Trade Worker’s Day is celebrated on July 22nd in Russia. Since ancient times, trade has played an important role in economic life and today, it is one of the most developed fields. At SUSU, future trade workers study in the School of Economics and Management in the Department of Logistics and Economics of Trad. Alena Levina, head of the department, told us about the trends and key qualities of a successful worker in the trade field.
– Who celebrates Trade Worker’s Day
– At this time, trade is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of the Russian economy. In the gross value added structure it is, without a doubt, in the top position and, as a result, a significant portion of the population in our country deals with trade. This holiday is celebrated by managers and staff of trade enterprises; merchants, or, as it is now accepted to say – retailers; and owners of catering businesses – restaurateurs, who also belong to trade services. Really, we are all practitioners in this field, after all, every day we obtain various goods and services.
– What trends exist in the field of trade?
– Characteristic of the development of trade today are it’s quick development pace, the scientific and technological process, the appearance of new kinds of trade, and the quick growth of electronic trade. We have completely erased the boundaries of markets, we can buy whatever we want, where we want, and at any time convenient for us. The requirements of buyers for quality of trade have also significantly increased. All of this requires the application of absolutely new and innovative technologies, including information technologies. The current economic conditions and the largest players of the trade business, of course, decide the rules of the game. Businesses must very clearly and quickly make decisions regarding purchases, movement of commodity flows, sales the creation of service policies for commercial enterprises, managing finances, and many other aspects of commerce. Our goal today is to teach students to be confident in their decisions, make them quickly, correctly, and reasonably.
– What qualities does a student need to become successful in this field?
– It is important to be able to lead the way and have leadership qualities. In business it is also important to be responsible. The third, but probably the most important, is the ability to receive and manage information. The ability to find the necessary information in a huge stream is very important for a trader.
In the SUSU School of Economics and Management, students don’t just receive economic and management knowledge during their education, but also actively develop other professional qualities and skills. The wonderful professors, some of which are practicing businessmen, are happy to pass their knowledge on to students, complete trainings and master classes, and together with students they solve cases from real businesses. Right now, as part of a foresight session for applicants, we are organizing stand-up for business representatives, where they will have to talk about their secrets for leadership and success in two minutes. This format of work is interesting and helpful for applicants and for students.
– Where to graduates of your department work?
– It’s easy to recognize our graduates: they are very ambitious, goal-oriented, and confident. They always find a path to their goals and a way out of any situation. Often, people come to us to study and already have a family business, and they understand that in today’s conditions, a business must not only be supported, but developed, and they want to get knowledge and skills above what they already have. There are also those who, after graduation, want to open their own business. About 20% of graduates really start their own businesses.
I want to note this one fact: our graduates often go to work abroad. In general, graduates of Russian universities are highly valued in international businesses because of their knowledge, skills, and universal education.