John McGraw’s Post

Considering to create a badge like this for all successfully integrated #internationals. Because, God knows and we know, a lot of *sisu* is needed! 😅 In most of cases, creating a good life and meaningful #career in a new country, let's say Finland 😏, requires a strong mind, great #skills, a very positive attitude, creativity, resilience, confidence, to mention only a few essentials. If you made it, 👏👏👏❤️ Please support others too on their integration and #employment path! Peer support is a fantastic tool and it's always win-win. 👍 (Find in comments the link to a career #coaching group where peer support and useful information is shared by and for internationals living in Turku/Finland.)

How challenging can the transition into the German professional environment and society be as an expat? 🌍 🇩🇪 The answer is yes; it can be overwhelming, but you don't need to make this ride alone. Last year, my colleague Eva Tarabichi and I created a local program in Bonn that helps you: ➡ build your local support system 🤝 ➡ deal with German culture 🇩🇪 ➡ improve your professional networking 🌐 ➡ support you in your onboarding process in your company 🏢 ➡ guide you on your career change and orientation toward the workplace 💼 ➡ connect you with other expats and locals 👥 We are excited to share with you that our next Expat Program “Growing Together” in Bonn starts in May 2024. 👉 Do you want to be part of it this year? Then join our next webinar to learn more about the program, get to know us, and ask your questions. You can register here: https://lnkd.in/exRSyF-5 👇 This is how our program helped the transition of our participants from last year: "I had underestimated how challenging it would be to transition into German society, as an expat, and seeing that I am not alone is quite reassuring and motivating." "If I would not get the best coach, super supportive peer group, I would have given up my search and returned back to my home country." "The program has helped to understand the cultural differences when integrating into a new country, the emotions, and feelings that come from moving abroad." "On the professional level, the 1:1 meeting I had with my coach helped me a lot in defining a future goal for my career." "I understood what it takes to be an expat in Germany. This was my first experience with an expat life, and this program allowed me to look at different lenses of being an expat and to grow and adapt to lead a comfortable life." "It helped me integrate into business situations, develop healthy business relationships with colleagues, and be comfortable in various professional situations." "From the first session I participated in, I realized this was a very important and useful program to guide my journey as an expat in Germany." "The first time when I realized the program helped me was when I felt members of the group being vulnerable at times and then finding their convictions, passions, or empathy, etc. Then I felt able to sit with myself in a less nonjudgmental and more curious way." Looking forward to meeting you there. 🚀✨

🌍 𝟴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀! - 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 This week marks the end of my second month working on a project for Mercedes-Benz Management Consulting (Mercedes-Benz AG) in China, making China the 8️⃣th country in which I have lived (for at least two months each). I love experiencing new countries and cultures, especially since these experiences help me to broaden my perspective and enhance my interpersonal skills. However, living in a different country can sometimes be challenging⚡️ Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your international experience: 🗣️ 𝟭. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 (𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳) 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: Research and learn the (100) most commonly used words in the local language to facilitate everyday interactions (For example, I learned how to order my favorite coconut latte in Chinese ☕️ ) 💬 𝟮. 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 (𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹) 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: Set a goal of talking to one new person every other day to improve your interpersonal skills and gain deeper cultural insights 🕺🏼 𝟯. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Aim to try one new activity per month to engage with local people and immerse yourself in the culture (I still have to join the daily outdoor dancing group) 👤 𝟰. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿: Find someone who grew up in the country or has lived there longer than you to provide guidance and explain cultural differences (maybe you also find some amazing colleagues who are willing to help 😉) 📓 𝟱. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹: Document your experiences to reflect on your learnings and track your progress No matter how open-minded and flexible you are, challenging situations are inevitable during such experiences. In those moments, I remind myself of a quote my father always uses: "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁." ~Jens Corssen

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 1. 🌍 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 Gain an international outlook and understanding of diverse cultures. 2. 🌟 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 Develop independence, adaptability, and self-confidence. 3. 📚 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Access world-class education and unique courses. 4. 🌐 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Build a global network of friends, mentors, and professionals. 5. 💼 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Enhance your resume with international experience and skills. 6. 🗣️ 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 Improve or learn a new language through immersion. 7. 🌟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 Experience new traditions, cuisines, and lifestyles. 8. 🌐 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐬 Broaden your understanding of global issues. 9. 💪 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 Gain critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. 10. 🛤️ 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 Create lifelong memories and embark on unforgettable adventures.

Celebrating International Friendship Day: The Power of Professional Connections On this International Friendship Day, let's take a moment to reflect on the unique bonds we form in our professional lives. These connections often transcend the typical definition of friendship, blending camaraderie with mentorship, collaboration, and mutual growth. In the dynamic world of business, professional friendships are the bridges that connect us to new opportunities, fresh perspectives, and invaluable support. They are the mentors who guide us, the colleagues who challenge us, and the partners who stand by us through thick and thin. These relationships are built on trust, respect, and a shared vision for success. At its core, International Friendship Day reminds us that behind every successful project, innovative idea, and career milestone, there is a network of supportive individuals. It’s a day to appreciate those who have helped us navigate the complexities of our professional journeys and to acknowledge the role of friendship in our achievements. Here’s to the professional friendships that inspire us to be better every day. Let's celebrate the connections that not only drive our careers forward but also enrich our lives in meaningful ways. Happy International Friendship Day to all the incredible friends, mentors, and colleagues out there! #InternationalFriendshipDay #ProfessionalConnections #Networking #Mentorship #Collaboration #CareerGrowth

Learn from one of the region’s leading experts in cross-cultural communication, Stuart Jay Raj, in his one-day Masterclass on 6 July 2024. Discover how to make impactful introductions in Thailand. Uncover the depth of Thai culture through its language and symbols. Develop adaptation strategies to connect with Thai colleagues. Sharpen clarity and persuasiveness in Thai interactions. Network with fellow expats. Click the link below to watch Stuart’s video introduction to “Leveraging Culture for Success in the Land of Smiles.” #AIHMHIGHER #AIHM #CrossCulturalCommunication #ThailandCulture #StuartJayRayMasterclass

"YOUTHS JUST BEFORE YOU JAPA" I strongly believe that the importance of skill and talent development cannot be overlooked before taking that step of moving out of the country. You can succeed anywhere in the world;I agree, but do you really have what to offer?? Just because it’s USA,CANADA,or UK doesn’t really guarantee success. What should give you the the boldness to move to any country is the amount of personal investment, skill and talent development and educational investment. Don’t ever make that mistake of moving without being a person of value. Value to you first, your community and your nation at large. #japa #skill #talent #development #value

🌟 **Expertise: Learned vs. Innate** 🌟 In the professional realm, expertise can come from: 1. **Learning**: Mastery achieved through education, practice, and perseverance. 2. **Innate Talent**: Natural aptitude refined through effort. Both paths are valuable. Whether you’re developing skills through hard work or honing a natural gift, each journey has its unique strengths. What’s your approach to mastery? #Expertise #Growth #ProfessionalDevelopment Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Cross-cultural awareness is crucial in today’s interconnected world. The understanding and leveraging cultural differences is key to personal and professional success. Would you like to know more about how to develop cross-cultural awareness? So do I. Any tips what you have learn in your world wide experience?