other benefits such as their scholarship program for current undergraduate students.
Attending events put on by these groups can also lead to making contacts and ultimately landing a job. Recently, a connection I personally made at an OWIT-NY event led to employment for a new member.
Some cities have assistance for jobseekers, helping them with career counseling, technical and educational services, and workshops. These services and more for example, are offered by the New York City Small Business Services Dept.
For more experienced workers, placement agencies like Tyler Search Consultants, which caters specifically to trade professionals, can be a great resource. Their website has many useful articles and tips on how to find employment for both the experienced and novice jobseeker. It is well worth checking out.
As for your resume, it is not uncommon for human resources to simply perform a word search in order to sort through the multitude of resumes that are electronically received (via email) for a particular job, and to find appropriate candidates flagged through a narrow search like this.
This means it is critical that important key words like “import” or “export” are specifically included. If you worked in a particular country, state it. If you have experience say, with the Maquiladoras, state it. If you managed people, state it and say how many you managed.
Be clear in your language and be dynamic. If you have experience covering the sales floor on your own, don’t merely write in your resume that you “managed the floor by cleaning or just watching the floor when I’m alone.” Rather, express your sole oversight of the sales floor and how you effectively managed the sales and maintenance functions required.
If you’re a student with little experience, take what salary the company offers you. You have little to no bargaining power if you are not currently drawing a salary. If you have a certain requirement you want met, put it in your cover letter or the accompanying email and state it up front. Don’t bother making up an artificial number, as the company will already know what the average salaries are.
Hope this helps!
Questions/comments? Feel free to email me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
Keep in mind that irrespective of your experience, it will be your personality and ability to convey the message that you have a good attitude, are flexible/work well with others, and want to contribute to meeting the goals of the organization that will ultimately get you that job offer. That is, do you have chemistry with the interviewer and potentially with the company (or the department, anyway) as a whole?
Whether dealing with imports or exports, and irrespective of the industry be it apparel, pharmaceuticals, or otherwise, professionals under the international trade umbrella largely seek opportunities in the areas of
Planning and forecasting
Supply chain management
Logistics and transportation
Trade compliance
Sales
Marketing
Accounting
So where do you look for these jobs?
If you know of companies you are interested in, or come across a job listing on www.monster.com that peaks your interest, go directly to its website to read its listings.
Where you do not know the names of companies but have a particular sector in mind that you want to find work in, websites like www.hoovers.com, have listings by industry of companies. For example, going from the “Industry Overviews” tab (listed on the left hand side under “Hoover’s Directories”), clicking on the “Beverages” industry tab, and then clicking on “winemakers” specifically, will lead you to a listing of the most viewed winemaker companies, and from there you can search those individual wine websites for job listings.
Hoovers also has a link to news and press releases by these companies. Learning more about a company will help you in both tailoring your resume and cover letter (and you always want to send both), as well as performing during an interview.
These news pieces can also provide you with the name of the author, and if you like what they have written about, you can likely find them on websites like www.LinkedIn.com and make direct contact with them, perhaps even complementing them on their ideas in the article.
Different online newspapers offer an ability to search by keyword, such as the New York Times, and others, like the Washington Post, allow you to search by sector.
Dues paying membership organizations with a particular focus, such as the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-NY), have job listings around the globe (student membership is $25).
Ethnic based organizations such as Asian Women in Business, also have resources for job seekers as well as other benefits such as their scholarship program for current undergraduate students.
Attending events put on by these groups can also lead to making contacts and ultimately landing a job. Recently, a connection I personally made at an OWIT-NY event led to employment for a new member.
Some cities have assistance for jobseekers, helping them with career counseling, technical and educational services, and workshops. These services and more for example, are offered by the New York City Small Business Services Dept.
For more experienced workers, placement agencies like Tyler Search Consultants, which caters specifically to trade professionals, can be a great resource. Their website has many useful articles and tips on how to find employment for both the experienced and novice jobseeker. It is well worth checking out.
As for your resume, it is not uncommon for human resources to simply perform a word search in order to sort through the multitude of resumes that are electronically received (via email) for a particular job, and to find appropriate candidates flagged through a narrow search like this.
This means it is critical that important key words like “import” or “export” are specifically included. If you worked in a particular country, state it. If you have experience say, with the Maquiladoras, state it. If you managed people, state it and say how many you managed.
Be clear in your language and be dynamic. If you have experience covering the sales floor on your own, don’t merely write in your resume that you “managed the floor by cleaning or just watching the floor when I’m alone.” Rather, express your sole oversight of the sales floor and how you effectively managed the sales and maintenance functions required.
Questions you will want to ask on your interview include:
1. What makes this a great job and opportunity?
2. Why is your company a great one to be a part of?
3. What makes you a great manager/mentor to work for?
4. What are your expectations of a new hire? What are they in 6 months? 1 year? 2 years?
If you’re a student with little experience, take what salary the company offers you. You have little to no bargaining power if you are not currently drawing a salary. If you have a certain requirement you want met, put it in your cover letter or the accompanying email and state it up front. Don’t bother making up an artificial number, as the company will already know what the average salaries are.
Hope this helps!
Questions/comments? Feel free to email me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Introducing Students to International Trade at Queensborough Community College
This week I had the pleasure of giving a lecture to Business students at Queensborough Community College (QCC) on International Trade. “The conversation about how the things are shipped to stores,” was the best part about the presentation to QCC student, Prince Oparaji. The first activity we did was a collective diagramming of an importation, from the overseas factory to the store, an idea I might add, was given to me by the Senior Partner in my office, William Shayne, Esq.
My goal for the presentation was to illustrate to students the relatively complex movement of cargo from overseas to the U.S. I wanted to introduce the students to the players involved in shipping, such as:
Ocean Freight forwarder (1 of 2 “Ocean Transportation Intermediaries”) – in the United States, dispatches shipments from the United States via a common carrier and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers; and processes the documentation or performs related activities incident to those shipments
Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (2 of 2 “Ocean Transportation Intermediaries”) – a common carrier that does not operate the vessels by which the ocean transportation is provided, and is a shipper in its relationship with an ocean common carrier
Vessel Operating Common Carrier – An ocean common carrier
[the above are defined in The Shipping Act of 1984, 46 USC §1701 et. seq.]
Customs Broker - Customs brokers are private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs to assist importers and exporters in meeting Federal requirements governing imports and exports. Brokers submit necessary information and appropriate payments to CBP on behalf of their clients and charge them a fee for this service. [defined by US Customs and Border Protection]
and to get them thinking about the pre-entry requirements, border issues and other liabilities involved with importing certain goods.
In order to do this, I had a number of items on display that I passed around to students to demonstrate which issues may be raised. A few examples of this included:
1) bracelets - permanently stamped with the word “Mexico” on the inner band (country of origin issue),
2) ceramic cup and banana – believe it or not, a container load of either of these may have enough radiation in them to set off the radiation detection devices set up at the terminal exit of all piers (security of US/weapons of mass destruction issue) - don't worry, in smaller quantities they are not harmful. If they were, they would not be admitted into the US for consumption!
3) legos® – pre-importation certificate of conformity requirements with the Consumer Safety Product Commission (children’s safety and small parts issue)
Following the lecture, I asked students what more they would have liked to have learned about. Each of the topics raised could easily be a multi-day course in and of itself. In future posts however, I will try to address them as it is good review for me as well.
- Rules for importing a product
- Where to get more information
- Career steps to take in direction of working in international trade/how I obtained my job
- Specifics on the tariff (HTSUS)
Questions/comments? Feel free to email me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
"I really love the fact that she explained the supply chain management in a clear and easy way. It was a great presentation."
My goal for the presentation was to illustrate to students the relatively complex movement of cargo from overseas to the U.S. I wanted to introduce the students to the players involved in shipping, such as:
Ocean Freight forwarder (1 of 2 “Ocean Transportation Intermediaries”) – in the United States, dispatches shipments from the United States via a common carrier and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers; and processes the documentation or performs related activities incident to those shipments
Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (2 of 2 “Ocean Transportation Intermediaries”) – a common carrier that does not operate the vessels by which the ocean transportation is provided, and is a shipper in its relationship with an ocean common carrier
Vessel Operating Common Carrier – An ocean common carrier
[the above are defined in The Shipping Act of 1984, 46 USC §1701 et. seq.]
Customs Broker - Customs brokers are private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs to assist importers and exporters in meeting Federal requirements governing imports and exports. Brokers submit necessary information and appropriate payments to CBP on behalf of their clients and charge them a fee for this service. [defined by US Customs and Border Protection]
and to get them thinking about the pre-entry requirements, border issues and other liabilities involved with importing certain goods.
"I think it was very well presented, very detailed."
In order to do this, I had a number of items on display that I passed around to students to demonstrate which issues may be raised. A few examples of this included:
1) bracelets - permanently stamped with the word “Mexico” on the inner band (country of origin issue),
2) ceramic cup and banana – believe it or not, a container load of either of these may have enough radiation in them to set off the radiation detection devices set up at the terminal exit of all piers (security of US/weapons of mass destruction issue) - don't worry, in smaller quantities they are not harmful. If they were, they would not be admitted into the US for consumption!
3) legos® – pre-importation certificate of conformity requirements with the Consumer Safety Product Commission (children’s safety and small parts issue)
Following the lecture, I asked students what more they would have liked to have learned about. Each of the topics raised could easily be a multi-day course in and of itself. In future posts however, I will try to address them as it is good review for me as well.
- Rules for importing a product
- Where to get more information
- Career steps to take in direction of working in international trade/how I obtained my job
- Specifics on the tariff (HTSUS)
Questions/comments? Feel free to email me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Export Control Classification Numbers
When exporting a commercial article, software or technology abroad that is of “dual use,” i.e., that has both civilian and military or proliferation applications, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the US Dept. of Commerce, has control over these exports through the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). BIS actually has control over most commercial articles exported, however, other agencies such as the Dept. of State, control certain specific exports and their requisite licenses, such as defense articles and defense services.
There are 3 approaches to figuring out an ECCN:
1. Ask the manufacturer, producer or developer if they have a current ECCN for the item.
2. Self-classify the item, which would require a familiarity with the format and structure of the CCL, not to mention a technical understanding of the item.
3. Make an official request to BIS for a classification. This is done using the BIS electronic licensing system known as “SNAP-R.”
In order to use this, both a Personal Identification Number and a Company Identification Number must be obtained from the BIS website.
Once the ECCN has been determined, you can identify which transactions may require an export license based on reasons such as the country of destination, any exceptions to obtaining a license which may apply, and why control is exercised over the item.
While BIS is unable to provide a definitive commodity classification over the phone through its Office of Exporter Services, BIS counselors are available to advise exporters on making ECCN determinations using online resources. Call the BIS Help Desk at (202) 482-4811.
For formal requests made through SNAP-R, technical staff at BIS will review submissions and provide an official classification within 4 to 6 weeks.
Questions or comments? Feel free to contact me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
A relatively small percentage of total U.S. exports and reexports require a license from BIS. License requirements are dependent upon an item's technical characteristics, the destination, the end-user, and the end-use. You, as the exporter, must determine whether your export requires a license. When making that determination consider:The Commerce Control List (CCL) lists Export Control Classification Numbers (EECN), which categorizes articles based on the nature of the product type and its respective technical parameters. An EECN is an alphanumeric designation, e.g., 5A004, used to identify items for export control purposes.
• What are you exporting?
• Where are you exporting?
• Who will receive your item?
• What will your item be used for?
-- BIS Introduction to Commerce Dept. Export Controls
There are 3 approaches to figuring out an ECCN:
1. Ask the manufacturer, producer or developer if they have a current ECCN for the item.
2. Self-classify the item, which would require a familiarity with the format and structure of the CCL, not to mention a technical understanding of the item.
3. Make an official request to BIS for a classification. This is done using the BIS electronic licensing system known as “SNAP-R.”
In order to use this, both a Personal Identification Number and a Company Identification Number must be obtained from the BIS website.
Once the ECCN has been determined, you can identify which transactions may require an export license based on reasons such as the country of destination, any exceptions to obtaining a license which may apply, and why control is exercised over the item.
While BIS is unable to provide a definitive commodity classification over the phone through its Office of Exporter Services, BIS counselors are available to advise exporters on making ECCN determinations using online resources. Call the BIS Help Desk at (202) 482-4811.
For formal requests made through SNAP-R, technical staff at BIS will review submissions and provide an official classification within 4 to 6 weeks.
Questions or comments? Feel free to contact me at clark.deanna@gmail.com
Monday, November 2, 2009
Avoid Getting Stuck at the Border with Violative Imports – The Importance of Pre-Importation Planning
I’ve mentioned before that US Customs enforces other agency’s mandates with respect to goods entering the country. Ensuring you’re compliant with the rules and regulations applicable to your import is critical in order to avoid hold ups at the border and delays in delivering goods to your customers.
This past week I revisited the issue of advising clients on how to meet some of the Consumer Safety Product Commission’s (CPSC) product safety measures that must be complied with following the enactment of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Looking at a production of children’s apparel, we were analyzing the best way to meet the recently implemented “tracking label” requirement, which is detailed in Section 103 of CPSIA.
This rule mandates for children’s products manufactured on or after August 14, 2009 that the tracking label provide “to the extent practicable,” permanent marks that will enable the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer or private labeler, the location and date of production of the product and cohort information.
The intention of the Tracking Label Rule is to create the ability to trace back to the production run of an article in the event of a product recall. Given the level of guidance offered by the CPSC however, which has been minimal at best, we found ourselves contemplating the effectiveness of methods for meeting the mandate.
Should the article be stamped with permanent ink?
Sew a permanent label with all of the relevant information on it?
Attach an informative adhesive label? What about with super glue?
The answer to this last idea is NO by the way, as it is not considered permanent. Hang tags are not permitted either.
One of the challenges in choosing a viable method is that the label must remain on the article throughout the “useful life” of the product, which can go up to an indefinite number of years as any reseller of children’s products will tell you.
The main challenge however, is simply that CPSC has not provided enough guidance to the importing community about how to comply with its new rule, despite its Statement of Policy regarding tracking labels.
What if the article is really small? How do you permanently mark say, an infant’s shoe, with all of the requisite information?
Any thoughts? I’d love to hear them.
Have questions about how to comply with CPSC’s new requirements? You’re not alone. Feel free to email me with your comments or questions at clark.deanna@gmail.com
This past week I revisited the issue of advising clients on how to meet some of the Consumer Safety Product Commission’s (CPSC) product safety measures that must be complied with following the enactment of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Looking at a production of children’s apparel, we were analyzing the best way to meet the recently implemented “tracking label” requirement, which is detailed in Section 103 of CPSIA.
This rule mandates for children’s products manufactured on or after August 14, 2009 that the tracking label provide “to the extent practicable,” permanent marks that will enable the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer or private labeler, the location and date of production of the product and cohort information.
The intention of the Tracking Label Rule is to create the ability to trace back to the production run of an article in the event of a product recall. Given the level of guidance offered by the CPSC however, which has been minimal at best, we found ourselves contemplating the effectiveness of methods for meeting the mandate.
Should the article be stamped with permanent ink?
Sew a permanent label with all of the relevant information on it?
Attach an informative adhesive label? What about with super glue?
The answer to this last idea is NO by the way, as it is not considered permanent. Hang tags are not permitted either.
One of the challenges in choosing a viable method is that the label must remain on the article throughout the “useful life” of the product, which can go up to an indefinite number of years as any reseller of children’s products will tell you.
A children's product is defined as a "consumer product designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger." -- Section 235(a) CPSIA
The main challenge however, is simply that CPSC has not provided enough guidance to the importing community about how to comply with its new rule, despite its Statement of Policy regarding tracking labels.
What if the article is really small? How do you permanently mark say, an infant’s shoe, with all of the requisite information?
Any thoughts? I’d love to hear them.
Have questions about how to comply with CPSC’s new requirements? You’re not alone. Feel free to email me with your comments or questions at clark.deanna@gmail.com
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