What is the best way to find an import/export mentor?

I can be your coworker I am from China. And I am a exporter.

I've done import exporting from China for many years. It's very troublesome if you do not have the right people to work with. Time zones, quality control, shipment, customs are all a hassle if not done right. A lot of bootstrapping involved. If you need further advice contact me. If your interested in importing or doing business in china check out http://www.wstarwebservices.com for a bunch of tips

I love your question - it is well written - haven't seen many of descriptive questions on Quora lately.People who charge money for consulting on Internet are not the best people to take advice from on import and export matters, in my opinion. There are many people who have paid courses on websites like Udemy, CourseWorm, Skillshare etc. They might have that one secret ingredient but not usually. It is a personal choice whether to pay for these courses or not: I wouldn't. Now with the good part of your question; I wanted a mentor in this field as well, someone who I did not know personally and who had built an import/export company. I failed to find one. In Dubai, most of the industry is ran by undereducated people - they don't understand the concept of mentoring someone. BUT they can answer any and all your questions with such excellency, I started doing that as I thought these people were happy to help. So I wasn't a mentee to anyone but I had 6 different mentors as they helped me get where I am. Same thing happenes in Gujarat (if you're from there) / in India - you will have heard a name or two of the companies that are famous in your city, just call them up and say who you are. Trust me, when you will say you need their expert advice or opinion they will invite you to meet in a week. They will be super excited while answering your question - just don't go towards financial matters or loose attention while listening, they get annoyed by that easily.Import/export is an industry where full-time mentor is not just readily available anywhere. They are all there around us - we will have to call a business and find who owns it. After a point, when you get started, you will realize that your competitors are your mentors, and you are to them. Just start your journey with that one call to your local famous company and ask their help. You will slowly realize everything on your own. You are where I started.To point to that answer by someone, customers are great but at times they don't know what they want and you don't know what they want but one experienced individual in the field knows what you both want - so it does matter to have that one experienced individual.

Depending on the trade-off and what type of import business you dream or visualize.  Most small businesses will not be hiring persons to educate with not the prior qualifications. If you are willing to work for little or nothing and get experience you wants your ability to find a mentor skyrockets. Many people have a person in mind or ideals of an individual.  MENTORING PROGRAMS can be found in local community colleges.  Possibly the State that you live has the Websitesquioped with this data. This is the only way on the next paragraph I would take on a mentor.  Some business will not pay you at all because they really do not have the time, spot or desire to mentor. Import/Export Mentor or Intermship: If you live in the SF BAY AREA.  You are over the age of 21 years.  Have a GED or Highschool Diploma.  You own your own vehicle.  Willing to work some weekends. Willing to work for a minimum wage to start with a three month probationary period. Your wages will increase when your knowledgeability of the business increases or when your preformance level betters.

The import/export are the activities of international buying and selling. It is just one kind of buying and selling. Do you need someone else to teach you how to buy and sell in your local market? The answer is negative of course.So the difference between "international" and "local "buying and selling. I think is just the information, local market you feel that you have enough information to make a correct decision. And "international" you feel that you don't have enough information.Your mentor is just the information source for you.The buying / selling is a business, business has risk. prepare yourself well, and begin it. Otherwise you will never get enough information to start.     

Don't worry about finding a mentor just yet. Rather, find a customer - once you know the product you're looking for, necessity will reveal whether you're interested in this business.