In a modern time, working globally isn’t a privilege only for big international companies, nor is it only for famous people who can travel across the world due to their occupation. Nowadays, with so many opportunities online, every employee and every entrepreneur could easily work across countries, languages, and cultures. However, is it something you should consider, and if so, how can you do it more successfully?

Working in an international company

If you are attending to or already working as an employee in an international company, there are a few things to consider:

Do your homework

Before applying:

• Research about the company, its values, and check if all of that aligns with your core values.
• Inform yourself on such topics as local culture, laws, schools, etc., especially if you need to relocate.
• If you would work remotely, consider the difference between the time zones, and decide whether you can commit to it in the long term.
• When preparing for and during the interview, consider cultural differences to avoid awkward or inappropriate situations.

After you landed a job:

• Learn about work ethic: What is the dress code? What cultures are your colleagues from? Each culture has its preferences in communication: in some cultures, it’s very direct, whereas, in others, it would be considered rude. Try to learn about other cultures, and always stay open-minded.
• Embrace positive indifference by overlooking some cultural differences while remaining optimistic about the fact that you are able to interact with a foreign culture.
• Try to find commonalities between the different cultures.
• Try to identify yourself with the whole global company, not just your local office.
• Avoid stereotyping: Stereotypes are never good, and they can be offensive to some people.
• Improve your language skills if needed for better communication and avoiding misunderstandings.

Working Internationally as an Independent Entrepreneur

If you are working independently, the tips mentioned above are still applicable and helpful. Of course, there might also be other specifics depending on the area you work in and your clients. However, the main framework remains the same. You still should do your homework, do your research to understand your clients better, be aware of any cultural differences that you might have, stay polite, open-minded, and at any cost, avoid stereotyping.

What countries and cultures should you work with?

Let’s say, if you are an online coach and want to work with people from all over the world, you should understand that the world is big.

When you want to market your service and yourself through social media or other channels, realize that your message might be understood entirely differently based on cultural differences. In some countries, your pictures and language may be a big hit, but in others would be considered highly inappropriate and even illegal.

So what cultures and countries should you work with? The answer is quite simple: work with people you are most comfortable with. Don’t get me wrong, though! I’m not saying you should only work with people from countries A and B with national background C, but never with people from countries D and E.

Maybe you know a foreign language well and can communicate with natives of that language better. Perhaps you like a specific culture. Go and engage with people from different cultures and backgrounds to understand even more and learn how they communicate.

When you found a culture you feel the most comfortable with, adjust your language and marketing assets accordingly. It still doesn’t mean you can’t work with people with other backgrounds, but it helps you generate the content according to your desired target audience.