Today’s world has an advanced level of international trading happening. We have acclimatized to a world where import and export is inevitable. When import export is so important, import export management and managers bear the same weightage. Here we have elucidated everything one should know and quality one should possess to become an exemplary import export manager.
Why are import export managers important?
By now, we all know the meaning of import and export and what happens in an international trade. Import Export managers act as intermediaries between two parties and facilitate the trade. Based on the area of interest import export managers can choose a role to play in international trade. There are many export management companies out there that help businesses fulfil their international trade. These managers identify dealers, market products globally, making sure goods are shipped on time, taking care of logistics, invoicing, and payment follow ups.
Business owners may or may not have exposure in the aforementioned roles of these managers. If business owners do possess the skills required, they cannot run their business as well take care of import export management. This is where these managers play a crucial role. They either fill the lack of knowledge one may have or simply carry out the operation to free up the owners to focus on other aspects of business.
Now, how to become successful in this career?
- Companies or business owners are always on the lookout for candidates with professional qualification and experience. So, first things first, you need to have a degree in Import Export Management or International Finance or Business Administration or an MBA in Export Management. There are quite a few colleges in India that offer courses particularly pertinent to this field; namely IIEM (Indian Institute of Export Management) in Ahmedabad, IIEM in Bangalore, IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) in Delhi, IIEM in Mumbai, and Symbiosis Institute of International Business in Pune.
- Once you are professionally qualified, join an Export House to start your career. Nothing is too little or nothing is too much. So grab the opportunity and join a company and get hands on experience. That said, it is important that you choose a job that is relevant to your end goal. Albeit professional qualification helps you to some extent, it is the experience that you gain matters the most when you want to step up.
- You need to hone some important skills to survive and excel as an Import Export manager. Namely – your decision making skills, people skills, communication skills, time-management skills, problem solving skills, and leadership skills. These are some very important skills you need to possess besides your technical knowledge.
On a concluding note, we would like to stress on how important an import export manager is to a business. If this is something you set your mind for, pursue it with one hundred focus and confidence. You will get where you intend to reach.
