What does the day-to-day work of a foreign trade specialist with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education look like?

A foreign trade specialist (formerly known as an export specialist or import specialist) plans and organizes the worldwide transport of goods. They take care of all freight and customs documents and ensure that the goods or services reach their customers on time. To do this, they are in daily contact with customers, suppliers, producers and transportation companies all over the world. They keep abreast of the current state of global markets, political and legal situations and economic developments, know the current risks and are able to hedge them. In business negotiations with international partners, authorities and other bodies, the foreign trade specialist represents the interests of their company and, thanks to their good marketing skills, they recognize the market potential in foreign target markets.

The Foreign Trade Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education performs the following tasks:

• Transportation and negotiations
  • Accept orders
  • Plan and organize national and international freight transports
  • Set delivery deadlines
  • Determine and evaluate different transportation options (air, rail, road, water) and consider the cost-benefit ratio including sustainability
  • cooperate with forwarding companies
  • Insure goods
  • Conducting negotiations in different languages
  • Conclude transportation and storage contracts
  • Ensure packaging quality and compliance with packaging standards
  • Monitor transportation and inform involved parties
  • Ensure delivery times and transport logistics
    
    
• Risks, contracts and administrative matters
  • Collect information on international markets incl. risk assessment
  • Apply for financial guarantees
  • Administration of quotations, order confirmations and invoices
  • Draw up contracts
  • Negotiate the best possible contract terms
  • Comply with quality standards and regulations for products, including certificates
  • Obtain approvals if required
  • Creating and managing shipping and export documents, customs documents, country-specific certificates, etc.
  • Customer support, contacts with internal interfaces, suppliers, authorities
  • Other duties such as personnel management, contact person for technical issues, collaboration on projects

(Note: The weighting of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the company and job profile).

As a foreign trade specialist, you usually work in internationally active companies in industry or consumer goods production, at banks, insurance companies or freight forwarders in a management position - sometimes including travel abroad. In large companies, the work usually focuses on a thematic area of business in which you can specialize. You often belong to the sales, internal sales, order processing, traffic, purchasing or order processing departments for export, import and crosstrade transactions. Foreign trade specialists are also deployed in an SME in cross-departmental and cross-process interface functions as a point of contact for all questions relating to foreign trade.

Target group and skills: Who is the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Foreign Trade suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The Foreign Trade Specialist training course, including preparation for the Federal Professional Examination, is aimed at the following people:

• with processing tasks in export, import, international trade, forwarding and purchasing
• work as bankers or employees in internationally oriented banks
• employed as merchants in export processing or sales
• working as an employee in an internationally operating forwarding or transportation company
• would like to take up a position as a foreign trade specialist

The following qualities and skills are required for a successful job as a foreign trade specialist:

• Good foreign language skills and sociability
• Enjoy international contacts
• Flexibility and talent for improvisation
• High personal initiative
• Flair for numbers, calculations and statistics
• Good organizational skills
• Service awareness
• Negotiating skills
• Networked thinking and action

Requirements for admission to the Federal Professional Examination for Foreign Trade Specialists:

The following requirements must be met for admission to the Federal Professional Examination for Foreign Trade Specialists:

• has a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, a diploma from a federally recognized commercial secondary school, a baccalaureate certificate (all types) or an equivalent qualification

and

• At least three years of relevant professional experience in foreign trade

Some schools also require a good command of the German language, basic MS Office IT skills, a high willingness to learn and technical equipment for online teaching. Depending on your previous knowledge, it is advisable to attend a preliminary course as a clerk (e.g. foreign trade clerk or international order processing clerk) or in finance and accounting.

You will be informed in writing at least four months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the federal examination for foreign trade specialists - in the event of rejection, including reasons and instructions on how to appeal.

Note: The requirements, such as professional experience, only need to be fulfilled at the time of the federal written examinations. Some schools may be prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Federal Professional Examination for Foreign Trade Specialists if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination at the start of the course. You are responsible for meeting the conditions at the time of the examination or examination registration. The timely transfer of the examination fee is also reserved.

Subject matter and content of the continuing education, further training in foreign trade:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Foreign Trade is based on the requirements of the responsible body for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education, theSwissmemandTrade Switzerland.

The learning content of the Foreign Trade Specialist apprenticeship is divided into the following topics:

• Economic environment for foreign trade
• Business administration in the context of foreign trade
• Self-management & self-competence of foreign trade specialists
• Organization & structuring of foreign business
• Financing & payment processing
• Terms of delivery in foreign business
• Customs and customs origin of goods
• Forwarding and logistics
• Excise and consumption tax
• Law
• Intercultural interaction

Costs and financing of continuing education, further training for foreign trade specialists:

The cost of training as a foreign trade specialist varies slightly depending on the provider and the duration of the course. On average, these amounts are to be expected:

• Course fees:between CHF 7'800.- and CHF 12'500.-
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
  Note: Members of the Kaufmännischer Verband receive a 10% discount on the costs of training courses and courses offered by individual training providers
• Examination fees:CHF 1,560 (as at: 2023)
  The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the Federal Professional Examination. It is paid by the candidate once admission to the Foreign Trade Specialist examination has been confirmed.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for continuing education, further training in foreign trade.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examinations such as Foreign Trade Specialist have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort for foreign trade specialist training:

• The Foreign Trade Specialist training, continuing education, further training is classically structured (i.e. Federal Professional Examination covers all competencies to be assessed) and lasts 2 to 3 semesters while working. It comprises approx. 300 lessons.
• Lesson times vary depending on the provider of the Foreign Trade Specialist course. As a rule, lessons take place two evenings a week or all day on a weekday and/or Saturday.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the continuing education, further training as a foreign trade specialist, you can apply and deepen your knowledge immediately in practice. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 3 - 6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. These are important aspects on the way to a successful Foreign Trade Specialist qualification. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title Foreign Trade Specialists:

The Federal Professional Examination "Foreign Trade Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" takes place annually, provided that at least 12 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years. It can be held in the three official languages German, French or Italian.
Candidates for the Federal Foreign Trade Specialist Examination will be notified at least 40 days before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The federal examination for foreign trade specialists comprises the following nine examination parts with equal weighting:

1. Fundamentals and practical situations in foreign trade (written, 210 minutes)
   Knowledge questions and realistic practical situations (mini-cases) from the operational environment of foreign trade on the following skills:

   • Organizing business processes in foreign trade
   • Ensuring the movement of goods and services
   • Implementing compliance and contract management
   • Shaping the organization and communication
   • Implementing the marketing
   • Applying the calculation
     
     

2. Integrated case study (written, 210 minutes)
   The action strategies (business procedures/business processes) as well as management and work tools for typical activities for the above-mentioned action competencies from the foreign trade sector and business administration:

   • Elaborate
   • Analyze
   • Optimize

3. Presentation and expert discussion on foreign trade (oral, 60 minutes)

   • Expert discussion with at least two experts on various questions about the competencies from Part 1

Diploma and title "Foreign trade specialist"

Graduates of the Federal Professional Examination receive a Federal Diploma of Higher Education and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Foreign Trade Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" or "Foreign Trade Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

• In French: "Spécialiste du commerce international avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Specialista in commercio estero con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Foreign Trade Specialist, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)