Earned his elite CITP®|FIBP® designation: Oct 2020
Aagaaz Tandon credits his father, who’s worked for 32 years in a reputed government credit insurance organization, for motivating him to study international markets. Growing up, he had always been curious about the details of conducting business domestically as well as internationally. He was particularly interested in the transportation of goods by sea, and this fascination spurred him to pursue higher studies abroad to get a practical understanding of the various facets of international business.
An interest that transformed into a career
It was while working in an admin role at a typical 9 – 5 office job that Aagaaz realized he needed to achieve more than what he was doing. He decided to take his interest in international business to the next level by opting for trade education from FITT. After completing his first course, Feasibility in International Trade, he made up his mind to complete all six courses required to become eligible to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation.
He also began gathering professional experience to fulfill the work experience component necessary to earn the CITP. It was a busy and hectic phase for him as he juggled his job as Food and Service Supervisor at a restaurant and another at Fortune Mall Private Ltd. while simultaneously studying to complete the six FITTskills courses.
Overcoming challenges during his very first job in international trade
Aagaaz began his professional journey in international trade as Export-Import Coordinator with Fortune Mall Pvt. Ltd.—a furniture manufacturing unit located in India. Working remotely from Parry Sound, Ontario, he was responsible for handling all front and back-end processes, coordinating with teams, processing orders and overseeing exports.
A complicated situation arose for the company when the buyer, facing a financial crunch, could not release the payment on an export order that Aagaaz was managing. This would have led to huge losses for the company and Aagaaz knew he had to act fast to avert the crisis. Fortunately, he’d had the foresight to secure the shipment with the insurers, and proceeded to carefully prepare documents to claim compensation. His timely and meticulous action yielded the results he was hoping for and the claim was successfully settled, thus saving his company from what would otherwise have been an irreversible setback.
Milestones to be proud of
Aagaaz has been steadily adding to his list of career achievements.
On his very first project with a client in Canada, he was assigned the goal of closing the deal on select products. With an enthusiastic attitude and savvy business acumen, Aagaaz exceeded all expectations and ended up selling much more than he was tasked with. This achievement validated his decision to pursue a career in international trade and helped him realize that he had found his true calling.
The next feather in his cap came when he was presenting new and existing products to a potential client based in Montreal. After five rounds of meetings discussing Incoterms® and other aspects of international trade, Aagaaz successfully secured a contract for 300 units of teak wood furniture.
Continuing his success streak, in the same year, he started a joint venture with his brother: ITxsential.com—an enterprise providing all IT-related services, including inventory software, graphic design, SEO, social media marketing and more.
Time is precious—use it wisely
The one valuable piece of advice Aagaaz would like to pass on to those starting their professional journeys is to use time wisely. He believes the best way to maximize time is by continuing the learning process. Knowledge is a great asset because it keeps appreciating through the years and therefore what better way to utilize time than by investing it in self-development?
“I wish I had known about the FITTskills courses before, so I could have started practising the fundamentals earlier.”
Trade training with practical insights and real-world examples
Aagaaz enrolled in FITTskills courses to gain a holistic understanding of international trade and to understand the finer points too. He describes his learning experience as “phenomenal,” stating that he found every course to be unique. He particularly enjoyed learning about the importance of adaptation and product development, as it demonstrated how cultural, geographic, linguistic and regulatory factors determine how a product will be received in a particular market.
“If I had to choose one favourite [FITTskills course], I would say International Trade Finance because it facilitated my understanding and illustrated how organizations expand from domestic trade to international trade.”
“The International Trade Finance course helped me understand how to develop a smart financial plan for short-term and long-term growth, so I could strategically manage the assets and to learn how to make use of cash flow projections.”
The timing was well-synched for Aagaaz; he coincided earning his FITT Diploma in International Trade with the completion of his one-year’s work experience criteria to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation.
Aagaaz soon completed all six FITTskills courses and applied for the CITP designation, which he earned in October 2020. He understood the value of the CITP designation early on, and this spurred his tenacity and drive to earn it:
“I chose to apply for the CITP designation because it is a very reputed certification that is recognized worldwide.”
Today, as a proud CITP, Aagaaz feels honoured to have earned the elite designation. He feels it has made him more confident and secure about future opportunities. More than being just a designation, he believes that the CITP®|FIBP® has added a new viewpoint to his vision for the future.
“I foresee my CITP designation as a huge turning point in my life, as it has given me not only a designation but a new perspective to see my tomorrow for which I am working hard on today.”
He looks back at the past years with pride and a sense of fulfilment. The journey from leaving his country to completing the Business Marketing course at Centennial College in Canada, and then earning the CITP designation hasn’t been an easy one. His resilience and belief that whatever happens is for the best have been his strengths, spurring him to keep going when things get tough.
There’s no doubt that determination, hard work and perseverance have been the hallmarks of Aagaaz’s professional journey, so far. Equipped with his credentials, knowledge and never-give-up attitude, he looks all set to scale the peaks of success.
Want to connect with Aagaaz?
LinkedIn: Aagaaz Tandon
Learn more about the CITP®|FIBP® designation
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION—CITP®|FIBP®
Advance your career and build your professional credibility in the field of global business by earning the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.
Why Earn the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) Designation?
The Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation is the world’s leading professional designation for the field of international business. So whether you’re new to global trade or have over a decade of direct experience, you’ll find the CITP designation can help advance your career and build your professional credibility.
The CITP designation sets you apart in the competitive international business industry because it’s proof you possess the competencies global business experts have identified as being essential for a successful career in international trade. It also recognizes your dedication to ethical business practices and ongoing professional development—both of which are desirable traits for today’s global business practitioners.
Click here to take the next steps to your CITP designation