The Right Stuff :: Essays Papers

The Right StuffIn the past couple of semesters the topic of expatriates has come up a lot. Im base to see thats its an important issues since we now live in a global market. I do believe that if your successful in your calling the likely hood of receiving an expatriate assignment is high. The Houston Business Journal deportmented a survey of one hundred companies and sixty percent predict that the expatriate universe will increase, while twenty-five percent said it will stay the same (HBJ, June 98). Since the probability is high that I will be asked to go to other country, Ive had to do some serious reflecting. Would I be a good expatriate employee? There are qualities one must(prenominal) take hold in order to become a successful expatriate. According to Jeff Freeburg a consultant for H.R. International certain qualities one should have are motivation, receptiveness, Patience, sense of humor, initiative, confidence, dependable, savvy, persistent and vital (Freeburg 99) . I feel that I do have most of these qualities but is that enough? I am fortunate that Im able to direct Spanish fluently, I can also read and write it. It was easy for me to pick up different languages since Im a first propagation U.S. citizen I grew up with my family members speaking both languages to me. Because of that exposure I have the desire to learn other languages, I can read French and take to to learn Italian and Japanese if time allows me to. Even though I speak a different language I have never left wing the states to visit other countries either for personal or business reasons. Shannon Roxborough author of The Guide to International Work Success lists other important things one must do before venturing abroad. An expatriate should learn some history in order to deal better with the cultural differences. Learn the business culture, as we have read in the case study of Buckeye Glass Company in China, we have learned the importance other cultures place on create a personal relationship that goes beyond the normal business relations in this county. Learn how to negotiate, American business professional must learn how to conduct proper negotiations in other countries, not every one rushes to the table to hammer out an agreement. Also as weve read other countries use tactical manoeuvre such as long pauses or touching during negotiations that seem strange to us but are perfectly normal for them.