Working Abroad

Despite the march of globalization, corporate culture is far from uniform across the globe. From Bangladesh to Bermuda, cultural identities remain strong and affect how people work and interact. If you're about to embark on an overseas placement with your organization, it's advisable to prepare well for what could otherwise be a sharp culture shock.

Companies still see huge benefits in sending people to do a stint in their offices abroad. Maybe you've been particularly successful in your field, and your company wants you to replicate that success in one of its international branches. Perhaps your organization values its staff getting a fresh perspective from time to time. Or it could be that you've requested a transfer, keen to sample a new culture and experience a different lifestyle, or simply to escape the weather back home!

Whatever the reasons for your move, changing countries or continents throws up all manner of challenges. In this article, we highlight the main issues you need to consider as you begin your time overseas, and offer some practical tips that should help smooth your way, both in the workplace and outside it.

What to Expect

Some people find it much easier than others to move to a new country with a different culture and language, but it generally takes three to six months to feel at home in a new location. At the start of your stay, it is not unusual to experience feelings of frustration, confusion, and loneliness, and to doubt whether you've done the right thing. You may get frequent waves of nostalgia about how things are back home. And, of course, all these feelings will also apply to your family if you are taking a partner and children with you.

Before You Go

Do Your Research

You can reduce the potential stress, headaches and embarrassment that come with a move to a new culture by spending time researching the norms and traditions of your next location before you set off.

Take a look at Terri Morrison's book Do I Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands? for more on the cultural differences between nations. It's a valuable companion for anyone involved in international business.

Another useful concept is explained in our article on Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions, which has become an internationally recognized standard that can help you learn about a country's attitude to, for example, women or professional hierarchy. You can use this information to help you gauge whether your instinctive decisions and actions are appropriate in a particular society.

If you're moving to a major city, the internet is likely to be a good source of information on international schools, expatriate (ex-pat) opportunities and even accommodation options. If someone from your company has done a placement there before, get in touch with them. Particularly if you have children, you'll want to find out about local medical facilities. If your employer won't be providing you with a car, you may want to research the pros and cons of buying one locally, versus importing one.

And don't forget to read a couple of general guidebooks so that you can look forward to all that your new location has to offer in terms of culture and local travel.

Time Your Move

If the timing of the move is within your control, give careful consideration to when you want to go. If you have a family can you arrive at the start of the school year? Do you want to avoid arriving at the start of the rainy season in India, or when temperatures are at their highest in the Middle East?

Learn the Language

Even if you'll be working in your native language and socializing with ex-pats, your stay will be much more rewarding if you take the time to learn the local language. Try to fit in language lessons before you leave, so that you can hit the ground running.

Embrace the new language as soon as you arrive and use every opportunity to practice it, from your first taxi ride from the airport or your first encounter with the office receptionist. Overcoming the initial embarrassment of speaking in another tongue is key, and you'll progress much faster if you throw yourself in at the deep end. You'll find that speaking to people in their local language will earn you respect and help you integrate more quickly. It may even get you cheaper fruit in the local market!

Adapting to a New Work Environment

The most successful international businesses are those that take care to fit in well with local customs. This also goes for the individuals who work for them! Here are some key areas to be aware of:

• Timing and punctuality
  Some cultures strive for punctuality, while others have a much more relaxd approach to time. In some Latin American or Asian countries, you may need to cultivate the art of patience when it comes to start times for meetings. However, cultures are definitely changing with the times and the traditional three-hour lunch break of many Latin countries is gradually disappearing.
• Pace of working
  You may find yourself getting frustrated if you're working in a culture that doesn't share your haste to get the job done. Deals that only take hours to strike in the United States could drag on for weeks in Asia.
  
  Business may be restricted to the boardroom in some countries, while in others lunches and dinners will be the key negotiating arena. In Russia, you might even find yourself clinching a deal in the sauna! Again, Terri Morrison's book provides great insight in this area.
• Tension between local and international staff
  Be aware that some local staff may resent the fact that their foreign colleagues are earning in dollars or sterling while they're earning in the local, perhaps volatile, currency. And if you're lucky enough to be on a generous international package, try not to flaunt its benefits in front of local workers who may be much worse off.
• Eating and drinking
  You may be presented with a meal that you find hard to stomach. For example, if you're a vegetarian in cultures where meat is the most important dish, you'll often have to decide between pleasing your hosts and sticking to your own principles.
  
  Check out the local culture with respect to alcohol too. You could be expected to join in several bottles of wine over lunch, or drinking might be frowned upon.
• Office culture
  The corporate structure might be much more hierarchical than you are used to, even within the same organization. And you may also find that women aren't treated as equals.

But above all, make sure you stay focused on why you're doing this overseas posting. Perhaps you're there to learn more about what the overseas office does that's substantially different, or simply to gain an understanding of a similar operation in another country.

Alternatively, if you're there to share your experience with local staff, plan who you'll need to work with, and how you're going to do it. Whatever the purpose, the relationships you build during the course of your placement will be invaluable to you when you get back home, so pay particular attention to professional networking during your time abroad.

Fitting in Socially

In most big cities, you'll find a large ex-pat community. It's generally very easy to become part of such groups, which are always willing to accept new members to replace those who have inevitably just left. International and American Women's Associations often publish comprehensive guidebooks, full of practical tips gathered by ex-pats over the years. These might range from how to find an emergency plumber or a children's entertainer to how to buy train tickets. It's usually well worth getting hold of a copy at the start of your stay!

If you're keen to be immersed in the local culture, take stock of what local people do in their leisure time and consider joining in rather than carrying on with exactly the same hobbies that you do at home. For example, in Australia, it's very common for women to play netball with a local team. So if you like team sports, perhaps give that a go!