Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

forwarding managertoshipping agent

A forwarding manager already meets 55% of what the shipping agent role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.

From forwarding manager
55%
Overlap1
To shipping agent
15 Skills carried over
6 Required, not held
44.9 Difficulty2
Career overlap Partial match

55%

Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

44.9/ 100

1 Share of the shipping agent role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the forwarding manager profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Why

Why this move works

A shipping agent role treats 6 of its required skills as things a forwarding manager already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations
  • control trade commercial documentation
  • keep up-to-date to current customs regulations
  • make bids in forward auctions
  • provide advice to clients in terms of export restrictions
  • provide advice to clients in terms of import restrictions

What stands in the way is 6 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 15 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A shipping agent role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a forwarding manager background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held make bids in forward auctions communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held provide advice to clients in terms of export restrictions communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held provide advice to clients in terms of import restrictions communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held book cargo communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held prepare bills of lading information skills
  • already held keep up-to-date to current customs regulations information skills

All 15 carried skills, including the 6 the shipping agent role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 10 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier
01 assisting and caring 2 required
  • required, not held ensure compliance with port regulations required
  • required, not held comply with regulations related to export in different countries required
02 information skills 1 required, 3 supplementary
  • required, not held manage import export licenses required
  • optional, not held inspect freight optional
  • optional, not held keep written records of cargo optional
  • optional, not held observe freight shipment loaders optional
03 business, administration and law 1 required
  • required, not held international import export regulations required
04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required
  • required, not held liaise with port users required
05 services 1 required
  • required, not held port regulation required
06 management skills 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held oversee arrival and departure of ships into port optional
Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a shipping agent role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 15 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations skill
  • already held control trade commercial documentation skill
  • already held keep up-to-date to current customs regulations skill
  • already held make bids in forward auctions skill
  • already held provide advice to clients in terms of export restrictions skill
  • already held provide advice to clients in terms of import restrictions skill
  • already held administer multi-modal logistics skill
  • already held analyse shipping rates skill
  • already held book cargo skill
  • already held coordinate export transportation activities skill
  • already held coordinate import transportation activities skill
  • already held create import-export commercial documentation skill
  • already held handle shipment paperwork skill
  • already held liaise with transportation services skill
  • already held prepare bills of lading skill
4 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held oversee arrival and departure of ships into port optional
  • optional, not held inspect freight optional
  • optional, not held keep written records of cargo optional
  • optional, not held observe freight shipment loaders optional
33 held skills the shipping agent role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adapt to changing situations skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse supply chain trends skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse work-related written reports skill
  • not needed by the target role assess carriers skill
  • not needed by the target role communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages skill
  • not needed by the target role communicate with shipment forwarders skill
  • not needed by the target role create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement skill
  • not needed by the target role develop efficiency plans for logistics operations skill
  • not needed by the target role develop transportation cost metrics skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure legal accreditation for forwarding agent operations skill
  • not needed by the target role foster relationships with various types of carrier skill
  • not needed by the target role freight transport methods knowledge
  • not needed by the target role implement cost-effective cargo handling strategies on ships skill
  • not needed by the target role implement short term objectives skill
  • not needed by the target role inspect carrier documents skill
  • not needed by the target role manage carriers skill
  • not needed by the target role manage contracts skill
  • not needed by the target role manage freight payment methods skill
  • not needed by the target role manage medium term objectives skill
  • not needed by the target role negotiate logistics services skill
  • not needed by the target role negotiate price skill
  • not needed by the target role negotiate service with providers skill
  • not needed by the target role non vessel operating common carrier regulations skill
  • not needed by the target role oversee cargo storage requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role oversee shipment routing skill
  • not needed by the target role plan medium to long term objectives skill
  • not needed by the target role plan transport operations skill
  • not needed by the target role prepare documentation for international shipping skill
  • not needed by the target role principles of cargo stowage knowledge
  • not needed by the target role set import export strategies skill
  • not needed by the target role supply chain management knowledge
  • not needed by the target role use different communication channels skill
  • not needed by the target role work in a logistics team skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier
  • required, not held international import export regulations required
  • required, not held port regulation required
Index
Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.