Carl Lu

In my first one or two years in the workplace, I worked as a foreign trade assistant at a company specialising in the export of small household appliances. Initially, I followed my seniors to familiarise myself with the business. My daily tasks mainly involved organising English product manuals, recording customer information, or verifying the product names and quantities on customs declaration documents to ensure they matched the orders. As I gained more experience, I began handling basic client communication, such as responding to simple inquiries. When quoting CIF prices, I would carefully confirm costs with the factory, research shipping fees and insurance rates, and calculate everything multiple times before sending the email. I also learned to follow up on sample shipments, confirming delivery requirements with the freight forwarder in advance, and attaching a list of sample specifications and quantities to the package to ensure clients received them smoothly. During this period, I participated in two online trade shows, responsible for recording customer inquiries in the backend, such as questions about product functionality or certification requirements for target markets. After the event, I compiled the information into a document and handed it over to the responsible sales representative. Now I can independently handle several small clients, managing routine order placement and shipment tracking processes. Although I still have limited experience, I strive to do each step thoroughly, understanding that in international trade, steady and solid work is more important than anything else.