Personal skills may be more important than practical when you are thinking of working abroad. Jo Parfitt talks to the experts to find out what personal skills new graduates need to develop.
Graeme Taylor is the Corporate Human Resources Director for TPG, based in Holland. At the end of November 2003, he spoke on leadership development at a conference run by the new Institute of Global Mobility. TPG has 160,000 employees worldwide and is keen to identify and fast track staff that show the competencies required for a career in international management.
We are looking for leaders who have an international and cross-divisional mindset, he said. They need four main competencies: entrepreneurship; people management; strategic and innovative thinking; result orientation.
Many companies recruit international staff according to their practical skills and availability rather than the personal skills that would guarantee their success, happiness and effectiveness in the overseas role.
Yet it is proved that it is the personal skills that make the difference. It does not matter how good an engineer you are, if you cannot work in a multicultural team, communicate with other nationalities and accept local cultural norms, you will have a tough time.
The global graduate
Elizabeth Kruempelmann is an American, married to a German and living in Germany. In 2003 her book called The Global Citizen was published. In it she shows how a graduate can prepare for global life.
Like many, Kruempelmann endorses the value of assessing your skills before you go. She provides what she calls a mini-course for the culturally challenged in her book, which includes Richard Lewis' fascinating Lewis Model of Cultural Classification.
Do the test and discover whether you are linear active, multi-active or reactive and which other cultures would be the best match for your personal skills.
Flexibility, confidence and open-mindedness are very important qualities for a graduate working in Europe in order to work in a foreign culture and language, says Kruempelmann.
Graduates should ask themselves whether they are willing to take a less than ideal job in an industry or company that interests them when they will have the possibility of proving themselves, making contacts and moving up.
This is flexibility. They should consider whether they are able to think positive when difficult challenges come up at work or as a result of living in a foreign culture. This is confidence. They should question whether they are willing to take the time to learn the language and the cultural aspects of doing business locally, instead of assuming that the way business is done at home should be the way it is done abroad. This is open-mindedness.
Communication matters
Bram Lebo is the Managing Director of Expatica, a resource and network for expatriates in Northern Europe. He lives and works in Holland. Personal skills are your abilities to understand yourself and your colleagues and to combine that understanding with the kind of effective communication that will further both your personal and company goals, says Lebo. Personal, or interpersonal, skills include communication skills (reading, writing for letters and email), presentation skills, negotiation skills and teamwork skills.
They are important because, in any organisation however small, interpersonal skills are required to send messages and directions to different parties politely and efficiently. When a person does not have interpersonal skills, he or she can be perceived as having negative characteristics, being seen as shy, disinterested or rude. This causes friction and misunderstanding.
Understand what makes them tick
Jeff Toms is in charge of marketing for Farnham Castle, well known for its wide range of pre-assignment preparation programmes. The way people do business around the world is surprisingly different. Our way of working is not necessarily valued or accepted in a different cultural environment, explains Toms.
People from other countries may question our professionalism in the same way as we may have doubts about their own integrity. We may share similar objectives but we have different ways of achieving them. What make others tick? What do they value? How do they work and how can we work effectively with them?
As with anyone going to work and live in a new country it is vital to learn as much about the particular country or region as possible; history, politics, economic situation and current issues.
It is equally important to learn about the business practices and social culture in order to understand why people behave the way they do. Where possible they are also advised to acquire a basic grasp of the language of the country in which they will be operating even if the working language is English.
In addition to the skills mentioned earlier, Toms believes graduates should also have the ability to compromise and a willingness to listen and have respect for others and their ways of behaviour and doing things, things which should be perceived as different rather than wrong.
Many of these skills can be learned from a book, or found on the internet, however, there is no substitute for attending a training programme, learning about a host culture and undertaking practical exercises and role play in order to see for yourself how to create effective business and personal relationships.
Continuous learning
Once overseas on assignment, the learning need never stop. Every day presents an opportunity to add to and improve personal skills. Now you are living local you can start thinking and acting local too, while maintaining a global perspective.
Graduates can continue to improve their skills as well as round out other global skills, such as networking and problem-solving abilities, continues Kruempelmann. They can do this in several essential ways.
By taking part in global projects, they will have the opportunity to learn about global business challenges and opportunities and to meet people who can provide career guidance. Additionally, graduates can search out and schedule regular meetings with mentors in their fields who have international career paths that they admire.
Finally, graduates should become involve in local organisations, such as professional groups, international clubs and business networking organisations, that will give them the chance to network and expand their contact base, which could be essential for their future career success.
The author, Jo Parfitt, lived and worked overseas for ten years in a dual career marriage before returning to Britain in 1997. She speaks and writes regularly on dual and portable career issues and provides many free resources on her website www.career-in-your-suitcase.com.
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