customer service representative

export coordinator

logistics coordinator

pricing analyst

import coordinator

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services

I will make this review thorough and to the point.  If you want to tread water in your career, then by all means work here.  If you want to see your career move forward, apply somewhere else and you will have a better chance for a thriving career and work / life balance.

ZIM is about 20 years behind the times.  They were one of the last companies in the industry to be on a Windows based operating system and that was 10 years ago.  My typical day at work was spent putting out many fires - both with customers, staff, clueless upper level management related.  Working staff is comprised of longshoremen union personnel with whom in 90% of most cases are wonderful to work with.  The remaining 10% could not and would not be able be hired at any other company other than where they are now.

Management: During my tenure, local upper level management was completely clueless and often militant against the union workforce.  Mid- Level Managers were often caught in the middle trying to find common sense ways to run their departments while upper level management tried to push their agenda.  It lead to a handful of workforce walkouts during my tenure there.  Grievances are very common here.  Local upper level management clearly not invested in their own workforce.  

Coworkers: As I stated before, 90% of the union workforce is terrific and does a great job.  10% have an entitlement complex and could not work anywhere else.  Mid level managers are almost always trying to achieve a happy medium of getting work done and trying to fight off the ideology of upper level management, who almost always, do not have a stake or a clue into what goes on in the trenches of the day-to-day business.  They are more inclined to attend lunches, conferences, and other assorted outings rather than be concerned with what goes on in their own offices.

Hardest part of the job:  Combative work environment, daily drama instigated by upper level management, systems going down, no compensation for overtime if you are a salaried manager.  Being paid less than what a Sign Twirler makes.

Enjoyable part of job: Very little to say here aside from some of the friendships that I made while working here.  There is no redeeming quality to this company as it does not have a stellar reputation in the shipping industry.

Zim has a lot of potential. The biggest issues are they are slow at innovating, their diversity and inclusion needs a revamp and a lot of review, salaries are handed out to people without valid proof. The HR team doesn’t help employees at all they are there for Zim and a paycheck. If you have an issue suck it up if you need a check. If not, be ready to look for something else. Advancement opportunities are posted for in house interviewing after they have chosen people they’ve know for years to work these positions of management. No matter how excellent of an employee you are, you will not advance unless they like you and you do what they want you to do even if it isn’t right. Management doesn’t care about their team but they do care about their reputation because half of them do not know what they are doing anyways. There are great people at Zim but none of them are being promoted. The senior management team is horrible all around. Of course you have your few good managers but the people running departments where employees really matter such as customer service and HR, you can count them out for being help for an employee. Great place to start your shipping career being that people are coming in with no shipping experience but yet that’s the excuse they give you for not advancing so why not hire people with no experience. I’d say try CMA which is across the street or another company if you are looking to get in this industry.

Started at ZIM 4 1/2 years ago (2019), and for 3 years I'd say it was the best job I've had. I loved my Team, and what I did. The culture was good, and I didn't ever 'take work home' with me. We even successfully pivoted in 2020 during the Covid Pandemic and were well taken care of. I tried to get people hired here and was happy for a time. 

However, there were always decisions made by management that seemed outright poorly conceived. A lot of this is the tonal and cultural disconnect between the US and our headquarters overseas.

Recently, under new head management, these problems have gotten much worse. They have removed benefits, privileges, and effectively killed the culture. This has also led to infighting between departments. I'm not sure anyone here is happy with current (2022-2023) leadership or the state of the company internally/publicly. 

2019 -2021 I would happily give ZIM 4.5/5 Stars. Good benefits, fair wages, good perks/culture. But 2022-2023, I'd give it 2/5 Stars. So, let's average at 3/5 Stars for my last 5ish years. A great company that was ruined by the executives. 

I check into my desk and do my work without anyone standing over my shoulders.
Our industry is very dynamic. We learn new things daily. I have learned many things pertaining to the legal aspect of the industry and how to handle every situation. 
The Management at ZIM is awesome! They interact with all the employees as if they are equals. 
Workplace culture is the best. People treat each other with utmost respect, and everyone feel valued.
The hardest part of the job is chasing the information from other parts of the world where there is a language and cultural barriers. Sometimes it takes too long for the information to turn-around, and the customers keep sending emails for the status updates.
The most enjoyable part of the job is the freedom to interact with anyone at my company, regardless of their age, race, or the position.  


Overall, I enjoy working at this company. There’s a friendly atmosphere, most people are true professionals, and the company sets clear and ambitious goals that we all work together to achieve — which is genuinely motivating. HR does a pretty good job at building a sense of community, and the benefits package is solid.

That said, there are some downsides. The biggest issue is work/life balance. I honestly don’t understand why the company doesn’t allow employees to work from home at least one day a week. When you have 3–5 meetings a day — and 90% of them are on Teams, including with people who sit at the same table — it’s hard to see why that can’t be done remotely once in a while.

Every year the company runs an employee engagement survey, and work/life balance consistently comes up as the top concern. We discuss the results, but unfortunately, nothing ever really changes. In my opinion, the lack of flexibility and balance is a major demotivator.

It’s also pretty common to have to cut your lunch short or stay late just to get everything done, which only adds to that feeling. As a result, I often find myself burning out — in a job I like, at a company I genuinely like.

Working at ZIM has been a truly rewarding experience. I’ve genuinely recommended it to friends because of the company’s commitment to its employees. The compensation and benefits are excellent, and the culture is centered around creating a positive and engaging work environment.
ZIM offers a variety of activities that foster community and connection, including sports events, parties, clubs, and even unique experiences like drive-in movie nights. What stands out most, though, is the way management involves employees in meaningful work. From day one, I’ve been trusted with real business challenges and encouraged to share honest feedback. I’ve never felt like I was just doing busy work.
Moreover, the leadership team recognizes and values hard work and problem-solving. When your contributions make a significant impact, they don’t go unnoticed—even the Executives and CEO are informed. That level of recognition speaks volumes about ZIM’s culture.
I wholeheartedly believe that employees are truly valued here, and the company’s dedication to maintaining a great workplace is evident in everything they do.

I enjoyed working for Zim but found out that management had posted my position online with Monster behind my back.  They were dissatisfied with my performance and wanted to replace me.  I hadn't been written up nor put on a performance improvement plan.  My performance suffered because I was the only person in my department after my manger took another job outside the firm and Zim chose not to backfill the position.  I was very vocal that I wouldn't be able to handle everything on my own, that the lack of support was causing unnecessary stress, and that I didn't understand how the head office of a multi national company would leave the cash flow duties on one person.  Also when the company decided to outsource some of the back office functions, it was poorly executed.  Completely unrealistic deadlines and expectations were put out there with very little fact finding, research, knowledge sharing sessions performed upfront which cased a great deal of frustration.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working within a team that exemplifies collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. The group dynamic has been a key factor in our success—each member brings unique strengths, and together we create an environment that is both productive and genuinely enjoyable.
In my role as a Logistics Coordinator, I’ve felt consistently supported not only in my day-to-day responsibilities but also in my professional growth. Leadership has been receptive to ideas and proactive in providing guidance, which has helped me stay aligned with both departmental goals and personal development objectives.
I’m proud of the contributions I’ve made, particularly in streamlining coordination efforts and enhancing communication across teams. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the opportunities to continue building on these foundations and to explore new ways to add value.
I’m grateful to be part of a workplace that encourages growth, celebrates teamwork, and supports each individual’s journey.

My day typically starts early, allowing me to organize myself for a day filled with meetings. My coworkers are incredibly supportive and have greatly assisted me in navigating the company.

Despite having five years of industry experience, my time at ZIM has been particularly enlightening. I've gained a deeper understanding of the carrier perspective, which has been invaluable.

Management has been supportive of my learning process, fostering an environment conducive to growth and development.

The workplace culture is quite intense, with a strong focus on work. However, I believe this was due to the lack of staff in our department. I am hopeful that this will change over time, especially with an introduction of remote work two days a week.

The most challenging aspect of the job is managing time effectively amidst numerous meetings.

The most enjoyable part of the job is the camaraderie during lunch and office parties. These moments of relaxation and socialization provide a nice balance to the work-focused environment.

On of the core values of this company is agility. Agile because of no processes. When one would think that it's cool because it avoids bureaucracy, it's actually hides the blaming culture. If something is not done and no one knows who should do it, you bosses will blame it on you.  There is also NO team spirit. If you help you team members, it will weirdly also be used to blame you. 

No feedback that you will make will be taken into the account, which also shows a lot on about the culture. 

Too many phone calls that don't hold purpose and make people loose a lot a time. Among them, everyone gets on a weekly phone call, where you basically loose time and hear the big boss yelling at the under bosses, which shows a lot about the company culture. I know some people that have quit their positions just because of that. 

Many people there take pain killers everyday, to avoids headaches, which I feel is very unhealthy. 

Pay is not too bad, but it doesn't make sense, since people are mostly unhappy working there. 

Avoid this company, don't apply. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Customer service representative 3 salaries reported	$50,967 per year
Export coordinator 6 salaries reported	$49,778 per year
Logistics coordinator 6 salaries reported	$41,000 per year
Pricing analyst 3 salaries reported	$53,667 per year
Import coordinator 4 salaries reported	$19.50 per hour

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