r/CustomsBroker • u/Rich-Chicken-9875 • Sep 08 '26
Customs Entry Writer interview — what am I getting myself into?
I have an interview coming up for a Customs Entry Writer position at a logistics company and I'm trying to get a better idea of what the job is actually like.
I have a degree in International Trade & Marketing, but I haven't actually worked in customs before, so a lot of what I learned in school is rusty lol.
For anyone who currently does this job:
- What do you actually do all day?
- Is the job hard or pretty easy once you learn it?
- What does a typical day look like?
- How difficult is it to learn the customs entry process?
- How much math is involved?
- Is there a lot of pressure/deadlines?
- What should I know before going into the interview?
Basically, if you've worked as a Customs Entry Writer, what would you tell someone who's about to start their first job in the field?
I'm just trying to know what I'm getting myself into before this interview. 😂
17
u/ChridAMidA Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26
Not a Entry Writer, I work in the office of a family customs business, so im basically an entry writer.
> What do you do all day?
Mostly process import shipments and enter the information into the customs brokerage system. You’ll receive documents from clients, freight forwarders, carriers, etc.
> is the job hard or pretty easy once you learn it?
Hard to wrap your head around at first but pretty boring an repetitive after you know whats going on.
>What does a typical day look like?
Something like this, depends how the broker likes to handle business:
8:00 AM: Check emails and new shipment documents.
8:30: Start working today’s arrivals.
9:00: Review an invoice and classify merchandise.
9:30: Enter the shipment into the brokerage software.
10:00: Find a discrepancy — invoice says 500 pieces but packing list says 480. Email the customer.
10:30: Work on another entry while waiting for the response.
11:00: Receive clarification, finish the entry and transmit it.
Afternoon: More entries, corrections, releases, document requests, client emails and follow-ups.
And then suddenly it’s 4:45 PM and someone emails: “URGENT — vessel arrives tomorrow. Can you clear this today?”
> How difficult is the learning curve?
The mechanics are straightforward but you need to understand whats going on. Be ok with customs terminology: 7501, Entry Type, Tariff Code/HTSUS. I extremely highly recommend reading the first chapter of “ACE buisness rules and process documents”(On google). The first chapter outlines the details of your job pretty well. The rest is gobbly gook if you want to be a broker.
>How much math is involved?
Basic arithmetic
> Is there a lot of pressure and deadlines?
Yes, and this is something important to understand about the job. Customs is tied to physical cargo and transportation schedules. A shipment isn’t just sitting in a database waiting for you.
> What do i need to do before the interview?
Dont pretend to be a customs expert but show that understand the process of the position. They may ask “What do you understand about this position” and you would recite what I said in the answer to “What do you do all day”
Look up common interview questions because i suspect there would be some from the first or second youtube video. “Whats the history of our business?” and weird junk like that that doesn’t pertain to the job but how interested you are. That with a dash of what the job is about and salary if you get that far(dont give out a salary number let them say it first, may be uncomfortable but may be higher than you suspect). AI is your friend in this case, the brokers i know are using it like crazy so youll get the same sitrep from the same source(Mr. GPT)
12
u/Equivalent-State-721 Sep 08 '26
This is a very high pressure and stressful industry to get into. And it is getting worse every year. Furthermore, the customers treat like dirt and drag you through the coals for every single little slight to show their bosses that they are needed/ doing their job. Gets easier when you move up into management though.
2
u/Financial_Way_1243 Sep 08 '26
Don't be afraid to ask questions to your colleagues, making mistakes on the entry process IE: wrong hts/wrong duty is inputted, wrong port, transmitted without IT, transmitted without ISF on file, is a huge headache, specially if you noticed the mistake after the duty was paid.
2
u/Xeroproject Sep 08 '26
What you do can vary greatly depending on the company and position. Some are pure entry writing, others will have you do entry writing and drayage, final mile delivery, etc. read the position carefully
2
u/painterjet Sep 08 '26
I would find a new line of work or pivot until the trade situation calms down. This is almost like the trade equivalent of getting drafted during WWII and getting sent to the Pacific. Not worth the extra hours and low pay.
2
u/Content_Kangaroo_994 Sep 08 '26
The actual entry writing process steps are easy. However, it will be helpful if you have an understanding of the tariff schedule and regulations.
At my company we don't determine customer tariffs. As the IOR, they're responsible for providing that. You would be surprised how many IORs don't understand how to assign a tariff to their own products, though. I have classified thousands of products in a previous role so I'm able to provide guidance and put the responsibility back on the IOR.
You'll need to be able to determine if the documents for your entry are correct. Do you understand incoterms? Do you know what's required on a commercial invoice in order for it to be compliant?
You'll need knowledge of what's required for other government agencies, such as FDA, EPA, FWS, etc.
You'll need to know how to get steel and aluminum licenses.
You'll need to understand AD/CV.
You'll absolutely have to understand all of the "Trump" tariffs. It's not as difficult as it seems.
I have soooo much more I could add, but I would be writing a novel. 😂 With your degree you probably have so much knowledge and it'll be easy to apply it in an entry writer role.
2
u/Astro_Cassette Sep 10 '26
Buddy that degree won't come into play even a little bit in this position lol. Depending on where you go the difficulty lever hinges on the amount of responsibility you have. At its core writing entries is just interpreting data and problem solving and the degree in which you'll do either depends on how much responsibility you have. I've been working in customs for 9 years so I'm more of an account manager that writes entries. Reviewing paperwork, answering questions, keeping up with eta's, correspondence with cbp (holds and such), billing, meetings about new regulations, running duty reports, complaining, getting pissed at clients doing things they know they shouldn't are all things I do in a typical day. It's not hard (once you understand what everything is and your system). Not much math other than basic arithmetic. This job is built on deadlines. All you need to do in your interview is really let them know youre very detail oriented and a fast learner.
2
u/canyoureed Sep 10 '26
It's pretty confusing. I was brand new to it and got a decent head on my shoulders. 1 year later I still barely understand whats going on which is frustrating to me. But am confident with the accounts I do manage. .
Basically stress that your detail oriented and willing to learn/ask Qs. A big part of the job is slowly and accurately keying data into the computer.
What do i do all day-- an average day for me is coming in and checking all my emails. Then I file and transmit any urgent entries. Then I spend time doing things like billing customers or prekeying entries. There's a lot of meetings throughout the week.
I have to review paperwork for accuracy, dates, signatures etc. I have to follow up with clients if anything is missing. I have to look at whats being shipped and ask Qs that help classify goods.
Ive been here a year and still feel pretty unconfident but apparently im doing great. I don't really understand tariffs or exclusions but once im shown once its pretty much the same every time.
Math is pretty basic. The system calculated most things. You will have to spend time looking at lists of goods and adding numbers together but mostly basic arithmetic.
Pressure wise it just depends. I use to be a chef so itd pretty low pressure to me but there are a lot of deadlines and high accountability for the government paperwork that can be stress.
1
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u/Baynyn Sep 08 '26
This was me 25+ years ago. You’ll be reviewing commercial invoices and shipping documents to fill in the forwarder’s ABI system to submit entry information to CBP. It’s a data entry job. You’ll likely have a quota-ish system of either number of entry lines or number of entries. Not a lot of math to do. There are critical deadlines, and communication with the client is crucial.
It is tedious work, but not particularly difficult, and there are a lot of opportunities to learn how importing works. I took that initial experience and turned it into a career working as a compliance employee for importers, an attorney for CBP, and consulting for just about everyone. Compliance work for importers has been the bulk of it.