Indonesia: International career with a. hartrodt
Carl Petersen, best young freight forwarder 2017, experiences the corona crisis in Southeast Asia.
Many dream of an international career – Carl Petersen realized this very early and consequently. The 23-year-old has been working as Key Account & Customer Service Manager at a. hartrodt Indonesia in Jakarta since August 2019: "Southeast Asia has always been my aim. In a family business I was able to achieve this quickly," he says. Prior to this, he completed his dual study program at a. hartrodt in Hamburg as Management Assistant for Freight Forwarding and Logistics Service plus bachelor's degree. The German Freight Forwarding and Logistics Association (DSLV) and the logistics publication "DVZ Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung" honoured him as the best young freight forwarder in 2017.
Open to other cultures
During his apprenticeship at a. hartrodt, Petersen completed an internship abroad in Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia. He later visited India at least once a year as German-Indo Trade Lane Manager. His advice for an international career: "Be open to other cultures and flexible. This attitude helps him now in the corona crisis in Indonesia, where health protection is often improvised.
Great helpfulness in corona times
The management of a. hartrodt Indonesia had been "prepared very well" for the Covid-19 pandemic at all six locations, Petersen reports: "Masks were also sent to other a. hartrodt companies in the region. Like almost all 140 colleagues, Petersen currently works remotely from home. He is fascinated by the helpfulness and friendliness of the Indonesians: "They always smile, even in the difficult corona times. During the Muslim month of Ramadan, the people have shown great discipline since the end of April. Even during the Sugar Feast (Lebaran) on Sunday, domestic trips to the family are not possible. Petersen knows how hard it is for his colleagues.
In terms of business, air freight is currently more difficult to handle due to the lack of passenger flights, but also normal sea freight traffic, "because containers from China are missing in Europe". Meanwhile LCL solutions with weekly consolidated containers via Singapore "continue to work well", says Petersen. In addition, a. hartrodt also offers LCL alternatively as sea-air transport, for example via Singapore.