Trade Specialist

Answer 1

For college graduates who want a rewarding and profitable career where they can put their business skills to proper use and help the companies they work for to increase revenue, a career as a trade specialist can be a highly desirable employment opportunity. Trade specialists can focus either on domestic or international trade, depending on which market they have the most interest. Before pursuing a career as a trade specialist, prospective employees should be informed about the possible job responsibilities, educational requirements, and possible salary potential.

Job Responsibilities

As a trade specialist, an employee will be responsible for classifying products for both import and export according to international and government regulations. They measure and monitor performance of compliance programs and develop policies and standard operating procedures to guarantee compliance with export and import laws.

To be qualified for a job as a trade specialist, prospective employees need to have a wide variety of experiences. They must have experience with investment analysis, sales promotion, and advertising, as well as experience with promotional work with trade associations or Chambers of Commerce. Additionally, they should have a thorough knowledge of business practices relating to retail, distribution, and wholesale costs, as well as tax and finance structure. Trade specialists should also have knowledge of consumption patterns and the social, psychological, and economic factors that influence them.

Education

Trade specialists generally have at least a bachelor’s degree in a business discipline. Other areas of study may include public administration, finance, political science, marketing, history, economics, or public relations. Trade specialists that want to focus on international trade may also want to study global policy, international trade, international affairs, and intercultural relations to gain a better understanding of how business operations work on a global scale.

Salary

Domestic trade specialists in the United States can expect to make anywhere between $35,000 and $50,000 annually on average. International trade specialists often receive a higher salary, and the median salary that a typical International Trade Specialist in the United States can expect is $78,638 annually. This can be broken down further to show that the 25th percentile generally makes $61,000 a year, while the 75th percentile makes over $95,000 annually.