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 reading the quotation sheet, the manager smiled and said, Every foreign trade professional has paid the tuition fee. Whats important is that you remember this packaging coefficient. At that moment, I suddenly realized that the growth of a foreign trade salesperson is likeMaritime 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/Can audit, and there may be pitfalls in every link. My miscalculation of freight in the first order is a typical growth tax for novices.
• Correction Period:The value of a good team is shown here. Experienced customs declarants taught me to distinguish between gross weight and 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

After twenty years in the industry, Ive found that excellent foreign - trade enterprises all understand the principle of feeding the fish by releasing water. Just as our manager often says, Small orders train skills, and large orders train the mind. Giving new employees an appropriate margin of error can often cultivate more comprehensive business backbones.

I remember an intern I took in 2008. In his first order, he quoted FOB as CIF, and the company had to subsidize $2,000 for ocean freight. But now, he is the director of the international business department of a listed company. Every time we have a dinner party, he will joke, That $2,000 tuition fee 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:Large orders test strength, and small orders show sincerity,Behind every huge foreign trade order, there are countless such warm little stories.