Kelly Prins Freight Forwarding Trainee

"The Job Is Never Boring"

Working in a role where no two days are the same, while also gaining a recognised qualification, has been a worthwhile choice for 21 year-old freight forwarder and customs clerk, Kelly Prins.

On-the-job training at UTi NZ Ltd has given Kelly practical experience and ready access to guidance from experienced staff. Taking up studies for the National Certificate in International Freight Forwarding through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme has turned her work into a career.

“The industry has plenty of scope for achieving personal growth and advancement, the course fees for the freight forwarding certificate are cheaper than university fees, I have no student loan and I have good career prospects,” said Kelly.

Kelly first learned about the National Certificate in International Freight Forwarding (NZQA L4) when Glenn Turner, of Independent Verification Services Ltd (IVS), visited Auckland’s Rutherford College to talk to students about careers.

“I wanted to do something in the travel and tourism industry. Gateway (a secondary schools’ work experience programme), introduced me to freight forwarding and helped me work out the direction I wanted to take,” she said.

Having achieved the entry requirements for freight forwarding (NCEA Levels 1 and 2 with English and Maths as core subjects and a restricted drivers licence), Kelly  gained her position with UTi NZ Ltd.

The National Certificate is offered by the Tranzqual Industry Training Organisation and; in conjunction with IVS, the course is now delivered in a range of different ways including on-line study and assessments, weekly training workshops and Bootcamps. Trainers aim to meet the individual learning styles of each apprentice. The government partially funds the training and an external co-ordinator mentors people through their training, monitoring their progress.

Kelly found the three to four hours a week time commitment required for study and completing written assignments and assessments was quite manageable with a full-time job.

She gained a broad knowledge of freight forwarding - import and export, customer service, customs brokerage, word processing and correctly filling in documentation, distribution, health and safety and insurance. She found she could immediately apply new knowledge to her work. “The course is comprehensive and practical,” said Kelly.

At UTi NZ Ltd, Kelly acts for importers and exporters. “It is an interesting life. Each day has different tasks to achieve and the level of urgency can change quickly.”

Her work might include completing documentation accurately, making sure that the best possible transportation is booked for specific items, ensuring customs requirements are met, processing insurance claims, ensuring items coming into New Zealand are released by the shipping line and by customs, and keeping track of items from their arrival in port to their final destination.

“I make sure things don’t get stuck in the system. Generally it runs smoothly,” she said.

Dealing with clients when things go wrong was part of the training. Kelly’s boss role-played being an angry client when Kelly was undergoing a practical test in client relationships.

“Cargo can be damaged, misplaced or delivered to the wrong destination. I have been taught how to keep the situation calm and reassure the client. I solve problems. The job is never boring,” said Kelly.

Kelly brought the right attributes to freight forwarding work, according to Tony Lynch, Import Manager, UTi NZ Ltd. Ideally freight forwarders need to show attention to detail and accuracy, reliability, and willingness to learn and go the distance for the customer. A desirable employee would be someone who has achieved reasonably well at school, has an outgoing personality and has the flexibility to think on their feet and deal with the variety that will confront them every day.

“Most of all it is about attitude. Where there is a willingness to learn, we can teach apprentices anything. We want to mould them and offer them good long term careers as freight forwarders in what is a dynamic and exciting industry,” said Tony.

The National Certificate in Freight Forwarding helps the industry to operate professionally. Involved with the Industry Advisory Group, Tony is part of the team which continues to refine the course, with a focus on ensuring relevance for the future.

“To be efficient, we must be competitive, and that means raising the skill levels of staff,” said Tony.

Tony believes employers see better stability and better performance from trained staff who have completed the material and passed the course and are capable of reaching the required standard. “This training gives them a boost and start to their career,” he said.

For more information about the National Certificate in International Freight Forwarding contact IVS on 0800 021 169 or visit www.ivsltd.co.nz 

Story by Diana Wood, More Than Words, August 2011