The First Order of a Newcomer in Foreign Trade: Growth Insights from Miscalculating Prices to Successful Collection

The First Order That Made Me Both Nervous and Excited

I remember the firstforeign tradeorder I received. The amount was so small that I was embarrassed to report it at the department meeting. What was more embarrassing was that due to my negligence of the product packaging weight, I miscalculated the freight quotation. When the finance department calculated that this order would result in a 5% loss, I paced back and forth in front of the managers office for a full ten minutes.

Surprisingly, after reviewing the quotation, the manager smiled and said: Every foreign trade professional has paid tuition fees, what matters is that you remembered this packaging coefficient. At that moment, I suddenly realized that the growth of a foreign trade salesperson is like...Maritime TransportationContainers - seemingly clumsy accumulations will eventually reach distant ports.

Three Growth Stages Inevitable for Newcomers

• Trial - and - Error Period:Just like a baby learning to walk, from PI making toL/CReview, every step could be a pitfall. My first orders freight calculation mistake was a typical growth tax for beginners.
• Correction Period:The value of a good team shines here. Experienced customs declarants taught me to distinguish gross weight from net weight, and the logistics manager shared his three-step quotation review method.
• Sedimentation Period:When receiving the customers bank slip, those days of staying up late to revise documents suddenly became meaningful. This sense of accomplishment is more exciting than the commission figure.

The Hidden Rules in the Foreign Trade Arena

With twenty years of experience, Ive found that excellent foreign trade companies understand releasing water to nurture fish. As our manager often says: Small orders train hands, big orders train hearts. Giving newcomers appropriate room for mistakes often cultivates more well-rounded business talents.

I remember an intern I mentored in 2008 who quoted FOB as CIF for their first order, costing the company $2,000 in shipping fees. But now, hes the director of an international business department at a listed company. At every gathering, he still jokes: That $2,000 tuition was really worth it!

Practical Suggestions for Newcomers in Foreign Trade

• Establish your ownQuotation Verification Checklist(Weight/Volume/HS Code, none can be missing)
• Make good use ofThe experience of predecessors(The trade terms casually mentioned by an old salesperson may save you.)
• cultivatedocument obsessive-compulsive disorder(File incoming and outgoing emails by both customer and date)
• maintainfinancial sensitivity(Confirm the bank handling fee sharing method before each payment)

Now, when I see the light in the eyes of young colleagues when they receive their first order, I always think of the scene when I first received the bank slip. That taste of mixed accomplishment and relief is a unique professional mark of foreign trade people. Just as the old saying in our industry goes:Big orders show strength, small orders reveal sincerityBehind every huge foreign trade order, there are countless such warm little stories.