How to hire an export clerk

How to hire an export clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step export clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an export clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new export clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an export clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An export clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, export clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of export clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Export Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Export Clerk	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-22
   Shipping	When it comes to shipping, a worker is primarily in charge of processing deliveries while ensuring accuracy and timeliness. One of their responsibilities revolves around processing information, maintaining an accurate record of all transactions, inspecting goods, and organizing an efficient transport of goods... Show more	$12-18
   Receiving Lead	A Receiving Lead's job covers the direction and coordination of receiving and other warehouse processes under the established operating operations. Receiving leads provide the work assignments of their staff daily... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • USDA
   • AES
   • Air Freight
   • Logistics
   • Forwarders
   • TSA
   • LCL
   • Steamship Lines
   • SED
   • Customer Orders
   • DHL
   • BOL

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Coordinate with freight forwarders, U.S. Customs and foreign agents for shipments of material being export worldwide.
   • Receive all inbound vessel documents such as vessel manifest, brokers orders, custom releases, steamship releases and USDA releases.
   • Work with USDA inspectors to verify all documentation, labeling and data enter for exports are accurate and complete by deadlines.
   • Analyze original documents receive by the forwarders.
   • Gather and analyze product data for NAFTA qualifications.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your export clerk job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An export clerk can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, export clerks' average salary in south dakota is 35% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level export clerks 40% less than senior-level export clerks.
   • Certifications. An export clerk with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an export clerk's salary.

   Average export clerk salary

   $36,725yearly

   $17.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level export clerk salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

4. Writing an export clerk job description

   An export clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an export clerk job description:

   Export clerk job description example

   Main accountabilities include:

   • Completion of export files to required standards.
   • Compliance with instructions on “callovers”
   • Completion of ATLexports mailbox to required standards.
   • Ensure compliance with destination instructions.
   • Customer query resolution where appropriate.
   • Liaising with warehouse to ensure smooth operations.
   • Liaising with the Import department where required.
   • Liaising with commercial department where applicable.
   • Assist in reception and receiving area when required.
   • Assist in the maintenance of filling to required standard.

   Qualifications and Experience:

   • Excellent Customer Service Skills.
   • Good computer skills & good working knowledge of MS Office; Outlook and Excel.
   • Knowledge of MS Office- including Outlook and Excel.
   • Basic knowledge of Bond checks desirable.
   • Basic knowledge of TMFF (in-house computer system)
   • Good attention to detail.
   • Ability to work on own initiative.
   • Team Player.
   • Completion of Aviation Security Certificate Level D Essential- training provided.

   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right export clerk for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with export clerks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit export clerks who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your export clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit export clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting export clerks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new export clerk

   Once you've selected the best export clerk candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new export clerk. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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