International Travel In The Import/Export Compliance Field

Dear Import/Export Compliance Manager,

I want a glamorous, jet-setting job that allows me to travel the world.  Should I go into import/export compliance?

Ready in Roswell

Dear Ready,

This is probably the first time that the Import/Export Compliance Manager has heard the words ‘glamorous’ and ‘import/export compliance’ used together, or at least not since the Hollywood-themed ICPA conference in Anaheim in 2009.  Glamorous, this field is not.

Jet-setting, on the other hand, can be a bit more accurate.  Import/export compliance professionals, as part of their jobs, must interact with co-workers, service providers, governments, distributors and other related entities outside the boundaries of the United States.  Even in this day and age of free or very cheap videoconferencing, it is important to have face-to-face relationships with those whose job performance can impact the level of compliance in your company and ultimately, its profit margin.  It is also necessary to visit to check up on things, assess and otherwise put the fear of God into the offices you are visiting.  Travel may also be required if you work for a company headquartered outside of the United States; there’s nothing quite like getting on a twelve hour flight to go see your boss.

Not everyone in the import/export compliance world gets to travel, however.  It greatly depends on your role (managers are more likely to travel than analysts who are in turn more likely to travel than specialists), your company’s travel philosophy, your company’s markets, your company’s level of risk and/or the severity of issues and, sometimes most importantly (unfortunately), budget. 

Two other points need to be made.  First, absolutely do not enter the import/export compliance field unless you are dedicated to becoming excellent in the field.  Enjoying travel and other cultures is a plus, but it is useless if you do not have the mindset required to create a culture of compliance and, when necessary, bring the hammer down and enforce it. 

Second, it sounds great to non-travelers that you can travel to exotic places like Shanghai, Mexico City and Paris on your company’s dime.  And at first, it is indeed wonderful.  But when you’re making your seventh trip to China in two years, you’re older with more of a complicated life at home and/or when you’re traveling to take care of a MAJOR issue while having to keep up with the regular workload back in the office, travel is not what it’s cracked up to be (except for those of you who just love being road warriors; you people don’t count).  It becomes part of the grind of the job, that process of going from airport to taxi to hotel to office to hotel to taxi to airport (and to airport to airport...), where you realize that the company is paying for all of your expenses, including meals, because your time is being owned 24/7, even if you do find time to go out and see the sights and have regular video calls with loved ones or friends back home.  At some point the joys of travel instead come from seeing old acquaintances and knowing that you are, through your travel, doing what it takes to be an excellent import/export compliance professional.

So yes, import/export compliance can lead to jet-setting career possibilities, more so than most careers, but don’t let that be your sole reason for entering the field.