Go From Expatriate to Compatriot

You made the cut, passed all the interviews and landed the expat assignment of your dreams. You have arrived; so now what? Soon after the jetlag settles, you will encounter a whole new set of challenges including legal, cultural, social, and, in some cases, language barriers. Below are some helpful suggestions to ease you into your new environment, and make the experience something worthwhile.
1.Cut through the red tape. Surviving the bureaucracy, can be one of the toughest obstacles, testing emotional and physical limits. Your hiring company should address issues such as foreign work quotas,     visas, permits to stay, social-security-number equivalents, currency of your salary, taxes, housing and relocation assistance, health and other benefits, etc. before the job offer is made. Make sure you understand the who, what, where, and when of the above. Even when these issues are spelled out, be     prepared for some hiccups along the way.
     Survival tip: Before accepting the assignment, do your homework. Have a list of questions prepared     for your employer. No question is the only stupid question. Consult other expats, alumni, colleagues,     and family members living in the country where you will be working. Also consult online resources     such as     ExpatExchange and that of your homeland's Departments of State and Foreign Affairs. Be     prepared to spend some time on this research, every country is different. Don’t expect one resource     to have all the answers. And above all, be patient.
2.Observe first then earn the trust of your colleagues. You may be a financial wiz, the best change management consultant or the sharpest marketing professional around back home. However, if you don’t understand the internal rules or politics, all your know-how and previous success stories will be irrelevant. Before you charge ahead, assess the cultural norms of your new workplace. This means keeping an open mind. What may have been the best means of achieving success in the past may not apply in your new work environment. Your first objective is to learn how to navigate your new office terrain. Ask yourself the following: Does the local culture permit you to question colleagues or senior management in a group environment? Is your boss hands-off or a micromanager? Are your colleagues/superiors competent from a functional and an industry perspective? Have you joined the ranks of a highly masculine environment? Once you get a grip on the office environment, the next step is     to adjust your work style. Now that you understand the do’s and don’ts of your new office, you can set working to earn the trust of co-workers and superiors. This will be no easy task. This may mean sharing or even passing off credit to a colleague or superior to show that you truly want to be part of the team. However, be weary of those who see you as a free meal ticket.
Survival tip: if you don’t know the business culture of your new country in which you accepted your expat assignment, find out. Conduct first-hand and second-hand research. What does this mean? You must talk to former and current employees and better yet, from the expat community. Also, see what you can gleam from the company’s website and press coverage.
3.Form a network outside of the office. It cannot be stress how important this is. Even when you really enjoy your colleagues and workplace, external outlets are a must. These outlets can come in the form of professional associations, alumni clubs, leisure activities, or volunteering; anything that can help you develop a social network.
Survival tip: before you leave for your assignment put together a list of groups and contacts. Try to establish a well-rounded network including friends from the local and expat community to give you the balance that you need. Your local network will provide the insight that only native-born citizens can, while your expat network can offer support and advice for challenging issues that only foreigners experience.
4.Stay away from comparing your new host country or office to that of your last one. While it is natural to refer back to what you know best; the person who regularly starts or ends a conversation with the following statements, “this is how we used to do it in my last job” or “where I’m from this is how we do it,” will be labeled not only a constant complainer but also someone who can’t adapt.
Survival tip: if you catch yourself going down this path, make a note to stop yourself. If you still do this, before you dig a hole too deep, try to approach your work from the local perspective. What might have seemed logical in the past could well be illogical in your new work environment. You might need new means to achieve your desired end result. This could mean getting support and buy-in from other sources outside of the obvious chain of command.
5.Speak the same language. Do your best to learn the language and the local culture. You will quickly find out, that business communications (verbal and written) will be very different from basic language skills that you use to get by with at the market or in leisure travel. You will have to work on your language skills regularly if you are not a native speaker. Be prepared to dedicate time to this endeavor. It will be critical to your survival. Also, the more you learn about your new home, the better you will be able to fit into your new environment.  Understanding the history, current events and politics of your new country will help you to assimilate. Following major events is important for everyday conversation.
 Survival tip: read the local papers, watch the news, take language lessons, and again get advice from other expats. There is nothing worse than being on the periphery of a community. Try to get involved in after-work social groups, join a gym, enroll in an evening or weekend course, etc. — any extracurricular activity which can serve as both a personal outlet and means by which to improve your cultural knowledge and language skills. Look for local resources that cater to expat communities and help to integrate foreigners into the local community.

While life abroad might seem to present many uphill challenges, the potential return can be a priceless experience that delivers professional and personal rewards.

Source: Transition Abroad