Customs Officer Career

Customs is the government agency with the job of protecting the community from potential risks arising from international trade and travel. There are not many jobs where you get such a good opportunity to interact with lots of people and see what is happening in many different countries. Thus managing the flow of people and goods across any border is international.

There are basic criteria, skills, experience and qualifications for any position in the Customs Service. Usually there is a preference for people who have necessary qualification or previous experience.

General skills that are also expected of a Customs officer are:

Ø good people skills, team skills;

Ø computer related skills;

Ø a reputation for integrity and honesty.

The following subjects may also improve the chances: accounting/finance; business with languages; legal studies. That’s why career progression at the Customs is largely up to the individual. Training is considered very important and can be on-the-job or at specific training courses.

This job is interesting for those who are comfortable interacting with people at all different levels and have a certain understanding of government and policy processes.

Exercise 7. Pronounce the following words correctly:

Academy, variety, enterprise, private, agency, technology, experimental, region, agenda, aware, accomplish.

Exercise 8. Look through the interview given below and find the English equivalents for:

полный рабочий день, разнообразие, предприятие, частный, давать советы, выполнять задачи, брифинг, бумажная волокита, осознавать, рабочая обстановка, персонал, вносить вклад, участвовать, международное сотрудничество, быть ответственным за кого/что-либо, руководство, продвижение по службе.

Exercise 9. Look through the interview given below and discuss it in class.

Interviewer: When and why did you decide to join the Customs?

Sergei: I became interested in this job when I was studying at the Customs Academy. When I finished my degree I decided to apply for a full-time job in Rostov Customs where I could put my Academy skills to good use.

Interviewer: What do you like about your job?

Sergei: The best part of my job is the variety. One day I might be coordinating Customs inspection of different enterprises or private businessmen and the next I might be working with other agencies providing advice on how to use new information technologies.

Interviewer: What new Customs technologies help accomplish your tasks?

Sergei: Throughout the years Rostov Customs has experimented with many new technologies. Thus, in 2009 it began using electronic declaration on the Internet.

Interviewer: What do you actually do?

Sergei: Our team is responsible for leading our international links and providing advice to other Customs of the region in performance of their duties. I also organize the brief meetings for the staff.

Interviewer: What about dislikes?

Sergei: Sometimes there is also quite a lot of writing, e.g. red-tape job. I dislike it.

Interviewer: Do you have any promotion prospects?

Sergei: I think so.Moreover,from my own experience in Customs, I am well aware of the important role that good leadership can play in my career. The head of our department creates favourable work environment where all staff have an opportunity to participate and contribute.

Exercise 10. Fill in the gaps with suitable prepositions if necessary. Find false statements and correct them.

1. Customs revenues provide the income ______ the Federal Assembly.

2. The duty ______ a Customs officer is only to punish people ______ various Customs violations.

3. A lawyer protects ______ offenders.

4. Customs officers collect _____ passengers’ visas and prevent _____ Customs taxes.

5. Customs responsibilities include checking _____ passengers’ declarations and inspecting _____ their baggage.

6. Lawyers are responsible _____ criminals.

7. Customs officers confiscate all the articles entering and departing _____ the state.

Exercise 11. Match left and right.

Exercise 12. Read Text 2 to answer the following questions:

1. When was the day of the Customs officer introduced?

2. What does this holiday demonstrate?

3. What system was actively implemented?

4. What does the Customs Service demonstrate?

5. Why do Customs officers need modern means of control?

Text 2

October 25 – Day of the Customs Officer of the Russian Federation

Customs officers of the Russian Federation celebrate the anniversary of their professional holiday on the 25^th of October. It was introduced by the state in 1995.

The Russian Customs Service demonstrates its readiness to support law-abiding and “transparent” participants of foreign trade.

Hi-tech technologies play an important role in ensuring Russia’s security. Therefore, the Russian Customs Service has some priorities in detecting contraband by search and screening.

In 2005, the system of electronic declaration was introduced. Customs Service activities related to protection of intellectual property take on special significance.

Exercise 14. Translate the following sentences:

1. День таможенника стали праздновать с 1995.

2. Таможне отводится большая роль в российском государстве.

3. Таможня защищает права собственности.

4. Таможенники поддерживают законопослушных участников ВЭД.

5. Приоритетной задачей таможни является защита безопасности государства.

Exercise 15. Speak on the role of Customs using the following phrases: professional holiday, means of control, means of communication, to provide communication, intellectual property, special significance, law-abiding travellers.

Exercise 16. Translate into Russian.

Customs organizations worldwide mark International Customs Day (ICD) each year on the 26 of January. This marks the day of the first official meeting of the Customs Co-operation Council, now known as the World Customs Organization.

Exercise 17. Read the text below to find the English equivalents for:

хитроумные вопросы; неуклюжий, неловкий; ‘чутье’ таможенника; интуиция на обнаружение нелегальных товаров; нефтяные танкеры; таможенный инспектор досмотровой группы береговой охраны; контрабандные спиртные напитки.

Text 3