Andy Molinsky is a professor of organizational behaviour at Brandeis University’s International Business School. He regularly writes for the Harvard Business Review, and his work has been featured in the Economist, Fast Company, Fortune, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, NPR, and the Voice of America.
He recently did some simple research which put a spotlight on how networking varies across cultures.
– Kanya is an MBA student in the United States who grew up in Thailand. She works in the construction industry and is 26 years old.
– Sandeep is an IT professional from India with an MBA degree from the United States. He is 28 years old.
– Mohamed is a security professional from Egypt pursuing an MBA degree in the United States. He is 24 years old.
Here are their answers:
1. Is networking common in your culture?
Kanya (Thailand): “No – it’s not common at all in Thailand. I have never been to networking events in my country before, other than a specific career fair. We don’t have any organizations that set up networking events.”
Sandeep (India): “Yes, it’s somewhat common, but only in certain situations. Indian culture is opening up to the idea of socializing and partaking in networking activities. As there is an influence of the western culture and the emergence of multinational companies is becoming evident, more and more Indian students and employees are making themselves available for networking events.”
Mohamed (Egypt): “The Arab culture is one that is more personal. You typically do business with those you know personally or have at least met. This makes networking vital in the Arab world. Networking is done in both business and non-business settings much like the West.”
2. Where does networking happen in your culture?
Kanya (Thailand): “Only career fairs provide us with the chance to meet with employers.”
Sandeep (India): “It can happen in many different places – career fairs, conferences, and even at unexpected places like parties or other informal get-together. Social parties, charities, functions are hot spots for youngsters and experienced employees alike to mingle with representatives from companies. I saw it happening in my workplace!”
Mohamed (Egypt): “There are both formal and informal settings to network. I have personally found that connections made through informal networking are more beneficial than those made in a career fair. This could be at a social outing or the informal portion of a conference.”
3. In your culture, what matters most: your resume and skills, the way you present yourself during a networking conversation, or both?
Kanya (Thailand): “When we meet employers at a career fair, they are not usually interested in our resumes. They want to talk with us about our experiences.”
Sandeep (India): “A lot of companies pay special interest to the resume of an individual, encompassing all the skills and expertise he or she has in his or her previous assignments. But at the same time, a lot of companies also look at how an individual carries himself or herself. Confidence is a big positive sign for many employers who are looking forward to hiring someone who can meet expectations without breaking a sweat; a fast learner perhaps.”
Mohamed (Egypt): “Both are crucial, but I believe the way you present yourself is more important. The personal presentation isn’t just a foot in the door; it’s a first interview. Your resume and skills are the second round interviews.”
4. If you are talking with a potential employer at a networking situation in your culture, how appropriate is it to talk about yourself and your background?
Kanya (Thailand): “It is not wrong to talk about yourself at career fair because that is why you are there. But it’s different than in the United States. In the US, you promote yourself and talk about your positive qualities. In Thailand, we’re not used to that. We don’t promote ourselves like in the United States. Instead, we just share our experiences and provide additional details if the employer asks about it.”
Sandeep (India): “You can mention something about your background, even if the employer doesn’t ask, as long as you do not sound too conceited. In the contemporary work environment in India, employees are becoming smart and impromptu in their demeanor. They like to boast, if I can say, a bit about their past jobs, their skills sets. But some overconfident employees and students blow it!”
Mohamed (Egypt): “This depends on the context. Given the right employer, job, and situation you can talk about yourself. I think it is more common for those coworkers to discuss personal matters amongst one another than with your supervisor.”
INTO INDIA comment – Networking varies across cultures – everything about communicating and doing business varies across cultures. It pays to be ready!
Into India 