How's the transportation/logicstics and export industry here? (Chicago, Rome: for sale, loan)

[udonsoup]

I just moved back after living in Asia for a few years to the suburbs and looking for a job in Chicago.

I was in the international export/import trading business; basically wholesale distribution sales.
Since I got back I found the only sales positions that call me for interviews back are 3PL and logistics companies(Jb Hunt, Kuehne Nagel, etc.).

I'll admit I prefer export/importing freight containers but I figure when in Rome...

Any advice on networking in this industry because I know 0 people in Chicago other than family and not many companies are listed on Glassdoor.

EDIT:

Many are near Midway airport(archer) or O'hare(elk grove).....what's the neighborhood like to live in those areas? Dangerous?

[reppin_the_847]

In terms of safety, almost all of the areas near O'Hare are safe. Midway depends on which direction. I think this is one of the better cities for logistics in general, but not necessarily super hot for import / export. I've noticed that the import / export opportunities are generally better in the major coastal cities (ie. NYC, LA, SF, etc.).

Originally Posted by udonsoup

I just moved back after living in Asia for a few years to the suburbs and looking for a job in Chicago.

I was in the international export/import trading business; basically wholesale distribution sales.
Since I got back I found the only sales positions that call me for interviews back are 3PL and logistics companies(Jb Hunt, Kuehne Nagel, etc.).

I'll admit I prefer export/importing freight containers but I figure when in Rome...

Any advice on networking in this industry because I know 0 people in Chicago other than family and not many companies are listed on Glassdoor.

EDIT:

Many are near Midway airport(archer) or O'hare(elk grove).....what's the neighborhood like to live in those areas? Dangerous?

[MannheimMadman]

I agree that a lot of import and export opportunities exist on the coasts, but outside of there, Chicago is actually a hot-bed of activity, due to our central location in the country and proximity to rail-lines and other modes of transportation.

I only work loosely with logistics and transportation, but I can say that I haven't seen as many of those types of positions open as others.

I agree that pretty much anywhere near O Hare is good, and I'd even say close to Midway, so long as you don't travel 15 or so blocks east.

[udonsoup]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

I agree that a lot of import and export opportunities exist on the coasts, but outside of there, Chicago is actually a hot-bed of activity, due to our central location in the country and proximity to rail-lines and other modes of transportation.

I only work loosely with logistics and transportation, but I can say that I haven't seen as many of those types of positions open as others.

I agree that pretty much anywhere near O Hare is good, and I'd even say close to Midway, so long as you don't travel 15 or so blocks east.

Yeah, positions are very rare....and the few that exists ask me to speak chinese(not korean ).

I've been talking to a few Chinese factories lately so I might just get a bank loan and start importing again. I figure if nobody is buying or selling anything wholesale from China there must be a big gap in this region.

Every Chicago company I've talked to here has 0 idea what trade portals and methods chinese companies use for sourcing or getting customers.

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by udonsoup

Yeah, positions are very rare....and the few that exists ask me to speak chinese(not korean ).

I've been talking to a few Chinese factories lately so I might just get a bank loan and start importing again. I figure if nobody is buying or selling anything wholesale from China there must be a big gap in this region.

Every Chicago company I've talked to here has 0 idea what trade portals and methods chinese companies use for sourcing or getting customers.

That sounds very, very odd. Our company works directly with a handful of Chinese suppliers and and exporting companies.

I would think there is a bigger base; we have a fairly sizable and growing Chinese population. You'd think they'd have a way to move wares and such from China to here.

[udonsoup]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

That sounds very, very odd. Our company works directly with a handful of Chinese suppliers and and exporting companies.

I would think there is a bigger base; we have a fairly sizable and growing Chinese population. You'd think they'd have a way to move wares and such from China to here.

I'm guessing some have branches in L.A., Asia, or some middleman handles it, then it just gets shipped off to Chicago. Job searches have proven fairly fruitless in this region.

Jobs that deal with Asia are very rare here....so rare I've had to switch to the transportation industry despite sourcing from China, Korea, and Japan regularly. I'll sometimes offer companies the opportunity to sell their seasonal overstock directly to Asia and all I get is blank stares. Wholesale software exports are popular here but I have no experience with software(just metals, minerals, textiles, recycled goods, heavy machinery).

Alot of Chicago companies are heavily aimed at the midwest only. I wish I could find some chicago companies interested in exporting to Asia. I'm currently dealing with some mineral companies in hopes they're more receptive to Lead exporting.

[emathias]

Chicago is huge for intermodal shipping, but I suspect it's not huge for international arrivals and thus probably not as big as LA or NYC for sales jobs such as you describe. I'm sure some exist, but the kind of shipping and transportation ihere isn't necessarily as tied to the sales of what's in the containers as it is in the salt water ports.

[udonsoup]

Originally Posted by emathias

Chicago is huge for intermodal shipping, but I suspect it's not huge for international arrivals and thus probably not as big as LA or NYC for sales jobs such as you describe. I'm sure some exist, but the kind of shipping and transportation ihere isn't necessarily as tied to the sales of what's in the containers as it is in the salt water ports.

Right on!

Really sucks for me!!! I like transportation though and would love to work in that industry anyway.