Self-Assess for an International Career
Edited by Lor777, Jonathan, estrella sacragon, Eng
Values, interests, personality, and skills take on new meanings in different parts of the world. The interest individuals pursue and the personality and skills they develop are very much affected by the culture in each country. For example, some societies emphasize family, hard work, or study as core values which may limit the pursuit of extensive outside interests because little time is left for additional involvement. Other societies are more social and encourage a balance between work and social activity. While individual privacy is the norm in one culture, strong interrelationships and socialization are key in another.
The important things to think about in your self-assessment of an international career, is to be aware that people in other cultures may have different values, interests, personalities, and skills than we do in the United States. This awareness does not mean you should change to become like your international colleagues, but you do need to understand cultural differences in thinking and self-image in order to more effectively live and work in a different country. The following list provides you with some things to think about.
Instructions on How to Self-Assess for an International Career
- 1Realize that what is considered a personal strength in one country may be perceived as a weakness in another country.
- 2Important personal qualities to have are flexibility, patience, resourcefulness, and risk taking.
- 3You must be comfortable with the unknown or unexpected.
- 4You must not be easily offended by abruptness or aloofness.
- 5Identify what skills are transferable that you can develop in the workplace in most countries.
- 6You should know or be able to learn a new language.
- 7Keep in perspective other culture's symbols of success or status.
- 8You must deal with the fact that personal life and work are completely separate in most other countries.
- 9In many countries, the family is valued as a top priority and the job does not interfere with this.
- 10In most other countries, an American education is valued even more than work experience.
Aggressive behavior can be viewed as a strength or a weakness depending on your cultural perspective. The following comparison of how aggressive behavior is viewed in the United States, the Pacific Rim, and the Middle East and Europe show why it is important to understand different cultural perspectives on behavior when pursuing an international career.
How to Make Sense of Different Cultural Perspectives on Behavior
- 1Candidates are encouraged to be aggressive in a job search so that the employer will see the candidate as someone with initiative and a real motivation for the job.United Status Culture.
- 2Candidates are discouraged from asking too many questions, because they do not want to embarrass a speaker or teacher who many not know the answer or feel as though the presentation was not well prepared.Some Pacific Rim Cultures.
- 3In certain Middle Eastern and European countries,Some Middle Eastern and European Cultures.
Students are taught to be assertive to get ahead.
What should you have in your wardrobe in relation to your international career?
- 1Have available in your closet one or two tailored American suits since these are considered an international wardrobe for social or business functions.
Tips Tricks & Warnings
- Aggressiveness is valued as a positive trait in the United States.
- Asking questions to a speaker or teacher, can be offensive in some Pacific Rim cultures.
- Sometimes during the interviewing process in the United States, several European candidates were identified as arrogant and very aggressive by employers.
- You need to be aware of the fine balance between aggressiveness and arrogance.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
