Cultural Competency: Skills to Prepare You for Life Abroad
Moving abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life—but it also comes with challenges. From cultural misunderstandings to professional hurdles, your success in a new environment depends on one major factor: preparation.
But don’t worry! There are ways to prepare for your professional life abroad, no matter what career path you’re on. Here are the key skills you should develop to help you prepare for a life abroad.
What is Cultural Competence—and Why Does It Matter?
You want to thrive in your new home, so it’s all about having the skills to effectively communicate and navigate in a culture different from your own. Cultural competence makes all the difference whether you’re making friends or starting a new job. Here’s what it includes:
Knowing yourself: Recognize your own cultural identity, biases, and perspectives. You can’t expect to understand others if you don’t understand yourself.
Appreciating differences: Develop sensitivity and respect for other cultures —and I just don’t mean a love for their music and food. Dive deeper by considering aspects of the culture that may affect how you view life. For example, how is respect shown between genders, age, and abilities?
Adapting to local customs: Learn how to adjust your style to fit different cultural environments. For example, are you someone who is always on time and hates being late, but everyone around you seems to constantly run late—consider how time is viewed in your new environment and how you can adjust to adapt more closely to the locals?
By building these skills, you’ll feel more confident in everything from daily tasks to professional interactions abroad.
Understanding Cultural Nuances
Did you know that communication styles and workplace etiquette can vary from one culture to another? What’s considered polite in one country might seem rude in another. These are the cultural nuances that can make or break your experience.
One way to prepare is by exploring careers that give you culturally immersive experiences. Fields like international education, cultural exchange, or global business allow you to develop a sensitivity to cultural differences while building skills that will help you adjust to life abroad.
What Happens When You're Unprepared?
Without proper preparation, building a professional life abroad can become tedious and, for some, a struggle. The communication style may be more formal than you’re used to. You could misinterpret workplace norms and accidentally offend your colleagues. Everyday logistics—like housing or banking—are more complicated than expected. —This list goes on. By being proactive in pre-departure preparation, strategies can be built to help navigate these differences with confidence and resilience.
