Stop Making These 3 Interview Mistakes in Your Next Freight Forwarding Gig
Landing an interview in freight forwarding is a big win — but how you show up can make or break the offer.
Whether you're applying for an operations role, account management, or business development, hiring managers are looking beyond what’s on your resume. They want to know you understand the role, their business, and the industry landscape.
Here are three interview mistakes we see all the time — and how to avoid them:
1. Not Doing Your Homework on the Company
The mistake:
Too many candidates walk into interviews with generic knowledge — and it shows. In freight, specificity matters. If you're interviewing with a company that handles airfreight and you’re rattling off seafreight trends, you’ll lose credibility fast.
Fix it:
Research their niche:
Do they specialise in time-sensitive cargo?
Dangerous goods?
FCL/LCL imports from Asia?
Use that knowledge to tailor your answers. It shows effort — and signals you actually want the role.
2. Undervaluing Your Soft Skills
The mistake:
You might know CargoWise inside and out. You might be DG certified. But if you can’t communicate well, handle pressure, or manage tough clients — you won’t stand out.
Freight forwarding is a people business.
And the best operators don’t just process shipments — they build trust, solve problems, and hold things together when it’s messy.
Fix it:
Be ready with examples that show:
Team collaboration
Stakeholder or customer management
Times you de-escalated an issue or stepped up under pressure
3. Not Asking Thoughtful Questions
The mistake:
When they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?”, the worst answer is “No, I think you’ve covered everything.”
This is your moment to show you’re engaged — and thinking ahead.
Fix it:
Ask questions like:
“What tech systems are you rolling out next year?”
“How is the team navigating e-commerce-driven freight volumes?”
“What does a successful first 90 days in this role look like?”
It shows you’re switched on, informed, and serious about adding value.
Final Thought
Hiring managers want someone who fits the brief — but more importantly, someone who’s genuinely interested, easy to work with, and thinking beyond the basics.
In a competitive market, preparation and curiosity go a long way.