Customs and Freight Forwarding Clerk
Also known as: Forwarding agent
Handles the administrative processing of international shipments, from transport documents to customs formalities, liaising with client and carrier throughout.
The customs and freight forwarding clerk works more broadly than a declarant, handling transport planning and customer contact alongside customs matters. The distinction from a customs declarant lies in the broader administrative role rather than specialist declaration knowledge. Selection often fails on candidates who are customer focused and administratively strong but lack enough knowledge of international trade documentation to flag errors in time.
Competencies to measure
These are the behavioural and ability constructs in this profile. Each one shows which hrmforce questionnaire measures it.
| Competencies to measure | Target level | hrmforce instrument | Assessment method | Behavioural anchor at target level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety awareness Competency (50-framework): Discipline Knockout | N2 | Big Fifty, Competency Check | Situational Judgement Test | Follows the safety rules of the workplace and checks back when in doubt about an operation. |
| Accuracy and attention to detail Competency (50-framework): Accuracy Knockout | N2 | Big Fifty, 360 Feedback | Personality questionnaire | Goes through the own work with a checklist and repairs errors found before the work is passed on. |
| Discipline and keeping commitments Competency (50-framework): Discipline | N2 | Big Fifty, 15PF, 360 Feedback | Personality questionnaire | Arrives at the agreed time with the agreed work and reports any delay to the supervisor. |
| Client focus Competency (50-framework): Customer Focus | N2 | Big Fifty, Competency Check, 360 Feedback | 360-degree feedback | Responds to client questions within the agreed term and refers on when the answer falls outside own task. |
| Managing workload pressure Competency (50-framework): Stress resilience | N2 | Big Fifty, Competency Check, Pulse Survey | Structured interview | Tells the supervisor that the work does not fit the available time and follows the choice that is made. |
| Sustaining pace in repetitive work Competency (50-framework): Discipline | N2 | Big Fifty, Work sample test | Work sample test | Completes the assigned series of operations at the pace indicated and reports when a backlog arises. |
Short profile
The ten heaviest skills in this profile. The full profile with every skill, behavioural anchor and assessment method is in the download.
| T | Skill | Target level | Weight | Knockout | Assessment method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Logistics planning | N2 | 5 | yes | Work sample test |
| G | Safety awareness | N2 | 5 | yes | Situational Judgement Test |
| K | Customs and international trade documentation | N3 | 4 | yes | Knowledge test |
| G | Accuracy and attention to detail | N2 | 4 | yes | Personality questionnaire |
| V | aligning and coordinating | N2 | 4 | no | Assessment centre |
| V | Planning and organising | N2 | 4 | no | Work sample test |
| G | Discipline and keeping commitments | N2 | 4 | no | Personality questionnaire |
| V | Operational inventory management | N2 | 4 | no | Work sample test |
| T | Using warehouse management systems | N2 | 4 | yes | Work sample test |
| V | Load securing and transport safety | N2 | 4 | no | On-the-job observation |
See all 22 skills in the full profile
Assessment instruments for this job
Work sample test
Representative work sample under standardized conditions
Knowledge test (client-specific)
Professional knowledge test, customized for each client
Competency Check
Behavioral-Level Competency Assessment
Big Fifty
Personality questionnaire, 150 items, 25 factors
360 Feedback
Multiple assessments based on behavioral anchors
15PF
Personality Profile, a shorter alternative to the Big Fifty
Pulse Survey
Periodic measurement at the team and organizational levels
Structured interview
Behavioral interview with a fixed structure
Communication Styles
Preferred communication style
Ability Scan
Aptitude Test: Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning Skills
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