When I first graduated from college, I never expected to spend much time working for an import and export trading company. I was hired for a one time, lucrative contract job with just such an outfit, and I figured that it would pay some bills and then be over with. The import export trader was pretty friendly, and the project was interesting. Basically, I was commissioned to write a program that handled every aspect of their import and export trading. Like many businesses around the world, their software was piecemeal and convoluted. They had different programs running for invoices, financial records, sales, and everything else. It was a nightmare, and naturally the paperwork was often inaccurate and incomplete. This cost them time and money, and they wanted to do something about it before they suffered a major crash.
As part of my work for them, I went to a couple imports and exports trade shows to get a sense of how the industry worked. Strictly speaking, it wasn't really necessary for my import export trade assignment, but I thought it would be helpful to get a handle on the business before I started in on the technical aspects of the project. I was completely blown away by what I saw. Import export trading is extremely exciting. I have always had a weakness for strange, exotic goods from around the world, and they were there in abundance (among more conventional fare). Import export trade would allow me to use my analytical skills that I learned as a programmer, while captivating my imagination. I was hooked, and I resolved that after I finished that project, I would apply for a more permanent position.
Unfortunately, I just simply wasn't qualified for a position as an import export trade merchant. I didn't really have a business background, and I wasn't fluent in any foreign languages. That is why I decided to start an import export trade business of my own. I simply began to buy and trade commodities during my many vacations and business trips around the world. Soon, as I accumulated more connections and more resources, I could do more with import export trade. It wasn't long before I was an expert on Southeast Asia, importing beautiful textiles, spices, and musical instruments for Western consumers. I had great logistics support from a friend in the trucking industry, and soon I owned several warehouses with excellent regional distribution. My hard work has definitely paid off!
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