Perishable Exports Bookings & Customer Relations Officer

How to Apply: Send your CV to info@tradewinds-logistics.com.

Prove You Can Keep Perishable Cargo Moving When Every Minute Counts

Perishable exports bookings is a role where a single missed cut-off can spoil a whole consignment. Hiring managers at Tradewinds will be scanning for proof that you understand CargoWise, airline booking systems, and the discipline of handling temperature-sensitive cargo under pressure.

1. Lead with your CargoWise CW1 certificate: The posting explicitly asks for a CW1 Certificate – Certified CargoWise Operator. Put this on the top third of your CV, not buried in a training section. If you have hands-on experience creating bookings, generating air waybills, or tracking shipments in CargoWise, describe one specific export file you handled from booking to uplift. Recruiters use this as a first filter because it tells them you can plug into their system on day one.

2. Quantify your perishable cargo experience: Perishables like flowers, fresh produce, and seafood have tight shelf lives and airline cut-offs. Instead of saying you handled exports, state how many consignments per week you booked, which destinations you covered, and how often you met the airline's latest acceptance time. For example, 'Coordinated 40+ perishable bookings weekly to European destinations with 98% on-time tender.' That kind of detail shows you understand the stakes.

3. Show you know airline systems beyond CargoWise: The requirement mentions a good understanding of airline systems. Prepare to talk about how you have used airline portals, cargo reservation platforms, or EDI messaging to confirm space and track shipments. If you have worked with specific carriers or ground handlers, name them. Hiring managers want to know you can chase capacity and resolve booking discrepancies without hand-holding.

4. Make customer service concrete: This role sits between exporters, airlines, and internal operations, so communication is everything. On your CV, replace 'strong communication skills' with an example: 'Managed daily updates to 15 exporters during peak flower season, resolving schedule changes within 30 minutes.' In the interview, be ready to describe a time you turned an angry customer around after a delay. They are testing whether you stay calm and solution-focused when perishables are at risk.

5. Prepare for time-sensitivity scenarios: The posting stresses a time-sensitive air cargo environment. Expect questions like 'A flight is delayed and your perishable consignment will miss the connection — what do you do?' Walk through your steps: check alternative routings, liaise with the airline, inform the customer, and document the change. Show that you prioritize cargo integrity and customer trust over blame. Practicing these scenarios out loud will make your answers crisp.

6. Highlight your MS Office and coordination skills: Booking perishable exports involves spreadsheets, email trails, and sometimes customs documentation. Mention specific tasks: building a tracking sheet in Excel, using Outlook to coordinate with multiple airlines, or preparing reports for management. If you have used any cargo management software alongside MS Office, note it. The goal is to show you are organized and can juggle multiple bookings without dropping details.

7. Address the diploma and certificates directly: The requirements list a Diploma in Business or related field plus a Certificate in Customer Service or Air Cargo. If your qualifications match, list them clearly with institution names and years. If you have equivalent experience instead of the exact diploma, frame it as 'X years of hands-on perishable export bookings, complemented by Y certificate.' Do not leave the recruiter guessing whether you meet the minimum.

8. Close with a tailored email: When you send your CV to info@tradewinds-logistics.com, write a short cover note that names the role and summarizes your fit in three bullet points: CargoWise certified, X years in air cargo bookings, and a track record of on-time perishable exports. Attach your CV as a PDF with a clean filename like 'YourName_PerishableExportsOfficer_CV.pdf'. A tailored application signals you read the ad and respect their time.